Seventeen arts and culture organizations that sought $1.57 million in tourist development tax grants were recommended for less than half that due to warnings last year by the Collier County Board of County Commissioners to reduce request amounts.
The nine-member Tourist Development Council on Aug. 20 approved the recommendation of a five-member grants review committee that cut the $1,575,958 in grant requests to $750,000, while still giving all applicants grants. County commissioners will make the final decision at their Sept. 27 meeting.
John Melleky, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau arts and culture manager, told the TDC the committee recommended those cuts after reviewing marketing plans and comparing their estimated audience numbers to their actual numbers.
“What’s important about them is that this helps bring visitors to our destination,” Melleky said of the groups, which range from Artis—Naples to the 2025 Everglades Seafood Festival.
Marketing grants include direct-marketing campaigns, website upgrades, advertising and public relations costs, while noncounty museum grants fund marketing, exhibitions and performance productions.
Alejandro Castaño, Gulfshore Opera’s chief marketing officer, told the TDC its 2024 $20,000 grant expanded its reach from about 10,000 people to 100,000 yearly. “For the first time, we were able to sell out Artis—Naples,” Castaño said. “It is a testament to our increase in reach.”
When commissioners considered the requests last year, Commissioner Chris Hall, who now chairs the commission, questioned the need for arts and culture grants, suggesting the funds could be better used for public facilities and projects. In the end, commissioners approved all applicants’ grant requests, nearly $825,000, but warned they may receive less this year so they should find ways to reduce their requests, such as other funding sources.
Collier County hired a priority-based consultant, ResourceX, this year to find ways to trim its $2.98 billion budget, but Melleky emphasized these funds can only be used by arts and culture organizations, and they’re reimbursable grants, so organizations must provide proof of payment. All promotions and ads also must feature the CVB logo.
“We’re not throwing money at new things that haven’t been proven,” said Commissioner Rick LoCastro, the TDC chairman.
The grant program, which began in 2000, is funded by a 5% bed tax tourists pay for overnight stays at hotels and other overnight rentals. State statutes require they only be used for tourism-related activities, including funding infrastructure, sports stadiums, beaches, parks, zoos, events and museums. The grants come from two funds that receive 35.28% of the taxes and as of June 30, three months before end of the fiscal year, Melleky said one fund, the noncounty museum tax fund, earned $747,000 this year.
Melleky noted that the 2023 Arts & Economic Prosperity Study, conducted by Americans for the Arts and United Arts Collier, found local arts and culture events brought in $147.1 million, a 38% increase over the 2017 study. They also support 1,948 jobs, 1,526 volunteers and 46,770 volunteer hours, a $1.4 million value.
The following groups were recommended for grants:
- Florida Stone Crabbers Association’s 2025 Everglades Seafood Festival, $24,500.
- Friends of Rookery Bay, $8,500.
- Gulfshore Opera, $22,500.
- Maurich Productions & Events’ 2025 Marco Island Art Show, $2,500.
- Seraphic Fire, $7,000.
- United Arts Council of Collier County, $13,000.
- Artis—Naples, $75,000.
- The Golisano CMON, $75,000.
- Gulfshore Playhouse, $75,000.
- Marco Island Center for the Arts, $35,000.
- Naples Art Institute, $70,000.
- Naples Art District, $50,000.
- Naples Botanical Garden, $75,000.
- Naples Zoo, $75,000.
- Opera Naples, $55,000.
- The Holocaust Museum & Education Center of SWFL, $12,000.
- The Naples Players, $75,000.
