Florida’s legislative session began Jan. 13, and lawmakers will soon decide how resources are allocated across the state. While issues like housing, education and affordability rightly dominate the conversation, one issue too often overlooked is the survival of community-based arts organizations.
In North Miami, the work of Copperbridge Foundation shows why this matters.
Geo Darder is the founder and president of the Copperbridge Foundation. (courtesy, Geo Darder)
Copperbridge Foundation is a nonprofit cultural organization committed to cultural and educational exchange through artistic expression. We serve as a space where art is accessible, participatory and rooted in lived community experience. For many residents, organizations like ours are their primary entry point into the arts.
During the 2024-2025 legislative cycle, Copperbridge Foundation was awarded $300,000 in state funding to support our programming. That funding was later vetoed by the governor as part of broader cultural budget vetoes. The loss of those funds directly affected our ability to expand services, reach more residents, and deepen partnerships with schools and community organizations.
This setback occurred alongside statewide cuts that eliminated more than $32 million in arts and cultural funding. Hundreds of organizations across Florida were impacted, many of them small nonprofits embedded in the communities they serve. These cuts came at a time when demand for affordable, accessible arts programming continues to grow.
Arts organizations like Copperbridge do far more than host exhibitions. We create opportunities for youth to explore creativity and critical thinking. We provide platforms for artists to share their work. We offer welcoming spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together, build understanding, and feel a sense of belonging.
When funding disappears, the impact is immediate. Programs are reduced. Outreach is limited. Long-term planning becomes uncertain. Communities lose places that foster creativity, dialogue and connection. These losses affect neighborhoods not only culturally, but economically as well.
This legislative session, Florida’s leaders have an opportunity to reassess priorities. Supporting the arts is not about funding entertainment. It is about investing in education, community well-being and economic vitality. Cultural organizations support small businesses, attract visitors and help define what makes South Florida unique.
Community members also have a role to play. Supporting the arts can start with showing up. Visiting exhibitions. Attending programs. Encouraging others to engage. When communities participate, arts organizations become stronger, more resilient and more visible.
The arts are not optional. They are essential to the health of our communities.
As lawmakers take their seats this session, the choice is clear. Florida can continue to allow community arts organizations to struggle, or it can recognize their value and invest accordingly. Spaces like Copperbridge Foundation exist because communities need them. It is time for public policy to reflect that reality.
Geo Darder is the founder and president of the Copperbridge Foundation in North Miami.