ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Artists in St. Petersburg could be getting a new kind of support.

The city council’s Economic and Workforce Development Committee unanimously approved the Artist Sustainability Fund.

Money for the fund would come from developers in exchange for more density in their projects.

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership said art is what draws people to the city.

“One of the things that makes St. Pete so special is that we’ve got this incredible collective of artists and arts organizations who are working hard every day, often without a lot of support from the public sector. We’re trying to change that,” said Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

Mark Aeling is the lead sculptor for MGA Sculpture Studio and is the board chair for St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District. He said studio space can be hard to find for many artists in the community.

“We’re now looking at programs that will bring affordable housing into the community designated for artists, because the cost of living here has gotten out of reach for many, many artists in this community,” Aeling said.

According to the city, the number of art galleries has dropped from 15 in 2014 to seven in October 2015. They said there were multiple reasons for the closures, including rent increases as a main cause. The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance said buildings need to have specific features.

“Art spaces require something different than a regular office space. Maybe higher ceilings, specialized floor if you’re in dance or performing arts, equipment depending on what visual art medium you’re in,” said Helen French, executive director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.

The St. Petersburg City Council Economic and Workforce Development Committee has approved an Artist Sustainability Fund Proposal that would help fund artist space. The money would come from developers in exchange for a little more density.

“They really helped to build St. Petersburg into what it is today. So, initiatives like that will help to support them and keep them thriving as our city moves forward,” said Councilwoman Gina Driscoll.

Developers already have the option to contribute to city funds to get more density in what’s called a development bonus. This proposal would change land development regulation and add the art fund as an additional bonus option.

“We’re not talking about someone building a much taller tower. This doesn’t do anything to change the height limits in downtown. It’s a really important thing to understand,” Feldman Equities Vice President of Asset Management Mack Feldman said.

Feldman Equities owns and operates office buildings downtown. Feldman said the majority of projects take advantage of those development bonuses, and that if the arts fund is created, it’s something his company would contribute to.

“It doesn’t cost to taxpayers anything, which we also like. Developers are happy to chip in because it’s an option for them. ‘Hey, I can build a little bit bigger in exchange, I make a contribution to an arts fund.’ That’s a win-win in my book,” Feldman said.

If the fund gets fully approved, then the city council will discuss the grant program that will manage how the money is shared. Aeling hopes that the plan comes to fruition.

“By having the development community pay into a fund that gets distributed to the creative community, it really helps with that sustainability model,” Aeling said.

The proposal will now go to the Development Review Commission in June.

Then, it will be considered by the full city council for the public hearing process.