Tallahassee/Leon loves its rankings and so do I.
We celebrate being named one of the country’s best places to live, retire, raise a family, or enjoy a high quality of life. We proudly promote our canopy roads, parks, universities, healthcare institutions, and sense of community. Those things matter because they help define who we are.
Which is why I was so surprised to see local leaders point to Leon County’s standing as a leader in arts and culture funding as though it were something embarrassing — something we should reduce rather than celebrate.
At a recent County Commission meeting, a presentation highlighted that Leon County dedicates a larger percentage of tourism development funding to arts and culture than many other Florida counties. The implication seemed to be that we are somehow out of step.
I see it differently.
The discussion, of course, centers on Leon County’s proposal to reduce and restructure funding tied to the Council on Culture & Arts, better known as COCA, the organization that for decades has helped support and coordinate arts and cultural programming throughout our community.
Given this long legacy of success, two questions come to mind: Why would we want to be average in something that makes our community stronger, more vibrant, and more attractive? Why convert a record of excellence into mediocrity?
As a top producing Realtor up until my retirement in 2017, I spent decades helping people find homes and build lives in Tallahassee, I can tell you this: quality of life is not just roads and utilities. It is also music, theater, galleries, festivals, creativity, and the shared arts experiences that make a community feel alive.
People do not fall in love with a community because it balances spreadsheets better than everyone else, or because its programs have a strong ROI. They fall in love with communities that have character, energy, and soul.
The arts are part of Tallahassee’s heartbeat.
At a time when arts organizations across Florida and around the country are already facing significant financial and cultural headwinds, this should be a moment for communities like ours to reaffirm the value of the arts — not retreat from them.
The compelling economic case deserves to be part of this conversation. Arts and culture generate more than $200 million annually in Leon County, supporting tourism, events, and local businesses. COCA’s structure and outside relationships have brought significant grant dollars into Tallahassee that would not follow a restructuring.
This is not simply an accounting exercise. For decades, arts funding decisions here have benefited from the guidance of artists, educators, and cultural professionals working in partnership with institutions across our community.
And it’s not about resisting accountability or refusing change. Almost all good things can be made better.
This is about making sure we fully understand what could be lost before we rush to restructure something that has helped define Tallahassee’s cultural identity for 40 years.
Of course public dollars should always be managed responsibly. Accountability matters. But there is a difference between accountability and retreat.
In a time when so many cities are competing for talent, visitors, entrepreneurs, retirees, and young families, arts and culture are not luxuries. They are part of the ecosystem that makes people want to be here.
If Leon County is recognized as a leader in supporting the arts, my view is simple:
That is not something for which we should apologize.
It is something to celebrate. And protect.
Virginia Glass is a longtime Tallahassee Realtor and civic leader whose volunteer service has supported numerous local nonprofit and cultural organizations.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Be proud of Leon County’s No. 1 arts funding ranking | Opinion
Reporting by Virginia Glass, Your Turn / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Virginia Glass, Your Turn | USA TODAY Network
