Miami-Dade Faces Backlash Over Proposed Arts Budget Cuts

In July 2025, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava proposed a budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026 that included a 52% reduction in cultural grant funding, amounting to $12.8 million. The proposal also suggested merging the Department of Cultural Affairs into the Public Library System and eliminating the Director of Cultural Affairs position. These measures were part of an effort to address a projected $400 million budget deficit.

The local arts community responded with significant opposition, highlighting that the arts sector generates $2.1 billion annually, supports over 32,000 jobs, and attracts more than 4 million cultural tourists to the Miami area. Advocacy groups, including the Arts Action Alliance Miami-Dade County, organized petitions and public meetings to contest the proposed reductions.

In response to the public outcry, Mayor Levine Cava announced in August 2025 that $65.8 million in unspent funds and reallocations had been identified to restore some of the proposed cuts. This restoration included $11.5 million for cultural arts programming grants, effectively reinstating nearly the full spectrum of previously proposed reductions.

The Miami-Dade County Commission approved the revised $12.9 billion budget in September 2025, maintaining current property tax rates and avoiding the initially proposed fare hikes for public transit. While the arts community welcomed the restoration of funding, some advocates expressed concerns about the sustainability of arts funding in future budget cycles.

The situation in Miami-Dade County reflects a broader trend of arts funding challenges across the United States. For instance, in May 2025, local arts organizations in metro Atlanta faced financial turmoil following President Trump's proposal to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and rescind previously awarded grants. This move compounded existing financial pressures from earlier budget cuts by local and state entities.

The proposed budget cuts in Miami-Dade County and the subsequent community response underscore the significant role that arts and cultural programs play in the economic and social fabric of the region. While the immediate threat to arts funding was mitigated through community advocacy and budget revisions, the situation highlights the ongoing challenges in securing sustainable support for the arts.