This blog originally appeared at TAMPA BAY TIMES.
The governor singled out the two Fringe festivals when vetoing $32 million in statewide arts and culture funds.
On Thursday, the Tampa and Orlando Fringe festivals issued an open letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, formally offering to forfeit their approved grants for the 2025 fiscal year. The nonprofit International Fringe Festival of Central Florida was slated to receive $102,629, while Tampa’s festival anticipated significantly less at $7,909.
In return, the festivals requested that the governor support a legislative reversal of his $32 million veto on arts and culture funding.
This proposal follows DeSantis’ recent justification for vetoing arts funding statewide last month, where he specifically cited “sexual” content at festivals in Orlando and Tampa. DeSantis pointed to playwright Christen Hailey’s production at Tampa’s Fringe Festival, titled “Captain Havoc and the Big-Titty Bog Witches.”
During a news conference on June 27, DeSantis remarked, “You have your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where they’re doing all this stuff.”
The nonprofit clarified that Florida taxpayer dollars do not directly support artists. “Artists earn their income directly through ticket sales. In fact, 100% of an artist’s advertised ticket price is paid to that artist,” Fringe producers stated in an open letter to the governor. “Instead, taxpayer dollars help cover office expenses, ADA accommodations, and staff salaries.”
The approved funding for Fringe Festivals represented only .002 percent of the vetoed $32 million, a comparison Fringe leadership likened to “canceling Florida’s entire sports industry based on an objection with one player on one team.”
As of Friday, DeSantis’ office had not responded to two emails requesting comment.
Looking ahead, Fringe intends to reapply for state grants in future years. “The idea would be to forgo it this year, but then through collaboration and dialogue, foster a deeper understanding of the arts,” said Tampa Fringe producer Trish Parry.
According to Parry, alongside the show “Captain Havoc and the Big-Titty Bog Witches” on the festival webpage was a comedy performance titled “Florida Fever Dream.” This show featured a political cartoon depicting DeSantis riding an alligator wearing Minnie Mouse ears, with a pile of burning books in a campfire behind him.
“So that might have helped to stir things up, particularly against Tampa,” said Parry. “I’m sure you could find a show at Orlando Fringe with a title like ‘titty’ or something similar. I’m just certain that the ‘Florida Fever Dream’ show probably didn’t help matters.”
Both producers from Orlando and Tampa are hopeful to reconcile with DeSantis. They have extended invitations to him, his family, and his aides to attend their festivals in 2025 in hopes of fostering understanding.
Fringe producers wrote, “We ask that you reciprocate by welcoming and hosting us in October or November 2024 so that we can build bridges of understanding and deepen your familiarity with the benefits of arts & culture investments, thus empowering you to be an impassioned advocate.”
DeSantis has yet to RSVP.
Contributions to this report were made by Lawrence Mower.
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