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Tampa Bay needs increased funding for the arts

David Cox chimes in on what Tampa Bay needs to be a better place in four years.

By Ray Roa on Fri, Mar 1, 2024 at 3:08 pm

Photo by Dave Decker

(L-R) Grymes Cannon, David Cox and Tad Danham at 1920 in Ybor City, Florida on Feb. 7. 2024.

To commemorate the leap year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay asked readers and local leaders to chime in on what Tampa Bay needs to be a better place in four years.

Many of the results of the "What Tampa Bay Needs" survey revolved around the Bay area arts scene including a desire for more museums with nighttime hours and film incentives.

Others called for a robust system of public support for the arts, including David Cox, Executive Director, Gasparilla Music Festival, who echoed a desire to see increased funding for the arts.

"Investment in arts leads to creativity which leads to innovative thinking that can help grow businesses and provide alternative solutions to other regional issues," Cox added. "We need to push elected officials to prioritize early arts educational opportunities and encourage the private sector to increase support of the arts."

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About The Author

Ray Roa

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The...

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