Leon County to Discuss Tallahassee Council on Culture and Arts Funding

Leon County Commissioners are scheduled to discuss a proposal on May 12, 2026, that would eliminate all current funding for Tallahassee’s Council on Culture and Arts (COCA).

County staff members are recommending that the county’s Division of Tourism take over the grant programs currently managed by the organization.

Kathleen Spehar, the executive director of COCA, stated that the organization has served as the local nonprofit arts organization for Leon County and the surrounding area for 40 years. She warned that the removal of county funding could devastate the organization, leading to potential layoffs and cuts to services.

COCA provides funding for various year-round community programming, which includes:

• Festivals and exhibitions
• Concerts and literary events
• Murals and sculptures throughout the county

Spehar expressed concern that the proposed funding shift would jeopardize the economic contributions of the local arts sector. According to Spehar, the arts and culture nonprofit sector alone generates $204 million a year of economic impact.

Regarding the potential loss of funds, Spehar stated:

The threat here is that this money would be removed from the year-round programming that not only adds tourism to the area but also builds infrastructure, builds economic impact. Kathleen Spehar

The proposed change has also drawn concern from local artists and arts leadership. Dan Taylor, a practicing artist and the president of LeMoyne Arts, noted that local artists often depend on COCA to help them navigate available resources and grant opportunities.

Taylor highlighted the significance of the current funding model, stating:

The demonstrated return on investment that we show that the arts funding does in our community is very impactful. Dan Taylor

COCA is currently seeking support from both the community and the county commissioners as they prepare to address the agenda item on May 12, 2026.