This page is being updated
The Cultural Umbrella program details here are under revision by the Arts Council. Please do not rely on this page until the revision is published. For current information, contact the Council at info@keysarts.com or 305-295-4369.
Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the Umbrella organization under contract with the County, has recommended to the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, which has endorsed the recommendation, that certain monies be allocated for promotion of an event.
Monroe County, Cultural Event Funding Agreement, FY 2027
How the Cultural Umbrella came to be
In the 1980s the citizens of Monroe County passed referendums authorizing a three-cent tax on tourist lodging, the bed tax, to be used for tourist advertising, promotion and some tourist-related capital projects. The Board of County Commissioners created the Tourist Development Council to recommend and administer those expenditures.
To serve the different communities of the Keys, five District Advisory Committees were created, from Key West to Key Largo. To serve three Keys-wide industries, three umbrellas were created: Diving, Fishing and Cultural. District Advisory Committees and umbrellas are unique to Monroe County.
The county first contracted the Key West Art and Historical Society to administer the Cultural Umbrella funds, and later the Florida Keys Federation of Chambers. The Florida Keys Council of the Arts was recognized as the appropriate organization to administer the Cultural Umbrella and asked for the job. By resolution, the Board of County Commissioners turned it over to the Arts Council as of January 1, 2002.
Applications are scored against the goals of the Tourist Development Council: visitors in the off season, enhancement of the visitor experience, local support, and showcasing the destination. Successful applicants are reimbursed for approved expenditures.
Fiscal year 2027
Cultural Umbrella funding supports the advertising, promotion and marketing of cultural events across Monroe County.
| District | Events | Requested | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 26 | $719,059 | $472,063 |
| II | 3 | $65,000 | $59,829 |
| III | 3 | $90,000 | $87,240 |
| IV | 4 | $120,000 | $88,930 |
| V | 4 | $65,350 | $61,202 |
| VI | 1 | $25,000 | $18,748 |
Documents
The application, cover letter, guidelines and allowable expenditures for the coming cycle are published here each year.
Please look for more information on January 1.
“The mission of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council is to manage Monroe County's tourism marketing efforts to ensure long-term economic stability through visitor-related revenues.”
Monroe County Tourist Development Council The Florida Keys & Key West