>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, CENTRAL FLORIDA'S ARTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN AMONG THE HARDEST HIT GROUPS IN THE PANDEMIC.

BUT AS COVID-19 CASES FALL IN OUR REGION, HOW IS OUR LOCAL CREATIVE INDUSTRY FARING?

TONIGHT, A CONVERSATION WITH JENNIFER EVANS OF UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO INVEST IN THE ARTS AND THE CHALLENGES GOING FORWARD.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT.

WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF NEWSNIGHT.

FEW PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19 MORE THAN THE ARTS.

THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION ESTIMATES THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES HAVE LOST ABOUT $150 BILLION NATIONWIDE IN SALES SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, UNITED ARTS REPORTED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR, THAT NEARLY 10,000 LOCAL EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED WITH THOUSANDS OF JOBS LOST.

WELL, I RECENTLY INVITED THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, JENNIFER EVINS, INTO OUR STUDIO.

AND I STARTED BY ASKING HER HOW LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE FARING.

>>WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVEN'T LOST ANY OF THEM.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT.

NUMBER ONE, THEY HAD THE FORESIGHT AND THE ABILITY, THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO APPLY FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WAS AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SHUTTERED VENUE GRANTS.

CRITICAL FOR OUR PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WHO OBVIOUSLY RELY SO MUCH ON TICKET SALES.

SO AS A COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED.

FROM A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT OF VIEW, THE CARES ACT FUNDING THAT CAME THROUGH ORANGE COUNTY AND THE OTHER COUNTIES AND CITIES.

SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THE RELIEF FUNDING GOT TO THE ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THAT WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

WE HAVEN'T LOST ANY OF THEM.

AND I THINK THAT PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY REALLY CAME FORWARD.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE LOVED THE ARTS IN ORLANDO, IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

SO WHEN THEY HEARD, THEY RESPONDED.

SO THEY HAD A LOT OF PRIORITY, OBVIOUSLY AS A COMMUNITY, WE DID ACROSS THE GLOBE TO HAVE PRIORITIES FOR PHILANTHROPY, AS WELL AS PUBLIC SUPPORT.

BUT I THINK THAT ORLANDO REALLY STEPPED UP FOR ITS NONPROFITS, ESPECIALLY THE ARTS, BECAUSE THEY VALUE WHAT THEY BRING TO THEIR LIVES, WHAT THEY BRING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

SO I THINK THAT NOT A LOT OF JOBS THAT WERE FULL-TIME JOBS WERE LOST.

THE HARDEST JOB IS THE GIG JOB.

WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE BASED ON EXPERIENCES AND WHEN THEY GET HIRED FOR THOSE GIGS.

SO FROM NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, VERY FEW, IF ANY FULL-TIME JOBS WERE LOST.

>>SO YOU DON'T THINK IT'LL TAKE VERY LONG FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY TO SORT OF DIG ITSELF OUT OF THE HOLE, HOWEVER DEEP THE HOLE MAY BE.

I'VE SEEN NUMBERS OF ABOUT $3.9 MILLION IN LOST WAGES.

BUT IN TERMS OF RECOVERY, YOU SEE THAT AS FAIRLY RAPID?

>>SO WHAT I SEE IS PEOPLE RETURNING TO THE ARTS.

SO IF THE CONSUMER RETURNS AND THEY START USING THEIR DISPOSABLE INCOME TO ENJOY THE ARTS AGAIN, WHETHER IT IS FROM PARTICIPATION, WHETHER IT'S TAKING A CLASS OR BUYING A TICKET, SUBSCRIPTIONS, EVERYTHING THAT THE CONSUMER CHOOSES, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP.

THE ARTS DON'T JUST PRODUCE ART FOR ART'S SAKE.

THEY PRODUCE IT FOR THE CONSUMER.

SO WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE ARTS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK AND DROVES.

I MEAN, IT'S EXCITING.

I JUST HAD OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MONTHLY MEETING AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS, WHERE THEY WERE EVEN EXCEEDING THOSE.

SO PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR THE ARTS, THEY'VE MISSED THEM AND THEY ARE SHOWING UP.

>>SO, THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE HAD TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

STILL, WE'RE HONORING SOME OF THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THERE MAY NOT BE THE MAXIMUM TICKET SALES.

BUT OVERALL THE CONSUMERS ARE RESPONDING.

THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND ENJOYS THE ARTS.

AND SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE, I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE PROBABLY 18 MONTHS TO GET BACK TO THE FINANCIAL LEVEL OF- >>PRE-PANDEMIC.

>>RIGHT, PRE-PANDEMIC.

BUT I THINK WE'RE SEEING A ROBUST RESPONSE TO ENJOYING THE ARTS AGAIN.

>>I WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN A MOMENT, BUT LET ME JUST GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED BEFORE AND THAT'S THE PHILANTHROPY.

PHILANTHROPY IS SUCH A BIG PART OF HOW ARTS ORGANIZATIONS SURVIVE AND COVERING THE ARTS COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT THIS TOP OF MIND FOR PEOPLE AND HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE TO PART WITH THEIR MONEY.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF PHILANTHROPY IN THE ARTS AT THE MOMENT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IN YOUR MIND?

>>SO WE'LL KICK OFF THE COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGN AT THE END OF NOVEMBER.

AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT GIVING.

FIRST OF ALL, THEY KNOW THE VALUE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PANDEMIC, THE GAP IN THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY LOST THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND EXPERIENCE THE ARTS.

OF COURSE THERE WERE SOME VIRTUAL OPTIONS, BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL CHOOSE TO GIVE MORE TO THE ARTS BECAUSE THEY WILL UNDERSTAND SINCE THEY HAD SUCH A VOID OF THE ARTS, HOW MUCH JOY THE ARTS BROUGHT THEM, NOT ONLY IN THEIR OWN LIVES, BUT LOOKING AT HOW IT BUILT COMMUNITY, HOW PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER.

SO FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, FROM CORPORATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY HAVE CUT THE ARTS.

WHICH IS GREAT.

>>DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

>>NOT IN THIS TOWN.

SO THIS IS WHAT I WILL TELL YOU.

I AM NEW TO THIS COMMUNITY.

FOUR MONTHS IN, AND WHAT I KNOW, AND ONE OF THE REASONS I WAS ATTRACTED TO CENTRAL FLORIDA IS THAT THIS REGION LOVES THE ARTS AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THE ARTS.

I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO SHIFT FROM JUST SCARCITY FUNDING, THAT THIS IS JUST WHAT YOU NEED TO, WHAT CAN WE DO?

WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONAL GOALS AND HOW CAN WE ALIGN OUR RESOURCES FOR THAT?

BUT THIS COMMUNITY FROM FOURTH GENERATION TO NEW PEOPLE HAVE JUST MOVED HERE.

THEY VALUE THE ARTS AND THEY INVEST IN THEM.

>>IT'S INTERESTING YOU SAY THAT THOUGH, BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY GET FRUSTRATED WITH WHERE THE ARTS IS IN.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER UNTIL JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, RELATIVELY RECENTLY, COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE MARKETS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO SET TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT THE ARTS IS SO WELL SUPPORTED HERE.

WELL, AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT.

SO WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT, QUANTIFIABLY THE IMPACT OF THE DR. PHILLIPS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, OF LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF ARTS EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE MEASURABLE.

SO IT'S HARD TO MEASURE JOY IN INDIVIDUAL'S LIVES, BUT WHEN YOU CAN LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND WE HAD OUR LAST ECONOMIC IMPACT PROSPERITY STUDY DONE WITH AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS IN 2017, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN 2020.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO SHOW A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE.

BUT THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY.

THE ARTS ARE FUNDED FROM MULTIPLE REVENUE SOURCES.

OF COURSE, EARNED REVENUE OF THE CONSUMER.

THEN THE PHILANTHROPIC GIFT FROM WHETHER IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL CORPORATION OR FOUNDATION.

AND THE PUBLIC RESOURCES THAT ARE DEDICATED.

AND THAT IS IN ORANGE COUNTY ALONE, THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC RESOURCES THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THE ARTS, WHETHER IT'S FACILITIES, VENUE, SUBSIDIES, TOURISM, GRANTS, OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS, ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR SUPPORTS THE ARTS IS UNLIKE MANY IN THE COUNTRY.

SO YOU MAY COMPARE CENTRAL FLORIDA TO OTHER COUNTIES IN THIS STATE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE FEW COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SUPPORT PER CAPITA IN THE NATION.

NOW YOU CAN LOOK AT OREGON OR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, WHERE THEY HAVE DEDICATED TAX RESOURCES THAT GO TOWARDS THAT.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE LEVERAGE THOSE DOLLARS TO INCREASE PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY IN THE ARTS.

BUT I WOULD SAY THIS COMMUNITY HAS STEPPED UP.

LOOK AT WHAT IT'S PRODUCED NOW.

AND I THINK MOVING FORWARD, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO QUANTIFY THAT IMPACT.

>>YOU MENTIONED THE DR. PHILIP CENTER, AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO TALK ABOUT STEINMETZ HALL IN A MOMENT, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

A MOMENT THAT VENUES HAVE HAD UP TO THIS POINT, HOW HAVE GROUPS NAVIGATED SORT OF THE COVID-19 WORLD IN TERMS OF MITIGATION?

ARE THEY DOING IT SUCCESSFULLY?

WHAT KIND OF APPROACHES ARE ORGANIZATIONS TAKING?

>>SO I THINK THAT IT TAKES, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSUMER.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUDIENCE TO SAY, "YOU'VE GOT TO PRACTICE YOUR SAFETY PROTOCOL AND WE'LL PUT THINGS INTO PLACE THAT WE HOPE THAT WILL KEEP YOU SAFE."

BUT THE OWNERSHIP IS NOT JUST ON THE FACILITIES OR THE ORGANIZATIONS.

IT'S ALSO IN THE CONSUMER, THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO ENJOY THE ARTS.

AND I THINK THEY'VE MET EACH OTHER HALFWAY.

I THINK THAT THE PATRONS HAVE DONE WHAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

VACCINATION, OF COURSE.

WEARING A MASK, OF COURSE.

MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SO THAT IS ON THE CONSUMER, ON THE PATRON.

BUT THEN THE VENUES HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF PLANNING THEIR SEATING.

SOME HAVE SEGREGATED THE SEATING SO THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL TOGETHER.

OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE HAS WRITTEN PROTOCOL WITHIN THEIR FACILITIES, BUT THEY'VE ALSO GONE, WHICH THEY DID DURING THE PANDEMIC, TO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.

SO IF YOU DON'T CHOOSE TO ATTEND AN EVENT, THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPTION IN MOST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS TO ENJOY THEIR PRODUCT, THEIR CREATIVE PRODUCT, VIRTUALLY.

SO WHEN I'VE BEEN OUT, I'VE BEEN TO THE DR. PHILLIPS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

I'VE BEEN TO TIMUCUA THIS PAST WEEKEND, THEIR ARTS FOUNDATION FOR A CONCERT.

I'VE BEEN TO THE ORLANDO ART MUSEUM AND PEOPLE ARE HONORING SOCIAL DISTANCING, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY CLEAR WHEN YOU WALK IN WHAT THE PROTOCOL IS IN EACH LOCATION.

BUT IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CONSUMER AND THE ORGANIZATION, FOR SURE.

>>ONE THING YOU CAN'T DO IN FLORIDA IS ASK YOUR CUSTOMERS TO BE VACCINATED AND PROVIDE PROOF OF THAT.

>>CORRECT.

>>ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE REQUIRING THAT.

>>THERE'S A LOT OF FATIGUE WITH ARTS LEADERS ABOUT MAKING DECISIONS IN AREAS THEY'VE NEVER HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS BEFORE.

IT'S ARTS LEADER, IT'S BUSINESS LEADERS, IT'S HEALTHCARE, IT'S PUBLIC SECTOR, EVERYTHING.

>>EVERYTHING'S BECOME POLITICAL, CORRECT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE WAY THINGS ARE.

>>EXACTLY.

BUT THEY'RE ALL DECISIONS WE'VE NEVER BEEN FACED BEFORE.

SO WHAT I THINK THAT IS HAPPENING IS THE LEADERS COME TOGETHER WITHIN THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE BEST FOR THE SAFETY OF THE ARTISTS WHO ARE PERFORMING, THEIR EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS THE PATRONS.

AND SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE BURDENED OR HAVE LOST PATRONAGE BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING WHAT IS HEALTHY FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEIR ARTISTS, AS WELL AS THE PATRONS.

>>YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS JOB, JUST SINCE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE COMING INTO SUCH A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY DURING THIS TIME, THIS UNIQUE TIME?

>>WELL, BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE REALLY HAD TO BEEN INNOVATIVE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW LEADERS IN THE ARTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW LEADERS ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA AND VISIT ORLANDO SOME OF OUR UNIVERSITIES, THE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP.

SO I'M COMING IN AT A TIME REALLY OF JUST NEWNESS AND KIND OF HITTING THE RESET BUTTON.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW IDEAS BECAUSE SO MANY NEW IDEAS HAVE HAD TO BEEN LAUNCHED DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS AND LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER.

>>THE OTHER THING THAT I WILL SAY IS SO RELEVANT IS HOW WILLING AND COLLABORATIVE THIS COMMUNITY IS.

PEOPLE WANT TO COOPERATE, THEY WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS TOGETHER.

NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE THE MAGIC ANSWER TO THINGS.

AND SO EVERYBODY COMES TO THE TABLE LOOKING FOR IDEAS.

AND THAT, I FEEL LIKE I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>>LET'S LOOK BEYOND COVID FOR A MOMENT.

I'M SURE YOU'LL BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BROADWAY RETURNED TO ORLANDO RECENTLY WITH THE TOURING PRODUCTION OF TOOTSIE.

WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT MOMENT FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY?

IT GOT A LOT OF COVERAGE BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SORT OF A MOMENTOUS TIME FOLLOWING THIS PANDEMIC.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT?

>>WELL, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, NO ONE EVER EXPECTED THIS, THE PANDEMIC TO LAST SO LONG.

WE WERE THE VERY FIRST TO CLOSE.

BROADWAY CLOSED, ALL THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS CLOSED AND WE'RE THE LAST TO OPEN.

AND SO NOT ONLY DO WE CELEBRATE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE BROADWAY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, BUT THAT THE BROADWAY PERFORMERS ARE PERFORMING AGAIN.

THEY, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THOSE ARE ARTISTS, THOSE ARE OUR PEOPLE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ARTS PSYCHOLOGY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NATION AND UNDERSTAND THAT ARTISTS ARE A CRITICAL PIECE OF THAT.

>>AND SO WE CELEBRATE THAT, THAT THE PERFORMERS ARE BACK ON THE STAGE THAT THEY'RE DOING, WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO, AND THAT THE AUDIENCE IS SHOWING UP FOR IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S A SIGN FOR THE REST OF THE NATION THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT SUCCESSFULLY IN ORLANDO, IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

AND I HOPE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WILL SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, "IT WAS SAFE IN ORLANDO.

IT WORKED THERE.

SO LET'S OPEN OUR DOORS FOR BROADWAY ACROSS THE NATION BECAUSE THEY ARE SO READY TO PERFORM."

>>WELL, HERE WE ARE AT THANKSGIVING TIME, BUT ANOTHER BIG MILESTONE THAT'S COMING UP IS ON JANUARY 14TH WHEN STEINMETZ HALL THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT OPENS.

IT WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF COVID.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY, STEINMETZ HALL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MEANS FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA?

>>WHAT I THINK IT MEANS IS THAT DREAMS COME TRUE.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES 20 YEARS FOR DREAMS TO HAPPEN.

AND THIS IS A DREAM LED BY AMAZING PEOPLE OVER A LONG TIME.

IT HAS REQUIRED REVOLUTIONARY PATIENCE, NOT JUST BY THE FOLKS WITH THE DR. PHILLIPS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BUT ALSO THE CULTURAL SECTOR, THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY TO PERFORM IN THIS CENTER.

SO IT'S TAKEN REVOLUTIONARY PATIENCE.

AND I THINK THAT THE REALIZATION ONCE THEY START PERFORMING IN THAT CENTER, THEY WILL FORGET ALL OF THE TIME THAT HAS PASSED.

THEY WILL FORGET THE CHALLENGES BECAUSE WHEN THEY PERFORM ON THAT STAGE AND THEY FEEL THE INTIMACY, I'VE BEEN IN THE HALL, A COUPLE OF TIMES, IT IS EXTRAORDINARY.

IT IS WORLD CLASS AND THEY'VE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ARTIST WHO IS PERFORMING AS WELL AS THE PATRON, WHO'S ENJOYING THAT EXPERIENCE.

>>SO I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM THE PERFORMING ARTS.

WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT IT IS OUR ROLE FOR UNITED ARTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INVEST OUR RESOURCES AS A COMMUNITY TO ENRICH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE LEVERAGE WHAT'S HAPPENS AT STEINMETZ.

HOW DO WE LEVERAGE THAT TO CREATE MORE INCOME REVENUE, NOT JUST EARNED INCOME FROM TICKET SALES, BUT ALSO LEVERAGE MORE INVESTMENT BY PHILANTHROPY AND CORPORATIONS.

NOT JUST IN THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BUT ALSO IN THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO PERFORM AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL.

IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT TOOK 10 YEARS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BUILD A NEW CULTURAL CENTER.

AND IT TOOK A LOT OF STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO GET TO THAT OPENING DAY.

AND I WILL CELEBRATE WITH THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, I KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH BOTH SIDES.

AND WHAT I KNOW IS THAT WHEN THEY COME TOGETHER IN THAT FACILITY, THAT THEY WILL BE SO PROUD AND THE MUSICIANS, THE DANCERS, THE SINGERS, EVERYBODY THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE AS WELL AS THE CONSUMERS WILL CELEBRATE.

>>WHAT ABOUT DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS?

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE PART OF THE COUNTRY.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE ARTS LOCALLY IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO TRY TO MAKE IT SO IF NOT?

AND DOES THAT FACTOR INTO HOW YOU FINANCE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS?

IS DIVERSITY AN IMPORTANT PART OF MAKING THE ARTS AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHEN I INTERVIEWED, AS WELL AS WHEN I JOINED, IT BECAME VERY APPARENT TO ME THAT WHAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS AN EFFORT, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY REFLECT ALONE THE RACIAL POPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

37% OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

IS THAT WHAT WE LOOK LIKE AS A CULTURAL SECTOR?

I DON'T KNOW THAT YET, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY WEAKER THAN STRONGER.

WHAT I KNOW IS IF WE DON'T HAVE DIVERSE PEOPLE INCLUDED IN THE DECISION MAKING ABOUT WHERE THOSE RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED, WE WILL NOT HAVE EQUITY.

AND SO AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WHERE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECISION-MAKING, WHICH IS GRANT-MAKING, WHICH IS POLICY AROUND OUR GRANTS AND HOW EASILY ACCESSIBLE THEY ARE, IT IS CRITICAL TO HAVE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER DIVERSE POPULATIONS ON OUR GRANTS PANEL.

SO THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE AREA THAT WE'RE WORKING.

>>WE GRANT ABOUT $6 MILLION OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S NOT JUST HAVING THOSE DECISION-MAKERS WHO DECIDE WHO GETS THE MONEY, BUT ALL ALSO UP AT POLICY.

SO WHAT DO OUR GRANT POLICIES LOOK LIKE?

AND WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY, EITHER PERCEIVED OR REAL?

AND THEN HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD THE CAPACITY OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE UNDERREPRESENTED OR UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY?

HOW DO WE BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE GRANTS?

NOT JUST OUR GRANTS, BUT THE COUNTIES, GRANTS, THE STATE'S GRANTS, THE FEDERAL GRANTS.

THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES THAT ARE MISSED OUT ON BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE INTIMIDATED OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT GOVERNANCE IN THEIR ORGANIZATION, THEIR BYLAWS, THEY DON'T MEET THEIR BYLAWS, OR THEY DON'T HAVE A FINANCIAL STATEMENT ONCE A YEAR, A 990.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WHETHER YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR ONE OF UNITED ARTS GRANTS OR A FEDERAL GRANT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN PLACE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE DOLLARS.

>>SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE, NUMBER ONE, THAT WE HAVE DIVERSE PEOPLE HELPING TO MAKE DECISIONS.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CREATE A PIPELINE OF LEADERSHIP THAT TAPS INTO THE EXPERTISE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AS WELL IN BUSINESS AND CREATIVE, ACCOUNTING, LEGAL, AND IDENTIFY WHO THOSE LEADERS ARE THAT WANT TO SERVE IN THE CULTURAL SECTOR AND START FEEDING OUR ORGANIZATIONS WITH POTENTIAL LEADERS.

I WILL SAY THIS, OUR COMMUNITY GRANTS, OUR DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS GRANTS AND OUR PROJECT GRANTS ALL SERVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT, IT HASN'T BEEN COMMUNICATED OR REFLECTED IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE.

BUT WE'VE A LOT, A LOT OF WORK TO DO, SO.

>>WHAT ABOUT YOUR OTHER PRIORITIES BEYOND THAT?

PRESUMABLY YOU HAVE MANY, YOU'VE ONLY BEEN IN THE JOB A FEW MONTHS, BUT WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE AND SORT OF WHAT IS YOUR TIMESCALE?

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE STILL IN, THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING IN BUT WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR UNITED ARTS?

>>SO MY FIRST 90 DAYS WAS TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND LISTEN.

I LISTENED TO OVER 300 STAKEHOLDERS AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT BODIES AND OUR SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND OUR TOWN LEADERS, FROM MAIN STREET LEADERS TO DONORS, FOUNDATIONS, CHAMBERS, WHAT ARE THEIR ISSUES?

HOW DOES THE ART FIT INTO THE LARGER FRAMEWORK?

THE NEXT 90 DAYS I'M WORKING ON OUR OWN ORGANIZATION.

OPERATIONALLY, HOW ARE WE FUNCTIONING?

HOW ARE OUR DOORS OPEN?

WHAT ARE OUR GRANTS DO TO HELP OTHERS?

HOW CAN WE REFINE OUR OPERATING?

SO THE FIRST 180 DAYS HAS REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON LEARNING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS OPERATING AT A CAPACITY TO REACH OUR MISSION.

SO LOOKING AT WHERE WE'RE HEADED IN THE FUTURE, WE HAVE A VERY DYNAMIC ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM IN ORANGE COUNTY, ALONG WITH ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT WE HAVE NOT WORKED AS HARD IN OSCEOLA LAKE AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES.

>>SO WE HAVE PROMOTED ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT USED TO WORK JUST IN GRANTS COORDINATION TO A FULL TIME ARTS EDUCATION COORDINATOR.

SO WE'RE GOING TO REALLY LOOK AT ARTS EDUCATION IN ALL FOUR COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ARTS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH, BUT ALSO OUR SENIOR ADULTS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SENIORS WHO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS, THEY DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, THEY HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.

THEY WANT A VIBRANT LIFE AND THE ARTS HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT EXPANDING OUR ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS FROM ZERO TO A HUNDRED.

SO THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

>>THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS OUR GRANTS PROGRAM.

SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART OF OUR WORK.

WE RAISE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WE GRANT A LOT OF MONEY AND IT'S NOT JUST GETTING THE MONEY, BUT BEING GREAT STEWARDS OF THAT MONEY TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS.

WE HAVE THREE MORE ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT POOL THIS YEAR.

EVERY YEAR WE HOPE TO GROW THAT BACK TO THE DIVERSITY QUESTION.

MY GOAL IS THAT IN 10 YEARS WE HAVE 30 MORE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.

AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG, BUT I TALK ABOUT THE BALLET.

THE ORLANDO BALLET STARTED IN 1978, I BELIEVE, WITH SIX VOLUNTEERS AND SIX DANCERS.

AND NOW THEY'RE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ORGANIZATION.

WELL, WE HAVE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DESERVE THE SAME KIND OF NURTURING THAT UNITED ARTS HAS PROVIDED FOR THE OPERA AND FOR ORLANDO BALLET.

SO NOW WE NEED TO FIND THAT NEXT GENERATION OF ORGANIZATIONS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GROW OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT POOL.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO RAISE MORE MONEY TO, TO FEED THAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO GROW OUR COMMUNITY GRANTS.

PART OF BECOMING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT'S AUTHENTIC TO ITSELF IS REALLY HAVING COMMUNITY GRANTS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY FOR ORGANIZATIONS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, BUT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

SO GROWING OUR COMMUNITY GRANTS POOL, AND ALSO GROWING OUR DIVERSITY IN THE ARTS GRANTS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THESE EMERGING ORGANIZATIONS INTO BECOMING WHAT THEIR ASPIRATIONS AND GOALS ARE.

SO WE AREN'T JUST GOING TO GRANT, GROW THE FUNDING FOR DIVERSITY.

WE'RE GOING TO GROW THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY FROM STAFFING STANDPOINT OF VIEW, BUT ALSO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK IT'S NOT JUST A BOARD THAT DECIDES WHAT THE CREATIVE CULTURE IS IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S THE CREATIVE COMMITTEES.

IT'S THE COMMITTEES THAT DECIDE THE CURATORIAL COMMITTEE AT THE MUSEUMS.

IT'S THE MUSIC PROGRAM COMMITTEE FOR THE PHILHARMONIC.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE DIVERSE PEOPLE REPRESENTED ON THOSE COMMITTEES, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THEY'RE NOT, WE JUST, AREN'T BUILDING A NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

>>I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE HAPPY WITH SORT OF THE STATE SUPPORT OF THE ARTS.

THAT OBVIOUSLY VARIES DRAMATICALLY BETWEEN DIFFERENT STATES AND, AND, AND FLORIDA'S FLORIDA.

AND I'M WONDERING HOW YOU RATE THE STATE SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS AND WHETHER YOU'D LIKE MORE?

>>WELL, I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN IN THAT I'VE SPENT MY FIRST MONTHS HERE REALLY FOCUSED LOCALLY.

WHAT I DO KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE TRANSFORMATION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OF THAT FROM LOCAL SUPPORT OF OUR DELEGATION.

WHAT I KNOW IS THAT IT HAS TO BE SUSTAINABLE AND IT CANNOT BE AN UNRELIABLE SOURCE THAT GOES FROM ZERO ONE YEAR AND MORE THE NEXT.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT NATIONAL MODELS ON STATE FUNDING FOR THE ARTS.

AND I KNOW I'LL GO TO TALLAHASEE IN JANUARY, AND I'M SURE I'LL LEARN A LOT.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR IT.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IF WE COULD GET FULL FUNDING FROM THE STATE LEGISLATOR THIS YEAR, WE WOULD ALL BE, IT WOULD BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT, BUT IN FLORIDA WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.

>>YEAH.

WELL, GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEW ROLE.

>>THANK YOU.

>>IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY TIME FOR YOU.

>>JENNIFER EVINS FROM UNITED ARTS.

>>THANK YOU.

>>THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>THANK YOU.

>>WELL YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA AND OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR REGION AND STATE ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU'LL ALSO FIND MORE NEWSNIGHT INTERVIEWS AND OUR PODCAST THERE AS WELL.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.