The Orlando I’m Working For
A city where culture lives on every corner
Orlando is celebrating its 150th birthday. As I walked through the exhibition “The Changing Face of Orlando” at City Hall, I found myself reflecting not just on our past—but on the city I want to live in, and the one I’m helping to create.
Top image: Construction on the East-West Expressway | Bottom photo by John Baker: State Road 408 Photo by Peterson Guerrier Top photo by unknown photographer | Bottom photo by Kayla Smith
Some images from the exhibition.
Where Orlando Stands in the U.S.
Some U.S. cities have built strong cultural infrastructures with policies that prioritize public art:
Philadelphia: Over 4,000 murals and a pioneering Percent-for-Art program
Seattle: 1% of city capital budgets are legally dedicated to public art
Minnesota (state): Leads the nation in per capita arts funding at $10.07 per person
Meanwhile, Orlando has no public arts ordinance and trails behind in both the number of artworks and funding levels.
Europe Sets the Standard
Across the Atlantic, public support for the arts is seen as essential to civic life:
Germany: Approx. $85 per person in arts funding
Finland: Nearly $91 per person
France and Sweden: Each spend over $57 per person on cultural programming
The EU average: 1.0% of all government expenditure goes to arts and culture
Compared to these figures, Orlando—and most U.S. cities—are dramatically under-invested in cultural development.
What More Public Art Could Mean
Imagine:
Murals anchoring neighborhoods
Storytelling through sculpture in parks
Cultural identity built into public transit, libraries, and city buildings
Artists participating in city planning, not just responding to it
This is not decoration—it’s public memory, economic growth, and civic pride.
What I’m Doing—and Inviting You to Do
I’m not just dreaming about this version of Orlando. I’m helping build it.
Through projects, partnerships, and advocacy, I’m working for a city that funds artists, celebrates culture, and builds with beauty in mind.
A Shared Cultural Future
“As we celebrate Orlando’s 150th birthday, let’s also ask: what kind of city will we leave behind 150 years from now?”
If you care about a more creative, inclusive, expressive Orlando—this conversation is for you. Let’s make space for the culture we deserve.
Public Art Investment: A Snapshot
City / Region | Public Art Investment / Capita | Notable Programs |
Orlando (FL) | Low / No ordinance | No public arts ordinance |
Philadelphia (PA) | 700+ works, 4000+ murals | First Percent-for-Art program; Mural Arts |
Seattle (WA) | 400+ public artworks | 1% of capital budget dedicated to public art |
Minnesota (State) | $10.07 per person | Legacy Amendment supports public culture |
France / Sweden | $57+ per person | National cultural investment and infrastructure |
Sources
National Endowment for the Arts – How the U.S. Funds the Arts
Arts Midwest – Public Funding for the Arts in the Midwest, 2025
CreativePHL – Philadelphia’s Percent-for-Art Program
Mural Arts Philadelphia – Program Overview
Eurostat – Government Expenditure on Culture in the EU
Statens Konstråd – Swedish Public Art Report
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