Funding Arts Broward (FAB), a volunteer-driven and membership-based group that has been making grants to arts groups serving Broward County for the past two decades, will be releasing findings from a yearlong study of the state of the arts "Enriching the Arts, Opportunities in Broward County's Arts Community" at a community meeting.

The Community Foundation of Broward provided a grant to support the project and publication of its findings. Leaders from FAB and the Community Foundation of Broward will share their findings at a free town hall meeting that is open to the public held from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Sept. 26 in the Mary Porter Ballroom at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

"FAB is proud to share this report at a critical time when support for the arts is needed now more than ever given the $32 million cut in arts support from the state of Florida budget announced earlier this summer," said FAB President Mary Riedel in a press release.

Work on the project was conducted by a 10-member task force appointed by the FAB board and led by Ed Hashek, immediate past president of FAB. The study aimed to assess the needs of arts organizations serving Broward County and gain perspective on the state of the arts in Florida and nationally.

"This was the first time that FAB has undertaken a project of this caliber, and the findings are eye-opening, placing an important spotlight on where there are needs and gaps," Hashek said. "It also creates tremendous possibilities for more support for the arts and how our entire community can benefit."

Among the key findings of the "Enriching the Arts" report are:

• Arts organizations need more flexible funding, such as unrestricted grants to help pay for operational expenses, marketing resources for audience development, and affordable venue options.
• Gaps exist in K-12 arts education programs in Broward County public schools.
• More advocacy is needed for the arts collectively and underscores how the arts contribute to economic and community development in a large and diverse Broward County.
• Opportunities exist for more engagement and collaboration between and among arts organizations, business leaders, the public sector, cultural tourism, and public art projects.
• The arts provide pathways to enhancing education, reaching underserved communities, and boosting the local economy.

FAB is a privately funded non-profit organization that provides visual/performing and arts education grants to arts and culture organizations in Broward. FAB funds an annual grant pool of up to $400k, through the support of its members, corporate partners, and allied foundations. FAB was founded in 2003 by local artist and philanthropist Francie Bishop Good. FAB has provided over $5 million to over 85 arts organizations over the past 21 years. For more information, visit fundingartsbroward.org.