BRADENTON – Whether a local resident or visitor to Anna Maria Island, you have probably noticed the wide variety of Florida license plates available to residents. From education, whales, support of the seas and more than a hundred more, these plates do a great service for nonprofit organizations.
At a recent event at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Destination Sales Managers Aimee Blenker and Vanessa Zigich gave an update on how funds from the “State of the Arts” license plate will continue to benefit area art-related nonprofit organizations.
The Florida Arts License Plate Program was created by the Legislature in 1994, and since its inception, funds collected through the sale of these plates are distributed to the counties where the plates are sold and are used to support arts programs, organizations and activities within the specific county. The counties are required to designate a recipient organization to administer the funds which will support arts activities within the specific county. Counties receive funding directly from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
“To date, the art plate has generated over $10 million for the state’s art programs,” said Zigich, who added the CVB receives $20 from the sale of each art tag in Manatee County.
To be eligible to receive funds from the plate program, the organization must be a Manatee County-based non-profit arts organization designated as a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4). Manatee County-based educational institutions can also apply. Any educational institution can apply, but the funding must be for a program specifically for a program involving the arts.
This money is specifically for artists’ fees, production or expedition expenses and supplies. Administrative expenses, promotions, marketing and other similar expenses are not covered by the program.
