
The signature fundraiser comes at an important time for Creative Pinellas, which lost more than $1M in county funding in September.
Tiffany Razzano, Patch Staff
Posted Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 10:32 am ET

Arts Annual happens in Largo on Friday, Nov. 21.

Now that the smoke has cleared, what will happen next?

On the heels of county commissioners slashing more than $1 million in funding to Creative Pinellas, the arts support organization laid off half of its staff and canceled several upcoming programs.
By Kathryn Varn. Published Oct. 1, 2025.

LEALMAN, Fla. — Pinellas County’s budget for the new fiscal year includes just over $15 million for growth and redevelopment projects in Lealman.
BY Angie Angers| Pinellas County
PUBLISHED 8:10 AM ET Sep. 30, 2025

The headline of the Bee on Sept. 11 said that per the commissioners, Creative Pinellas as misusing tax dollars. Unfamiliar with the agency, I read the article to learn how the agency was misusing tax dollars. My initial thought that someone was diverting funds inappropriately. It was an attention-getting headline.
By Patti Smolansky. Published Sept. 26, 2025.

LARGO, Fla. — Creative Pinellas, which served as the county’s designated local arts agency, has been left in lurch as it enters its final days of county funding.
BY Angie Angers Pinellas County
PUBLISHED 10:26 AM ET Sep. 29, 2025

The arts nonprofit just laid off four staffers after a September vote to defund its efforts.
by Jennifer Ring – September 18, 2025

244 emails and more than 50 well-researched in-person pleas weren’t enough to save the nonprofit—but the fight might not be not over.
by Jennifer Ring – September 6, 2025
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Pinellas County commissioners voted 5-2 Thursday to remove general funding to the art agency.
By Colbi Edmonds Times staff
Published Sept. 5|Updated Sept. 5
Pinellas County commissioners took a preliminary vote Thursday to slash spending on a program that provides grants and exhibit space for artists, and signaled they may move to cut more.

Video Sep 5, 2025 / 10:09 PM EDT
Many in the Pinellas County Arts Community said they are shocked and angered after Thursday nights commission meeting….

BY Angie Angers Pinellas County

WUSF | By Gabriella Pau

Creative Pinellas will be facing budget cuts as county commissioners will vote on Thursday.
Author: wtsp.com

Commission Chair Brian Scott believes they should be doing more to promote arts tourism, but what about the pilot programs already in the works?
By Claire Farrow
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The nonprofit wasn’t established to fund tourism, but has put art in front of Pinellas County visitors.
By Jennifer Ring on Wed, Sep 3, 2025 at 1:02 pm
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The local agency behind murals, sculptures, and even signal boxes around Pinellas County is under threat. Creative Pinellas has been the county’s designated arts organization since 2001. Jennifer Kveglis reports.
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Christopher Curry | Sunday, August 31, 2025
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