Urbanite Theatre walked away from $40,230 in Sarasota County tourism grant funding rather than sign a pledge acknowledging Florida's new anti-DEI law. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, facing the loss of more than $100,000, signed reluctantly.

They are among 34 arts organizations recommended for a share of $2.1 million in county tourism grants, all of which must now acknowledge Senate Bill 1134 or forfeit their funding.

The Sarasota County Commission will vote on the full grant pool at its Aug. 26 meeting.

The pledge stems from Senate Bill 1134, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed April 22. The law prohibits counties from using public money to fund, promote or implement diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. It defines DEI broadly: any effort to use race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation to influence hiring, provide preferential treatment or promote programming.

The enforcement mechanism is what worries arts leaders most. Under SB 1134, any resident can sue the county for damages if a court finds public funds went toward DEI, according to reporting by the Suncoast Searchlight. That creates legal exposure not just for the county but for every grantee in the pool.

The grants, funded by tourism tax dollars through the county's Tourist Development Cultural/Arts program, support exhibitions, performances and events that draw visitors. The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County administers the program and recommended the $2.1 million for 34 organizations this cycle. Named grantees include Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, La Musica, WSLR+Fogartyville, New College of Florida, United Way and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

Alliance CEO Brian Hersh said the review was originally scheduled for July before being postponed. He said his organization shared the acknowledgment form with applicants to make sure they knew about new language being added to grant contracts this funding cycle.

County spokesperson Josh Taylor said the grants are reimbursement-based and overseen by the Parks and Recreation Department, which would determine whether any group violated the law. Taylor said any violation would be handled under the grant agreement terms and county policy.

Urbanite Theatre co-founder Summer Wallace refused to sign, forfeiting $40,230 for the theater's 2026-27 season. Urbanite's upcoming slate includes "Black Bastard," which touches on race, and "1999," about gender and the #MeToo movement. Wallace is already projecting a financial loss next year.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, recommended for more than $100,000 for its "Rhapsodies of Rhythm" season, signed after initial hesitation. Executive Director Julie Leach, who has led the organization for more than a decade, told the Searchlight the law's vagueness is the problem.

"It's just really, really vague and the remedy is someone could sue the county if they feel they're supporting something that's preferential," Leach said. "But that may happen because we have Black in our name and all our programming is about the Black experience in America, which is real."

WSLR+Fogartyville, a public radio station and events space in the Rosemary District, also signed. General Manager Jesse Coleman said the grant funding is narrow, supporting only its concert series.

No commissioner has publicly commented on the compliance requirement. The Aug. 26 County Commission meeting is open to the public.