Last year, it became apparent that the City of St Augustine was not going to be able to raise the contributions needed to feed the ravenous appetite of former mayor, Joe Boles, and 450th executive director, Dana Ste. Claire. But, instead of re-assessing and scaling back, the City Manager continued to appropriate public funds in an attempt to fill the ever-growing money pit.
The City asked the TDC for $129,000 in Fiscal 2015.
The TDC saw what was happening; and, citing authenticity and over-commercialization concerns, they had concern that the City would be able to meet expectations in the eyes of our visitors. They approved a budget of $90,128 for the City of St Augustine sponsored events, and told local news reporters, that they have set aside contingency funds, if needed.
“We have set aside $125,000 to support Tapestries, September events, and the Spain – USA Summit if needed,” TDC Executive Director Glenn Hastings told Historic City News today. “This will not be paid to city, necessarily, but most likely will be payments to vendors for supplies and or services.”
The $125,000 could be used for a number of qualified purchases, Hastings explained. The county’s cultural events staff could use the money to produce 450th related concerts or other presentations.
“Another example is a series of free, recurring lectures or storytelling; staged throughout the historic district in small, intimate settings,” Hastings suggested. “These would be staged mid-week to encourage non-weekend traffic and could tell the not-so-well-known bits of our heritage.”
Hastings said that the Tourist Development Council would like to see the Tapestry exhibit become a permanent interpretative display at the Visitor Information Center.
Tourist Development Council
Approved funding levels
| British Nightwatch | 20,000 | $13,595 |
| COSA – 450th Commission- Celebrate 450! | 20,000 | $16,846 |
| COSA – Concerts in the Plaza | 9,000 | $5,546 |
| COSA – First City through Eyes of the Masters | 20,000 | $13,357 |
| COSA – Tapestry | 80,000 | $54,379 |
| Cultural Center PV Beach | 20,000 | $10,539 |
| Easter Parade | 20,000 | $9,131 |
| EMMA – Fiesta 450th | 50,000 | $29,713 |
| EMMA – Zuckerman/Moscow | 33,000 | $19,970 |
| EPIC – Taste of SA | 20,000 | $11,145 |
| First Coast Opera – Crystal Concert | 20,000 | $12,776 |
| FL Chamber Music Project | 20,000 | $6,743 |
| FL Heritage Book Festival | 40,000 | $30,180 |
| FL Literary Arts Coalition | 4,000 | $2,743 |
| Flagler College -First America | 20,000 | $14,453 |
| Friends of SA Amphitheater | 10,000 | $4,096 |
| Historic Florida Militia – Changing of the Guard | 26,000 | $14,895 |
| Historic Florida Militia – School of the 16th Century | 30,000 | $18,320 |
| Holy Trinity -Greek Festival | 15,000 | $8,129 |
| Lightner Museum | 20,000 | $13,475 |
| Limelight Theatre | 20,000 | $11,458 |
| Limelight Theatre – 450 Theatre Celebration | 40,000 | $22,497 |
| Middle Passage/Port Marker | 12,450 | $5,684 |
| Romanza – 4th Annual Festivale | 80,000 | $38,704 |
| Romanza – Celtic Festival | 40,000 | $25,097 |
| Romanza – St Patrick Parade | 6,000 | $2,959 |
| SA Art Association – Nature and Wildlife | 20,000 | $9,769 |
| SA Art Associaton – A&C Festival | 20,000 | $12,324 |
| SA Beach – BBQ & Blues | 7,500 | $3,072 |
| SA Beach – Beach Blastoff | 20,000 | $15,483 |
| SA Beach – Music by the Sea | 20,000 | $11,249 |
| SA Film Festival | 20,000 | $12,324 |
| SA Historic Inns – B&B Tour | 18,000 | $9,846 |
| SA Lighthouse and Museum | 20,000 | $13,006 |
| SA Maritime Heritage Festival | 40,000 | $24,207 |
| SA Music Festival | 15,000 | $6,083 |
| SA Yacht Club – Holiday Regatta | 9,000 | $3,613 |
| SEA -Rails to Trails Festival | 12,000 | $4,131 |
| SJ Chamber – PV Auto Show | 15,000 | $10,107 |
| STAR – Paseo Pastel | 25,000 | $8,166 |
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