LARGO, Fla. - Pinellas County commissioners are considering cutting funding to Creative Pinellas . The proposal came up during last week's budget hearing.

Local perspective:

Creative Pinellas has served as Pinellas County’s designated arts organization since 2011, partially using county funds to support public art projects, grants for local artists and arts tourism marketing in partnership with Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

The non-profit operates with nine full-time staff and part-time gallery workers. It hosts galleries at both St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and its Largo headquarters. Last year, the group distributed nearly $225,000 in grants to local artists.

Funding from the County comes primarily from the county’s tourism bed tax ($861,000), the general fund ($156,000

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