CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) -- The Pinellas County Board of Commissioners voted on Thursday to discontinue funding for Creative Pinellas, an organization funding local artists.

Commissioners questioned how the organization was using its funds to enhance tourism with the money it gets from the Tourist Development Tax funding.

In true artist fashion, members of the arts community made statements, like a woman wearing tape over her mouth with the words "'visitors don't vote" on it. The Pinellas County commission weighed whether Creative Pinellas contributes to tourism as they reviewed the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

"If we are not funded in the budget, our county lease requires that we vacate our offices and galleries by the end of (the) fiscal year in the weeks," said Creative Pinellas CEO Marga

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