This request before City Council is to approve the recommendation from the Cultural Affairs Committee to provide funding support in the amount of $2,000.00 dollars for the purpose of a Cultural Speakers Series featuring engaging scholars and experts from the Florida Humanities Speakers' Bureau.

The New Port Richey Cultural Affairs Committee supports activities, exhibits, and presentations that promote the community's opportunities to learn about, explore, and participate in enriching activities that aid in the appreciation and understanding of culture, history, and the fine arts.  

Mirroring the mission of the Cultural Affairs Committee, the Florida Humanities organization supports the development and presentation of  cultural resources and programs that help preserve Florida's rich history and heritage, promote civic engagement and community dialogue. To this end, Florida Humanities recommends a speakers' directory of engaging speakers, scholars, and experts. 

The Cultural Affairs Committee would like to present a Florida Humanities Speakers Series as a way add to the City's Centennial Festivities through presentations that spotlight the importance of stories, storytelling, and the type of film performances that made New Port Richey become recognized as "the Hollywood of the East."

The Cultural Affairs Committee reviewed the speakers' directory during the January-March meetings.  After the committee discussed presentation themes that would spotlight the City's Centennial Festivities, committee members Kim Brust, Beth Fregger, and Rich Melton interviewed scholars from the list throughout the spring and recommended the following presenters:

• David Morton, FIlm Historian, UCF Professor, and author of A Motion Picture Paradise! A History of Florida's FIlm and Television Industry

• Chris Kahl, a Florida Folk Singer and Storyteller that presents a "Musical Journey through Florida"

• Eliot Kleinberg, Journalist and author of well-known books: Weird Florida, War in Paradise: World War II in Florida, and Hurricane.

In attempt to find funding, the Cultural Affairs Committee did apply for a Florida Humanities Grant and has plans to continue to do so in the future. However, at their June 26, 2024 meeting, the Cultural Affairs Committee unanimously voted to recommend that City Council support this event in the amount of $2,000 to provide speakers fee and per diem. 

Additionally, In-kind support has been provided by the Library as well as the Hacienda Hotel. 

Information about the Florida Humanities Speakers Bureau and the biographies of the presenters are attached for City Council review.