See how Orange County tourism benefits arts and culture organizations throughout the destination — including Orlando Community Arts, producer of Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker (pictured).
Tourism powers Orlando, including arts organizations throughout the destination. In 2023 alone, more than $4 million in cultural tourism grants were given to 40 different arts organizations — which in turn will have an estimated cultural impact of $94.6 million from projected attendance of 1.8 million.
Discover: Tourism Benefits You
One of those organizations, Orlando Community Arts Inc. (OCA), is responsible for the annual production of Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker, which is presented at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando’s City District. See how tourism benefits this worthy organization and many others, resulting in a robust local arts community and vibrant cultural offerings.
How Tourism Supports Local Arts
In November 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved $4.2 million for the Cultural Tourism Grant Program, which is funded by the Tourism Development Tax. Forty organizations benefited — including Orlando Community Arts.
Headed by President & CEO Beverly Page, Orlando Community Arts Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to give arts access to the underserved communities. Since its inception, OCA has maintained an unwavering commitment to presenting a memorable and magical production, Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker — a homegrown adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman’s classical Nutcracker Ballet that’s so unique, it received a U.S. Patent and Trademark in 2013.
The production is just one of countless events powered by tourism, with new Cultural Tourism Grants being awarded every year. What’s more, Visit Orlando makes significant investments to support our cultural community.
In 2023, Visit Orlando formalized a year-long content capture program, securing professional footage of more than 40 regional organizations, venues and festivals in partnership with a local creative production company, The Memoir Agency. As a result, more than 12,000 photos and over 10 hours of video were captured during the campaign, painting a robust picture of Central Florida’s vibrant cultural landscape.
And in partnership with Visit Orlando, United Arts of Central Florida added two cultural tourism directors to its staff. The program aims to bridge the gap between the arts and tourism industries for the continued economic benefit of the community.
Visit Orlando is also initiating a pilot program, Gifting of the Arts, that will serve as an incentive fund for encouraging meetings and conventions to hire local artists. See how else tourism helps local arts — and you.