After a Downtown Development Board meeting on Wednesday, the board said they will consider a $608,000 extension of the DTO Live initiative, previously approved to run through June of this year. The proposed budget would fund another year of the project.
The program was launched in June 2024, in collaboration with local agency United Arts of Central Florida, with the intention of developing free arts experiences for Orlando residents and visitors. Since its inception, DTO Live has funded more than 1,000 live music and culture performances around downtown.
Artists who participate in the initiative are compensated with a minimum of $250 for a two-hour block of performance. The locations of the performances range from City Hall to Lake Eola, and all across the heart of downtown Orlando.
According to the May 28 DDB meeting agenda, if it is approved, the renewed agreement would continue support for popular elements of the program, including daily live music, “flower flash” floral installations, and a storefront activation initiative that features artist-designed displays in vacant retail windows.
The DDB says the project is focused on “activating public spaces, storefronts, and buildings to increase access to the arts for all people.” It’s a goal that aligns with the city’s current efforts to bolster the downtown area in a community-driven way.
The board will vote on the proposal at the next meeting on Wednesday, June 25.
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Downtown Orlando to host live music, arts performances with new year-long initiative
This article appears in Summer Guide 2025.