There is about $409,000 available for the arts and cultural events in Polk County and the group that will play a key role in how the bed tax money is spent met for the first time this week.

The Arts and Culture Committee, which is an advisory committee of the Polk County Tourist Development Council, held its initial meeting Wednesday at the Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing offices in Auburndale. The committee was established in July by a recommendation from the TDC and through an amendment to Ordinance 86-27 by the Polk County Commission.