Art & Culture
New exhibitions at the Cummer Museum
Explore our relationship with the land By Laura Phelps The landscape and environment that surround us are more than just a backdrop to everyday life; they are a living, breathing part of our stories. “Spirit in the Land” and “Knowing the West”—two exhibitions coming to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens this winter and spring—focus on reimagining our relationship with the land by amplifying voices often left out of the narrative. “Our connection to the land shapes our identity, our sense of belonging, and our traditions, and...
read moreJacksonville Symphony Celebrates 75 Years
A Symphony Season Like Never Before! By Tori Fusinaz, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for the Jacksonville Symphony In the heart of Jacksonville, where the St. Johns River weaves its timeless melody through the cityscape, something extraordinary is about to unfold. The Jacksonville Symphony is primed for its 75th anniversary season with a new logo that reflects our city’s bridges and rivers, and a lineup that promises to dazzle and delight every music lover under the Florida sun. Picture this: a city buzzing with anticipation,...
read moreRDD’s Raw Deal for the Arts
A Far Cry from FDR’s New Deal By Sheri Leonard Webber Florida arts groups face significant financial challenges after an unexpected move from the governor’s office—a $32 million veto in arts funding. After the initial shock and outrage in early June, arts organizations across the state are now scrambling to cover budget shortfalls. For some, the end of the fiscal year is right around the corner. Governor Ronald Dion DeSantis’s (RDD) June veto sparked alarm in more than 600 organizations marking the first time a Florida governor has eliminated...
read moreThe Ritz at 25
Celebrating Our Past, Present, and Future By Mitch Hemann, Archivist at the Ritz Theatre and Museum On the northwest corner of Davis and State Streets in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood, there stands a marquee. A bright red sign that has become an icon in the community. It has stood there in various states of repair for nearly a century, towering above the box office of the Ritz Theatre like a beacon. A reminder of a vibrant community that once was and the promise of a bright future that lies ahead. Long ago, it was a movie...
read moreThe Gilded Age: Treasures from the Lightner Museum
Opens June 7 This major reinterpretation of the museum’s permanent collection celebrates the opulent art and furnishings of America’s Gilded Age. A dynamic era that shaped modern America, the Gilded Age witnessed the sudden rise of a new millionaire class whose wealth derived from emerging industries including railroads, oil, and steel manufacturing. These titans of American industry expressed their high status by building stately mansions filled with beautiful objects and substantial art collections. The period was chronicled in the...
read moreMellen C. Greeley
THE DEAN OF FLORIDA ARCHITECTS By Wayne W. Wood Mellen Greeley walked with a cane, but his stride was brisk. He had a full head of snow-white hair, and, despite the warmth of the afternoon, he was wearing a tie. He had just set a bowl of dogfood in the grass twenty feet away, so he and I would be able to watch as the racoons emerged from the marsh grass. First one, then two, now four or five, enjoying their daily handout. Greeley joined me on the bench in his yard, overlooking the Arlington River. He was the last of the great architects who...
read moreJacksonville Symphony Celebrates 75th Season with New Branding and Special Events
By Steven Libman, President and CEO of the Jacksonville Symphony It is with great joy and excitement that we unveil the Jacksonville Symphony’s 75th season. Over the past seven decades, the symphony has served as the fabric of Jacksonville’s cultural landscape, weaving together the threads of music and community spirit through uplifting experiences. This milestone is a testament to our mission of reaching new artistic heights year after year, and the 2024/25 season promises to soar to an even higher caliber. In 1949, several...
read moreA Riverfront for All (Part 2)
By Laura Riggs It’s been demonstrated in many other markets that well-designed, maintained, and programmed public spaces strengthen the real estate market while positively impacting the local economy. Understanding that any plans must also take into account various past visioning exercises, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund convened a diverse coalition of business leaders, change makers, planners, and visionaries in 2021 to steward plans for a riverfront that best serves the needs and wants of the community. The duPont Fund partnered with DVDL, an...
read moreLong-Awaited Collaboration between the Florida Theatre and Theatre Jacksonville Culminates in Mame:
The Broadway Musical ~ In Concert! August 24 and 25 By Laura Jane Pittman It’s about time! A staged concert of the 1960s Broadway classic Mame—which originally starred Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur—is coming to the Florida Theatre this month in a first-ever collaboration between two of the oldest venues in the region. The chief executive officers of the Florida Theatre and Theatre Jacksonville first began kicking around the possibility more than a decade ago, shortly after Florida Theatre president Numa Saisselin had moved...
read moreThe Essential Role of Parks to Jacksonville’s Well-being
Parks are more than just green spaces in a city—they are crucial components of a healthy, vibrant community. For the Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, parks play a central role in promoting well-being and longevity. Ninety percent of Americans spend most of their lives within a 20-mile radius of their home, this is known as the Life Radius model. When parks exist within that radius, communities can have access to more spaces to make healthy choices easier. Parks are integral to this mission of longevity. Promoting Physical Activity One of the...
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