Supporters of the arts gathered recently at the Kilted Mermaid for a Cultural Arts Guide Launch Party hosted by the Cultural Council of Indian River County.
“Kilted Mermaid has always had a relationship with the Cultural Council. Art is one of the most important parts of the community and downtown, so it’s very important to support them. We just love everything they do,” said owner Linda Moore, who previously spearheaded the Downtown Vero Beach mural initiative.
“We’re very excited this year. Our guide, I think, is one of the most beautiful guides we’ve ever done,” said Alicia Quinn, board president, adding that the cover artwork was from an original oil painting by Jack McKenney.
Categories in the guide include Theatre & Dance; Concerts, Opera, Orchestra & Symphony; Fine Art, Galleries & Museums; Speaker series, Lectures, Literary & Films; Community Events & Festivals; Family Events; and Children’s Activities. Listings are augmented and updated throughout the year on the Cultural Council’s online calendar.
“It’s nice to see everybody back with full ads and full seasonal programs that they are promoting this early for next season. That was tough the last couple of years with COVID; nobody was sure how much they’d be able to do,” said Quinn.
“This year, many of our groups had their programs fully set up for the season early. It feels good to have that sort of community togetherness again. I’m very pleased to see more stability again in our cultural programs.”
Copies of the guide are available at various locations around town, including the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, where the Cultural Council office is located.
“We have arranged with Visit Florida Welcome Centers to have the guides in two of the Welcome Centers here on the East Coast. We feel that we’ll really be getting the word out in terms of the cultural arts in this county by doing that,” said Quinn.
She noted that White Glove Moving, Storage and Delivery assists by delivering cartons of guides all over the county to businesses, restaurants and hotels, adding: “They’re really great in terms of helping us distribute them.”
Among the other projects they are working on, Quinn said they are awaiting final word from the state regarding a grant, which they hope will come through shortly, to develop the Gifford Historical Museum and Cultural Center.
The Cultural Council also agreed to be the fiscal stewards for the planned World War II Tribute on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary. The Military Officers of America Association, Indian River County Chapter, has taken the lead on the project but is limited by the amount of annual donations it can accept, so funds are being funneled through the Cultural Council.
“So we’re keeping busy in all aspects of the arts and culture in the community,” said Quinn.
While the Cultural Council does plan to host a second annual Treasures Sale the weekend of Feb. 18-19 at the Heritage Center, they will likely not have a Laurel Awards event this year. Prior to COVID, they had hosted it at Riverside Theatre, which she said is just getting their feet back on the ground again.
“They’re expanding their season too, so we’re not even sure we’re going to fit into their season.
We may have to look for another location, and there are not many,” said Quinn.
However, they are expanding Art in Public Places to include an Emerging Artists Exhibition featuring art by high school students in grades nine through 12 that will be shown at the Intergenerational Center on Oslo Road.
For more information, visit Cultural-Council.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
