The Cultural Council of Indian River County kicked off the start of another arts season by hosting its annual Cultural Arts Guide Reveal Reception at the eclectic neighborhood pub, the Kilted Mermaid. Attendees celebrated the unveiling of the 2025-2026 directory, which highlights the county’s thriving artistic and cultural offerings, over delectable small plates served with a side of passion for the arts.
The mission of the Cultural Council, now in its 35th year, is to promote cultural arts in the county through education, collaboration, marketing and advocacy. The council encourages cultural tourism by showcasing the area’s arts and culture and enriching the lives of residents and visitors. It is the county’s designated arts agency and is the voice of the arts community.
Yvonne Steere, Cultural Council board chair, explained that the Arts Guide, which is packed with listings for museums, galleries, performing arts venues, art classes and special events, is one of the many ways they inform the public about the cultural opportunities available to them.
“This is a service to tourism and the arts in this community,” said Steere. “It offers lovely imagery of the arts within the community.”
Recognizing the need to reach out to a broader, younger audience and bridge the gap between traditional and digital media, Steere said that the Arts Guide is now also available online. The Cultural Council is distributing rack cards with QR codes at visitor centers, so that tourists will be able to access the listings digitally as well.
“This community has blossomed; it’s like it got a major boost of arts nutrition,” said Steere, adding that she has seen at least three new galleries open in the past year alone.
“It’s not just wall art. It’s not just acrylics and watercolors, but it’s performing, it’s musical, it’s articulation, of all of it,” said Steere.
“Those connections have been made, the barriers have been blended, and it’s lovely. The ballet is being asked to do more to help in the community. The museum is expanding. Riverside is changing. Everyone is really looking at how we can work together.”
This expanded view includes venues such as the Environmental Learning Center and McKee Botanical Garden, where art and nature collide.
The synergy between art and nature is increasingly being recognized for its therapeutic benefits, enhancing mental and emotional health, improving mindfulness, and increasing focus and creativity.
Steere also remarked on the benefits of utilizing the arts to improve the lives of those with Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease or PTSD, noting that it can provide cognitive and motor stimulation for people with neurological disorders and can serve as an outlet for emotional processing and trauma.
“We believe that arts aren’t extra, they’re essential. We keep learning over and over again how important they are in our lives,” she added.
Patrons of the arts can support the nonprofit by donations or by purchasing bottles of Paradise Spirit, a limited edition, signature vodka created by Indian River Distillery for the Cultural Council. Free copies of the new Arts Guide are available at locations throughout the county, or on their website.
For more information, visitCultural-Council.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
