About Arts and Culture
OUR STORY
Discover the world of art and culture with Nassau Council of Arts and Culture, Inc.
"THE ARTS BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER. CULTURE IS WHAT WE SHARE."
We have been promoting the arts in our community for over 15 years. Our organization was founded by a group of passionate artists who wanted to make a difference in their community. Today it is a nonprofit to better serve all of Nassau County, FL.
OUR UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION
NO OTHER NASSAU COUNTY-WIDE ORGANIZATION ADVOCATES, EDUCATES, AND SUPPORTS THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS - GROWING CULTURAL TOURISM, PROVIDING A VIBRANT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, WITH A
POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THE PURPOSE OF NASSAU COUNCIL OF ARTS & CULTURE
1. Support, Protect, Sustain and Grow the active arts and culture nonprofits in Nassau County.
2. Be the advocate for the county as its arts agency of record.
3. Be an active advocate for the county in supporting the arts, arts funding and programs throughout the State, County and Cities of Nassau.
4. Educate the leaders as they require, with workshops, advocating for grants, fundraising, budgets, volunteers and PR and marketing.
5. Be the Public Art advocate and coordinator for the County.
6. Act as an incubator for startups and new arts and culture organizations and artists looking to get established or move to the area.
7. Encourage, promote and facilitate the arts in K-12 education in Nassau County providing scholarships, youth opportunities and events.
8. Be an artist resource with referrals, recommendations and opportunities.
9. Advocate for new arts and cultural infrastructures to support the county growth, especially mid-county.
10. Act as the “United Way for the Arts” in Nassau County.
ABOUT NASSAU COUNCIL OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Every FL County needs Arts and Culture as a healthy and strong organization. In a recent Bicentennial Vision 2050 county resident survey, the arts placed 5 out of the 12 categories that residents felt were important to them. We are countywide in focus and mission, spreading the word, that opportunities and benefits of the arts need to be available to everyone.
As a collective of 25+ nonprofit arts and culture organizations, we are a network of artists and their organizations, galleries, and cultural venues. Nassau Council of Arts and Culture is the advocate and growth engine to provide these programs throughout the county.
OUR MISSION: EDUCATION. ADVOCACY. SUPPORT. INFRASTRUCTURE.
NEWS FLASH
On Monday, 10.28.2024 the Nassau County Commissioners designated Nassau Council of Arts and Culture as the Local Arts Agency for Nassau, referred to as the LAA. In a short 9 months we have moved a rather static 15-year-old county commission of arts, to a dynamic nonprofit set to make Nassau and the arts more accessible and stronger than ever. The simple analogy of this is in the name change- before it was Arts and Culture Nassau; now it is Nassau Council of Arts and Culture....Nassau is the focus and prime mission to address the growth, expansion of the arts opportunities, and the desire by the residents around the county to protect and grow the arts, not just for them but for the next generation.
What is an LAA is- Our mission is an LAA
- LAAs builds healthy, vibrant and equitable communities
- LAAs enable diverse forms of arts and culture to thrive
- LAAs help ensure broad accessibility and public engagement with the arts culturally, socially, educationally, and economically
- LAAs impact the tourism and economic health and growth of a community
- LAAs support and advance arts and culture at the local level and bring communities together
- LAAs connect elected official and business leaders to the power of arts in the community
How does an LAA and the arts Impact the Community – Our vision is how
- Make grants to your local arts community theater or symphony, arts festivals, individual artists
- Provide Education services to artists and arts organizations professional development, visibility and advocacy support, technical assistance
- Advocate & promote arts-friendly policies ensure funding and government policies that support the arts and arts education
- Forge partnerships with elected, business, and other community leaders
chamber of commerce, school districts, faith-based organizations - Manage a public art program.
OUR ORGANIZATION
Executive Board- 2024-25
Richard Restiano, President
Toni D'Amico, Treasurer
Jennifer Paulk, Secretary
Directors
John Abbott, Director
Rem Bigosinski, Director
Becky Grimes, Director
Melanie Hadden, Director
Cynthia Jones-Jackson, Director
Hadyn Bray, Director
Advisory Council
Maurie Dugger
Lauren Templeton
Becca Barlow
By Supporting Us, you support the arts organizations that you love.
For us to support the grant programs and to help local Nassau County 501 (c) (3) art and culture organizations, we rely on the proceeds generated by residents purchasing and displaying the Florida "State of the Arts" license plate on their vehicles. (Pictured at right). These plates are available at the local county vehicle registration offices. The County then funds our organization from the sale and renewal of these license plates. You can get your own plate at the vehicle registration office near you.
Thank you!
Nassau County vehicle registration locations: Information- 904-491-7400
- Historic Courthouse, 416 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, 32034
- 86130 License Road, Fernandina Beach, 32034
- 450077 State Road 200, Suite #13, Callahan, FL, 32011
- 15885 County Road 108, Hilliard, FL 32046
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Nassau Council of Arts and Culture, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
volunteer organization. Registered with the State of Florida
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services at
www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com or by calling toll-free (800-435-7352)
Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or
recommendation by the State. Nassau Council of Arts and Culture, Inc.
Registration #CH74825.
Grants Programs
There are 2 Grant programs, one for
senior programs and one for youth programs.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL GRANT PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY PAUSED. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE AGAIN IN EARLY 2025
SENIOR PROGRAMS: The grant program is intended to foster appreciation of and participation in arts and culture for the senior citizens of Nassau County. It is our belief that fostering arts and culture appreciation among Nassau County citizens will benefit the quality of life for all Nassau County residents. Grants are designed to encourage new projects that serve the senior citizen population of Nassau County or to expand an existing program.
Click here to get the Senior Application in Downloads section below
YOUTH PROGRAMS -
The Youth grant program is intended to encourage participation and appreciation in arts and culture for the youth of Nassau County creating a lifelong enjoyment of the arts and the culture they grew up in.
In both cases these grants are designed for Nassau County residents and for projects and programs within Nassau Coun
PREVIOUS GRANT RECIPIENTS
Blue Fire Theatre; Arts Alive; AI Jazz Festival; AI Book Festival; AI Chamber Music Festival; AI Dance Festival; West Nassau Historical Society; Island Art Association
Arts and Culture Nassau Brings Murals to Hilliard
Hilliard Parks Building
Murals Show Area History
Murals Show Area History
Here are two images of the mural that Arts and Culture Nassau sponsored and is now finished at The Hilliard parks building . We partnered with the foundation, Hearts for Minds- www.hearts4minds.org, who designed and painted the mural. This foundation provides the assistance in return for placing a QR code in the mural that speaks to the community about mental health and how they support and offer resources and information for care and related mental health issues.
Murals Show Area History
Murals Show Area History
Murals Show Area History
The community was surveyed for their ideas. School arts students also participated. The images are historic ones of the old town bldgs., and there is a nod to the Hilliard traffic control aviation terminal. This project was a desire in town when I first met them 2 years ago but they didn't know how to go about it. I introduced Arts and Culture Nassau, our organization- they of course never heard of us, and from there I put together the players as well as a small grant to get it started.
Our Organizations
Arts and Culture Organizations
THERE IS NO OTHER NASSAU COUNTY-WIDE ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES, EDUCATES, AND SUPPORTS 25+ NONPROFIT ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING A VIBRANT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WITH A POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
Amelia Community Theatre- ameliacommunitytheatre.org
Amelia Island Book Festival-
Literacy | Amelia Island Book Festival | Florida
Amelia Island Jazz Festival-ameliaislandjazzfestival.com
Amelia Island Museum of History-ameliamuseum.org
Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival-ameliachambermusic.org
Amelia Musical Playhouse- ameliamusicalplayhouse.com
Friends of the Nassau County Library-fernandinafol.org
Island Art Association-islandart.org
West Nassau Historical Society-wnhsfl.org
Amelia Island Singers- ameliaislandsingers.com
Amelia Island Quilt Guild-ameliaquilters.org
Amelia Island Writers Assoc.-ameliaislandwriters.org
Amelia Island Dance Festival-ameliaislanddancefestival.org
Arts Alive Nassau-artsalivenassau.org
Amelia Island Opera-ameliaislandopera.org
Blue Fire Theatre-bluefiretheatre.org
Country Star Quilters-countrystarquilters.org
Story and Song Center for Arts and Culture- StoryandSongArts.org
Friends of Fort Clinch- fortclinch.org
Friends of American Beach- friendsofamericanbeach.org
Yulee Historic Council- https://www.facebook.com/groups
Pirates Club of Fernandina Beach- fernandinapirates.com
Northeast FL Fair- www.neflfair.org
Nassau Community Band-https://www.facebook.com/NassauCommunityBand/
These are the organizations that we support. Click on each site to see their current events.
* To be supported by Arts and Culture Nassau the organization must be in Nassau County and offer services open to the public.
OUR CULTURE
A brief History and list of Historical Markers
There's much to see here in Nassau County. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about our culture.
To read a brief history of Nassau County-
To see a list and learn the locations of historical markers click below-
Volunteer
Arts & Culture Organizations Always Need Volunteers.
Have you always wanted to work backstage at a concert? Act in a play? Lead a history tour? Meet a Famous author? Teach children a musical instrument? Assist with a dance, choir, opera, or chamber music group? All of our listed organizations are run by community volunteers who use their acquired skills and talents to become leaders of organizations. You may have some of these skills and talents and they would love to have you join them.
All our supported organizations listed above need you! Volunteers help continue the work that makes Nassau County such a wonderful place to live and spend your time working in the arts or culture organizations that you have always appreciated. Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet interesting and like-minded people, try new things, and give back to the community. It can be hard work, but it is so rewarding and yes, fun!
Why not get started today? Just click on the link to anyone of our organizations listed above, covering all the arts, history, music, library, galleries and so much more. Once on their webpage sign up. You won't regret it.
