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.
Arts and Culture in The News
County News
Arts and Culture Nassau worked with the County at the past Vision 2050 event at Wildlight and now has a showcase of children's art at the Nassau County J. Paige Yulee office complex. In the photo is Richard Restiano, President of Nassau Council of Arts and Culture, and Paris T. Hall, a college intern working with Brandy Carvalho in the Nassau County Planning Department.
NEWS LEADER April 24, 2024
Article here: Fresh Advocate for the County Art Scene
WESTSIDE JOURNAL March 28, 2024
Arts and Culture Nassau and the Town of Hilliard 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. Arts and Culture Nassau is a 17-year old best kept secret in Nassau County. During its original formation by the County in 2007 they took the arts council on Fernandina Beach and made them the Arts and Culture Nassau group with the explicit dictate that they represent the entire county. Well, that didn't work out very well except for Callahan and the Westside Historical Society. “After leading the group for the last 3 years, I decided that if the only source of revenue was going to be from the sale of the State of the Arts license plate, then this organization cannot meet the mission,” continued Restiano. “We were not allowed as a City Commission to accept donations, apply for grants or get any funding from the city. Since we were staffed by the City of Fernandina Beach Parks and Rec Department and because of the Florida Sunshine Laws, this only complicated the ability we had to make a difference.” The new 3-year-plan called for Arts and Culture to have 4 strategies: Sustainability; Relevance county-wide, Impact and Awareness. Ultimately the board decided in December to dissolve the city maintain commission and create a nonprofit 501 (c) 3.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
July 7, 2024
Editor, The News Leader
Fernandina Beach is the home and community of enlightened, engaged and pride of place sensitive residents and businesses. It is so wonderful to be part of this community. Surrounded by dedicated volunteers and organizations all committed to making Amelia Island and Nassau County a better and thriving community. I say this as a representative of over 25 nonprofit arts organizations that for the past 4 years we have supported, promoted and encouraged to provide some of the most wonderful art, theater, galleries and cultural organizations benefiting all who live here.
So, I write as a perplexed resident and arts supporter to understand how the city will be moving to have the Public Arts Program now under the management of the Parks and Rec department. Just because it’s easy to do, does not make it right. On July 16 they are formally going to move the decisions and approval for Public Art to the parks and rec.
I must ask you, where are the artists, designers, sculptures and landscape designers in the conversation?
Let’s look at the value and why public art matters:
1. Economic Growth and Sustainability. By engaging in public art as a tool for growth and sustainability, communities can thrive economically. 70% of Americans believe that the “arts improve the image and identity” of their community.
2. Attachment and Cultural Identity. Public art directly influences how people see and connect with a place, providing access to aesthetics that support its identity and making residents feel appreciated and valued. Aesthetics is one of the top three characteristics because residents attach themselves to a community.
3. Artists as contributors. Providing a public art ecosystem supports artists and other creatives by validating them as important contributors to the community. Artists are highly entrepreneurial. They are 3.5 times more likely than the total US work force to be self-employed.
4. Social Cohesion and Cultural Understanding. Public art provides a visual mechanism for understanding other cultures and perspectives, reinforcing social connectivity with others. 73% of Americans agree that the arts “helps me understand other cultures better”.
5. Public Health and Belonging. Public art addresses public health and personal illness by reducing stress, providing a sense of belonging, addressing stigmas towards those with mental health issues. Public art is noted as slowing pedestrian’s down to enjoy their space and providing a positive impact on mood.
Adding arts leaders and organizations as a part of the public arts program makes total sense. It also should be the first decision before moving forward with any decisions of plans or additions. I advocate that the city moves to add arts leaders and arts and cultural organizations to the decision-making body that will transform and enhance our community. As a perfect example of what easy to do is and that smacks of a bureaucratic solution, please note that last year Arts and Culture installed three art pieces, one at the library, one at Marina Parking lot D and one at City Hall.
They were temporary and so have been taken down after a year. I hope this is not the future, but the city has replaced the wonderful metal tower sculpture at city hall and using the concert base and support already in place for the next art installation, as their first public art decision, installed a new trash can on the pedestal. Also caught up in this decision for public art is the replacement of Pirate Pete at the Tourist Center. Approved by application from the Pirates Club and submitted to the city, the new piece has been created and is waiting in the wings. For the last 5 months nothing has moved on that front.
Public art is an effective tool for enhancing built environments, natural environments and other spaces. It is a way to humanize our man-made surroundings that create a more humane environment of distinction, enjoyment, and pride for all its citizens. Public art is more than just an object integrated into public spaces, it is a process of dialogue, involvement, and participation involving all segments of a community. It is built from the medium of citizen involvement, that results in a collective expression. But the artists need to be the drivers in gathering citizen input. I think we all can agree that a vibrant art scene downtown and, in the communities, attracts residents, families’, visitors, tourism and new business owners and contributes to the ongoing economic productivity of the city. Please consider adding the Arts community to the Public Arts Program.
Thank you.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Restiano, President
About Us
What We Do
The mission of Arts and Culture Nassau, as part of Nassau Council of Arts and Culture, Inc. a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation, is to support, promote and enhance the Arts in Nassau County; to provide an Arts Leaders Forum to network and address common concerns among art and cultural organizations throughout Nassau County; to provide advocacy for the arts in the State and County; to provide education to arts organizations leadership; and to provide a vision for needed infrastructure mid county.
We support and facilitate cooperation and communication among those organizations in bi-annual meetings and communications.
To visit the State of Florida Arts and Culture site CLICK HERE
Executive Board- 2024
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
Brean Thompson, Director
Advisory Council
Maurie Dugger
Amanda Dumas
Lauren Templeton
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
***********************
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
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
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.
