Bringing the Arts into the life of the community through Arts Education, Exhibitions, and Outreach. Johns County.
02/08/2025
A Letter from the President and CEO
Dear Donors, Members, Instructors, Students and Volunteers:
This letter announces my resignation from the First Coast Cultural Center. My last day on the job will be Feb. 28. I hope that these four weeks will help the Board of Directors develop a good plan for transition. I am not leaving for another job, nor I am looking for another job. I am looking forward to retirement and spending more time with my husband and my dog!
Here’s a list of accomplishments since my arrival as Director of Development in 2017, then President and CEO nine months later.
I could not have done this without a great staff, committed instructors and volunteers, an awesome Board of Directors, and supporters like YOU!
2017-2019: Modern transition of all technology and financials/change of leadership.
2020: Began our Kick StART Afterschool Arts Enrichment program in response to the huge unmet demand for afterschool programs in St. Johns County elementary schools, with the heaviest burdens falling on low-income families and families of color.
2022: Changed our name to the First Coast Cultural Center (FCCC) to reflect our wider reach across the "First Coast" region of Northeast Florida. During our 30-year history we moved four times – each move necessitated by the need for larger space to accommodate our growing art instruction classes, exhibits, and events.
February 2023: Completed training to become a Certified Autism Center through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards so that we can serve individuals with Autism in our community as well as our schools.
December 2023: Over 400 supporters, well-wishers, and public officials attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and reception for the opening of our new center located at 6000B Sawgrass Village Circle in Ponte Vedra Beach. Our beautiful 2-story facility allows us to serve more participants per class, increase the number of classes, and affords more space for larger cultural exhibits. In addition, the new center provides for programmatic growth (demand for art education and instruction and cultural programming), which significantly increased post-COVID and continues today.
Legislation and Advocacy is an initiative I started to meet and/or invite legislators to learn more about FCCC: Cory Byrd, Speaker of the House, Cyndi Stevenson, former Member of the House of Representatives, and current House of Representative Kim Kendall, (Tallahassee), Congressman John Rutherford, Senator Marco Rubio, (DC), and others have shown support for FCCC and know about our growth. This initiative placed the Center on the national map and took us to the next level in grants funding. For the last four years we have been receiving increased grant funding, especially in 2022-2023, and 2025 when the Center has been eligible and approved to receive $90,000 each year for Programs from the State of Florida.
In 2024, with the stroke of a pen the Governor of Florida vetoed the approval of funding for many arts organizations, including ours. However, we are back for 2025, and it is not expected to have a second veto for the arts. I have been diligent in keeping in touch with American for the Arts, in DC, the Florida Cultural Alliance in Tallahassee and the local St. Johns Cultural Council, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the Visitor’s Bureau, the St. Johns Chamber and Ponte Vedra Rotary Club.
Art pieces from artists at FCCC today hang at the United Nations in NYC and in Geneva, Switzerland. FCCC youth campers created a Peace Project that hangs in the Vatican. Another FCCC artist's commission hangs at Cosentino Kitchens, a partner of ours located in Spain and Milan. The Center is represented worldwide.
I thank you, and the Center’s ever-larger community of supporters for the many ways you have encouraged me and made possible the fond memories I cherish. In these eight years at the Center, I have been proud to be part of its growth.
First Coast Cultural Center today enjoys more public prominence, more community involvement, more programming, more service to children in need and, as a result, more members, and donors. With that foundation and the Board and Staff’s leadership, we believe the Center’s future can be brighter yet.
Success is Imminent!
