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Broward Cultural Division Wins
Silver ADDY® Award
Broward Cultural Division won a silver ADDY® award for the graphic design and production of the 2011 Arts Teacher of the Year Invitation. Broward County’s Arts Teacher of the Year program, and its recognition ceremony, is a tribute to excellence in arts education in the County. The graphic for the annual event is important for branding and recognition.
Since 2004, Broward Cultural Division has received a gold ADDY and seven silver ADDY awards from the American Advertising Federation of Fort Lauderdale, plus one silver ADDY from the American Advertising Federation 4th District (regional awards).
The ADDY® Awards—often referred to as the Grammys of the South Florida advertising industry—honors excellence in advertising and cultivates the highest creative standards. Each fall the competition begins at the local level with the 210 AAF member clubs around the country. Entries must first be submitted in a local competition to be eligible for the ADDY® process. The local winners proceed to 14 regional competitions, and those winners proceed to the national finals. With 60,000 entries, the ADDY® Awards are the nation’s largest advertising competition. |
Young at Art Museum
Grand Opening
On Saturday May 5, from noon to 6 p.m; and Sunday May 6, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Young At Art Museum welcomes you to the grand opening of the spectacular new Museum and Broward County Library. Featuring a multicultural theme, there will be live performances and art activities representing nations from around the world, as well as guest appearances by artists whose works will be a permanent feature in the new Museum.
Young At Art Museum is located at 751 SW 121 Ave. in Davie. Visit the Website: YoungAtArtMuseum.org, for more information or call 954-424-0085.
About the New Young At Art Museum
The new $21 million, 55,000 square-foot Young At Art Museum, which is under consideration for Gold LEED-certification, will be the epicenter of cultural arts education for families and feature four permanent galleries: GreenScapes, CultureScapes, WonderScapes and ArtScapes. The Young At Art Institute features a series of professionally equipped studios for drawing, painting, sculpture, animation, photography and film, printmaking, mixed media, digital computer and 4D video design. The new facility also will include a 10,000 square-foot Broward County Library, a National Traveling Exhibition Gallery, Teen Center and Recording Studio, a Museum Gift Shop and the Tossed Up Salad Café. | |
United States Urban Arts Federation Convened in Fort Lauderdale
Recently, Broward County provided warm hospitality in hosting a national event. We welcomed attendees from America’s largest communities convening the 2012 Winter Meeting of the United States Urban Arts Federation (USUAF). Chief executives from the nation’s top local arts agencies (LAAs) gathered here to discuss important issues in our nation’s future, and to enjoy and explore the cultural treasures of Broward County.
Twice a year, these executives meet to discuss arts and cultural trends, policy and business practices, as well as the social, educational and economic impact of the arts in their regions, and the future of urban arts in America. This is the second time in five years that they have chosen Fort Lauderdale as the backdrop of this meeting.
This year’s focus was to set goals for USUAF in concert with Americans for the Arts. With Broward Cultural Division Director Mary A. Becht as the Vice President of USUAF, Broward County was proud to host this very important event.
The meeting’s agenda incorporated highlights of arts and cultural redevelopment in Broward County, facilitated through tours. Among the sites included were the Sistrunk Boulevard corridor, Old Dillard Museum and Flagler Arts and Technology (F.A.T.) Village; the West Side School and Sailboat Bend Artists’ Lofts; public art; and the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District. Such landmark cultural establishments as the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Museum of Art │Fort Lauderdale, the Fort Lauderdale History Center, Museum of Discovery and Science; the campus at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center; Delevoe Park; and the newly developing Urban League were also included. A discussion of new trends in philanthropy included Community Foundation of Broward’s newest arts initiative, the Art of Community Challenge.
Art in the WorkPlace
A Cultural Foundation of Broward Initiative
Through a Cultural Foundation of Broward initiative, Art in the Workplace is offering a series of workshops to all workplaces with Broward County, at a minimal charge. Some of the recent workshops offered were: a Decorative Frame Workshop offered to BankAtlantic employees; Creating a Clay Masterpiece, offered to employees of Stiles Corporation and Learn How Music is Good for the Soul, offered to employees at BGT Partners.
During the Decorative Frame workshop, Judy Polstra showed employees how to turn their unused buttons, broken jewelry, and trinkets into a beautiful piece of artwork and they learned how to embellish 5' x 7' photo frames with buttons, beads, jewelry. Create a Clay Masterpiece with renowned clay artist Steven Sylvester, instructed employees on a guided tour to fashion 6' x 6' clay slabs into their own three dimensional wall hanging masterpiece. While, Learn How Music Is Good For the Soul featured legendary drummer Willie Stewart, a professional instructor and former member of the world renowned Reggae group, Third World. Stewart introduced employees to all many percussion instruments from around the world and encourage them in unified chanting of songs from Brazil, Jamaica, and Ghana, to encourage colleague camaraderie and creative expression.
“Just as children who explore the creative sides of themselves excel in other subjects, due to the expansion of new areas of thinking –a person working in the financial industry or other non-overtly-artistic field can be challenged to explore new ways of thinking outside of the box due to creative interaction,” says Jarett Levan, President and CEO of BankAtlantic, and Chair, Cultural Foundation of Broward. “Creativity changes the way a person sees things. The net result can only expand arts appreciation and interaction in our community.”
Broward Cultural Council Member Margaret Mitchell Armand Visits Cameroon
Broward County Cultural Council member, Dr. Margaret Mitchell Armand, traveled to Cameroon. The travel was arranged with the support of the Government of Cameroon and the United States Embassy in collaboration with the African Ancestry Program and Ark Jammer's (Act of Random Kindness) Ancestry Reconnection Program.
Armand's maternal African ancestry DNA search lead her to Cameroon and the ethnic group of Bamileke.
The visit included some historically significant events, including a welcome reception by the Prime Minister of Cameroon, Mr. Philemon Yang; a reception by the U.S. Ambassador in Cameroon; a street naming ceremony, land-title delivery, the Bimbia Healing Music Festival that brought together artists and cultural icons from across the world.
Also - a visit with several traditional healers, a reception by the Lamidat of Garoua, Cameroon; his majesty Alim Garga Hayatou with traditional dancers and a special rituals presentation including visits of traditional healers – and a celebration to reconnect Cameroonians from America and Haiti, introducing them to the rich culture, tradition, and art of their ancestral home, Cameroon.
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New Leaders for the
Broward Cultural Council
l-r: Tracy Nichols Roloff, Deborah Kerr & Diane Weinbrum
Members of the Broward Cultural Council (BCC) are pleased to welcome new officers. Deborah Kerr, appointed by Mayor John E. Rodstrom, Jr., has been elected as the new Chair; Diane Weinbrum, appointed by Commissioner Lois Wexler, has been named 1st Vice-Chair; and Tracy Nichols Roloff, appointed by Commissioner Chip LaMarca, has been named 2nd Vice-Chair. Other members of the executive committee are Karen Beard, Cultural Executive Committee Chair; and at-large members, Linda Houston-Jones and Amy Ostrau.
One of Kerr’s first priorities was to appoint chairs to a number of committees for leadership roles to meet specific goals of the Broward Cultural Council. The council committee chairs are: Estelle Loewenstein, Advocacy; Amy Ostrau, Arts Education; William Stanton, Cultural Tourism; Diane Weinbrum, Planning; Bonnie Barnett, Public Art & Design; Darran Blake, Public Relations; Benjamin Williams, Creative Economy; and Dr. Margaret Armand, Cultural Diplomacy.
In the year ahead, Kerr and the BCC members will concentrate their efforts on the implementation of CreativeBROWARD 2020 – A Plan for Cultural and Economic Development and the recently adopted Cultural Tourism Plan. “In these challenging times, our strength in diversity and our creative economy are assets to encourage a thriving business and tourist industry through innovation and imagination.”
These committees go hand in hand with specific CreativeBROWARD 2020 recommendations. This year the Council selected six of these recommendations to work on; Update the arts education incentive program guidelines for FY 2013; Obtain County Commission approval for a cultural diplomacy policy and program; Increase the value of the arts through a public relations campaign – “Faces of the Arts in Broward; Establish a contractual cultural tourism Coordinator; Establish a pool of pre-qualified public; and Evaluate the economic impact of public art in Broward County.
Appointed by the Broward County Commission, this 24-member advisory board, the Broward Cultural Council, is dedicated to enhancing the community through the development of the arts. As the central coordinating agency for the arts since 1979, it serves as liaison between cultural organizations, government agencies and the private sector.
South Florida Celebrates Outstanding Theater Achievement at the 36th Annual Carbonell Awards
The red carpet was filled with South Florida’s finest theater artists Monday evening, April 2, 2012, as the 36th Annual Carbonell Awards ceremony took place at the Amaturo Theater at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Theatre-goers, actors, producers, directors, cast and crew members from South Florida’s most renowned stages waited in anticipation as the winners in each of the categories were announced. This year’s awards gala was directed and produced by Amy London and Michael McKeever.
The Carbonell Awards annually pay tribute to the very best theatrical productions on regional stages and feature South Florida’s top entertainers and theater insiders. Theater companies in Broward County received 27 nominations, those in Miami-Dade - 28 and Palm Beach County led with 43 nominations.
Internationally-renowned sculptor Manuel Carbonell is the creator, namesake and Grand Benefactor of this prestigious event. Mr. Carbonell designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976. Born in 1918 in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba and educated throughout Europe, he fled Cuba in 1959. His artworks now adorn museums, galleries, private collections and public projects throughout the world. A special tribute to Mr. Carbonell was presented posthumously recognizing his significant contributions to the South Florida community and his legacy will live on.
The winners included Maltz Jupiter Theatre for Best Production of a Musical with its version of CRAZY FOR YOU, which also received Best Director of a Musical (Mark Martino), Best Musical Direction, Choreography, Best Actor in a Musical (Matt Loehr). Palm Beach Dramaworks scored with ALL MY SONS, which won Best Production of a Play, Best Director of a Play (J. Barry Lewis) and Best Actor in a Play (Kenneth Tigar). Best New Work went to Michael McKeever’s STUFF, produced by the Caldwell Theatre Company, and this production also took home Best Scenic Design for Tim Bennett’s dual sets. Best Actress in a Play went to Deborah Sherman for her work in Mosaic Theatre’s SIDE EFFECTS. For a complete list of winners Click Here.
The prestigious 2012 George Abbott Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the arts, was presented to international theater producer and businessman Jay Harris. The Howard Kleinberg Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the health and development of the arts in South Florida, was presented to Mary A. Becht, long-time director of the Broward Cultural Division. The Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence which is given to the theater company that exemplifies excellence for the totality of its programming (productions, educational outreach, development programs and audiences served), was awarded to the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
Carbonell Scholarships were presented to Rachel Brooks (Broward), Cristina Caperna (Palm Beach) and Krystal Ortiz (Miami-Dade). These scholarships recognize emerging talent in the South Florida theatrical community at the high school level. All of these students are planning to pursue a college degree in theater or journalism.
The evening featured performances from each of the productions nominated for Best Musical including three from the Maltz Jupiter Theater: SOUND OF MUSIC, CRAZY FOR YOU and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, one with singing zombies from The Promethean Theatre’s SONG OF THE LIVING DEAD and a beautiful performance from Broward Stage Door Theatre’s LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. There was also an original opening song penned by Nick Santa Maria and Paul Louis.
The annual Carbonell Awards ceremony is designed to raise scholarships for students in the tri-county area to study at accredited colleges and universities for careers in the visual and performing arts, and in journalism. Along with New York's Drama Desk and Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s senior regional arts awards and predate others including Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes Awards and Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards.
For additional information contact Amy London londontime@aol.com or 954-907-5644 or visit the Carbonell Awards website www.carbonellawards.org.
Libraries Division Awarded Big Read Grant From National Endowment for the Arts
Florida Center for the Book at Broward County Library launched its Big Read program in celebration of Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God in February at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents the Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.
Broward County is one of 75 communities nationwide participating in the Big Read in 2011-2012.
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