News & Blog

We at the St. Johns Cultural Council know that many individual artists and arts organizations are suffering greatly as a result of closures and cancellations related to COVID-19 — especially those hosting or performing for events or relying on ticket revenues.

We are working toward solutions to support our local arts community.

We need your help as we advocate for emergency funding, grant reimbursement for canceled events, and other sources of relief:

If events have been postponed or canceled, please update them on www.historiccoastculture.com. If you need help with this, please email Kathe O’Donnelly at sjcc@historiccoastculture.com. If you are a TDC grantee with a canceled event, please be sure to document your efforts to minimize expenses related to that event. This will be important information to share with the County when staff is making decisions about reimbursements for cancelled events. Complete the damage assessment survey at www.floridadisaster.biz. The results of this survey could make relief programs available to artists and arts organizations in St. Johns County.

Our staff is working remotely until at least April 1st, but you can reach us by telephone at 904-808-7330 or email to sjcc@historiccoastculture.com and christina@historiccoastculture.com. We are working regular business hours.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have or ideas for how we can better support you. Meanwhile, we are working to move scheduled workshops online and will be announcing an initiative to provide some support to individual artists before the end of this week.

Thank you all for making St. Johns County such a wonderful place to live and visit. These are difficult times, but I feel fortunate to be facing them in this culturally rich and beautiful part of the world.

Christina Parrish Stone

Executive Director

Florida Trust Celebrates Preservation Month with Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center Fundraiser

May 5, 2021

During May, for National Historic Preservation Month, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation is partnering with the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor Council, the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, and the St. Johns Cultural Council to produce a month of engaging activities that will bring people to St. Augustine in person and virtually. An online auction will be the premier donation-raising event.

St. Johns Cultural Council Collaborates with Foster Care Community to present “Experience and Expression”, an Art in Public Spaces Exhibition at the St. Johns County Administration Building

April 30, 2021

Opening Reception Tuesday, May 4th at 8:30 am

The St. Johns Cultural Council announces the opening of Experience and Expression, an exhibition of art created by members of St. Johns County’s foster care community, at 8:30 am on Tuesday, May 4th at the St. Johns County Administration Building, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, Florida. The public is invited to the opening reception and the exhibition will remain open to the public, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, until July 5, 2021.

St. Johns Cultural Council Haiku Contest

March 24, 2021

Ends on April 30, 2021
What is a Haiku?

A haiku is a type of short form poetry originated in Japan. These poems traditionally contain 17 total syllables in three lines. Line one is 5 syllables, line two is 7 syllables, and line three is 5 syllables. However, this contest does not require that authors strictly follow the traditional form. We do recommend that any poem submitted contain less than 20 syllables with a short / long / short arrangement.

St. Johns Cultural Council and Ancient City Poets Celebrate National Poetry Month

March 23, 2021

Enjoy free events and activities as the St. Johns Cultural Council and Ancient City Poets collaborate with local arts organizations to celebrate Poetry Month in St. Johns County. This programming is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

Friday, April 2: National Poetry Month at First Friday Art Walk
Art Studio of Saint Augustine Beach, Cultural Arts Center, St. Johns County Pier
5 pm to 8 pm

The St. Johns Cultural Council announces a Call to Artists: Photography

March 5, 2021

Applications open on March 8, 2021 and close on April 30, 2021
Selections announced on or before May 17, 2021

Apply Here

St. Johns Cultural Council helps bring a new food and wine festival to St. Augustine

February 22, 2021

Cultural Council partners with AdFish Group, creators of the Savannah Food and Wine Festival, to bring premiere culinary event to World Golf Village May 6th - 9th.
Read the full story here.

Annual Stakeholders' Meeting

February 18, 2021

The St. Johns Cultural Council held their Annual Stakeholders' Meeting on Wednesday, February 17th via Zoom.

Executive Director Christina Parrish Stone discussed upcoming Arts, Culture and Heritage funding opportunities. Participants provided input for future programming and events.
The meeting included an introduction to Robin Malpass, principal of our new marketing agency.

Art in Public Spaces Exhibition

February 18, 2021

ArtBox Gallery and the St. Johns Cultural Council present “Outside the Box” a St. Johns County Art in Public Spaces Exhibition in the Rotunda of the County Administration Building located at 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine. Experience the work of more than twenty ArtBox members during the weekdays from 8 am until 5 pm beginning February 16 until April 29, 2021. Learn more about the exhibition here.

Experts and active community members create Visual and Performing Arts Advisory Board at Flagler College

January 7, 2021

This fall, the Office of Institutional Advancement at Flagler College hosted a hybrid model meeting to introduce Dean of the School of Creative Arts & Letters Andrea McCook, along with other faculty, to the new Visual and Performing Arts Advisory Board. Those in attendance included representatives from the St. Augustine Art Association, EMMA Concert Association, The Amp, St. Johns Cultural Council, A Classic Theatre, Inc. and Limelight Theatre among others including alumni, parents and community members.

Lightner Local: The Lightner Museum Artists Initiative

January 5, 2021

With support from the Benjamin and Jean Troemel Arts Foundation, the Lightner Museum announces Lightner Local. Created to showcase the extraordinary talents of artists who live in the Northeast Florida region, three artists will be awarded with solo exhibitions at the Lightner.

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Ends on April 30, 2021 What is a Haiku?

Ends on April 30, 2021
What is a Haiku?