The Cummer Museum and Gardens are awaiting your return

It may be hot outside but inside the Cummer Museum and outside in the cool luscious Gardens near the St. John’s River it’s cool, inviting and just lovely. Grab a friend, relative or come by yourself and enjoy what’s in store for you this month at the museum.

Events & Programs for June 2021:

Yoga in the historic gardens: Thursday, June 10 starting at 10 a.m. Enjoy a Mindful Yoga hour in the historic gardens. Members $10, Non-Members $15 | Registration required.

Queer: Exploring art and artists in the Museum's collection: Tuesday, June 15  & Saturday, June 19. Explore various works, along with themes of LGBT+ initiatives, with one of our Visitor Experience Associates. Free | Registration required.

Donte Palmer, Founder of Squat for Change: Thursday, June 17 starting at 7 p.m. (Virtual lecture) Free | Registration required. Sponsored by Northern Trust.

Zanele Muholi in Conversation: Friday, June 18 starting at 2 p.m. (Virtual program) Free | Registration required.

Friday Night Picnics: Friday Nights in June from 5 to 9 p.m. Prices vary | Registration required.

EDUCATION: Slow Art Wednesdays: Virtual Talks. Wednesday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 23 starting at 12 p.m. Take a fun and mindful break. Topics vary; second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. Free | Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour: Friday, June 18 starting at 6 p.m. Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists Free | Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Activity: Sunday, June 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists Free with Museum admission.

GARDEN CONCERT:
Two options for a socially distanced experience. Attend one or both! Saturday, June 26
First concert: 4:30 p.m. Doors open. 5 to 5:30 p.m. “Let’s Ride Brass Band”. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. “The Groove Coalition”. Prices vary | Registration required.

Second concert: 7 p.m. Doors Open 7:30 to 8 p.m. “Let’s Ride Brass Band”. 8 to 9 p.m. “The Groove Coalition”. Sponsored by Joan & Jim Van Vleck.

New Exhibition: Imprisoned but Empowered: Cheyenne Warrior Artists at Fort Marion. Now on view. In 1875, following the Red River War, the United States government ordered the arrest of 72 Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche, Caddo, and Arapaho warriors. Taken from their families, they arrived at Ft. Marion in St. Augustine, their home for the next three years. For nearly 100 years, this narrative was told and retold by historians and government agents.  However, the Cheyenne have their own story to tell: a story highlighting the journey east, as well as the life they left behind. A story told in art. Click here to learn more.

Cummer Shop: Visit the Museum store in person, or from the comfort of home through their online shop.

Recommended Reading! One of the museum’s new favorites - Art from Fort Marion: The Silberman Collection. Striking color images depict traditional lifeways and the pain of imprisonment by artists who graphically recorded their responses to incarceration in drawings that conveyed both their present reality and their nostalgic memories.

In order to prioritize the health of our guests and our staff, and to minimize touch points and onsite capacity, all visitors must reserve a timed ticket for entry. Timed tickets are available Tuesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 4 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. RESERVE YOUR ADMISSION TICKET NOW Facial Masks are strongly recommended!

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Florida Theatre is having a virtual benefit party

The Florida Theatre is pleased to announce that this year’s annual benefit party goes virtual with Front Row From Home: A Florida Theatre Virtual Benefit Presented by Dex Imaging. Get Cozy At Home and Stream the Event Live at FrontRowFromHome.com on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.

Front Row From Home is a live one-hour virtual fundraiser that you can support from the best seat in the house – your couch! Hosts Ken Amaro, Catalina Alers-Alers and Steve Smith will showcase the best of Jacksonville’s talent and performers while you learn more about the Florida Theatre and have fun bidding on exciting auction items in their online auction.

The event features live performances from Jacksonville’s own Billy Buchanan, The Band Be Easy, Honey Hounds, Chris Thomas Band and Akia Uwanda, as well as celebrity guest appearances by Judy Collins, 38 Special, Dave Koz, Mindi Abair and more to be announced.

Front Row from Home is the major benefit for the nonprofit Florida Theatre this year. The night supports the Florida Theatre’s mission as a nonprofit organization to enhance the North Florida community’s quality of life by bringing diverse and memorable arts and entertainment experiences to our community, and by preserving a unique historic Jacksonville landmark.

Though the event is free to stream at FrontRowFromHome.com, the Florida Theatre invites viewers to kick back and get cozy at home with one of the Front Row From Home VIP Experiences:

Individual Ticket: An individual ticket to Front Row From Home comes with access to an exclusive VIP pre-show event, including a virtual cocktail tasting and a party kit for 1 person delivered to your doorstep before the event.

The Party Kit Includes:
Manifest Distilling Cocktail Box for 1
Florida Theatre Merchandise for 1

Host Party Sponsorship: The Host Party Sponsorship Package gives your party access to an exclusive VIP pre-show event, including a virtual cocktail tasting and a party kit for 4 people delivered to your doorstep before the event. In addition, Host Sponsors will be listed as a sponsor in various promotions before and during the event.

The Host Party Kit Includes:
Wine and Cheese Basket for 4 Curated by Grater Goods
Florida Theatre Merchandise for 4
Manifest Distilling Cocktail Box for 4
Custom Cutting Board from A&A Wood Creations.

Auction: The Front Row From Home auction began on Thursday, April 29 and will feature a variety of rare and unique treasures. The Theatre will periodically reveal the auction items on social media in the weeks leading up to the event. Bidding ends when Front Row From Home finishes streaming at 8:30 p.m. on May 13, 2021.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for this event, contact Director of Development Michelle Adams at michelle@floridatheatre.com or (904) 562-5973.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

SHOW: Front Row From Home: A Florida Theatre Virtual Benefit Presented by Dex Imaging
SHOW DATE: Thursday, May 13, 2021
SHOW TIME: 7:30 p.m.
PRICES: $130 for an Individual Ticket, $2500 for the Host Party Sponsorship Package
STREAMING AT: FrontRowFromHome.com

Cathedral Arts Project flourishes in JAX public schools

The Cathedral Arts Project (CAP), as part of the Any Given Child Jacksonville program (AGC Jacksonville), has announced the launch of the Landscape of Education in the Arts in Duval (LEAD) artlook® map. This launch is part of a collective national effort to affect systemic change for arts education through partnerships with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Ingenuity, the Chicago-based arts advocacy organization that created the artlook® platform.

The LEAD artlook® map provides a real-time snapshot of arts resources and services on a school-by-school basis in Duval County, using data from schools, funding resources and cultural service providers, such as local museums and arts organizations. This cutting-edge tool allows community stakeholders to identify funding and partnership opportunities that will lead to greater support and resources for arts education in Duval County schools.

Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the U.S. Department of Education and the PNC Foundation, AGC Jacksonville is working to assess the state of the arts and advocate for increased equity and access to high quality arts education for all students enrolled in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) — goals that took on even more significance as a result of the pandemic.

AGC Jacksonville initiated a collaboration between Ingenuity, the Kennedy Center and the NEA to launch the artlook® Project, a three-year initiative to gather comprehensive data to improve equitable access to arts education. Jacksonville is one of eight cities nationally, and the only city in Florida, to participate in the artlook® Project. Other communities selected for the initiative include Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; New Orleans, LA; Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA; and Southwestern PA.

LEAD began in 2019 with surveys to all Duval County Public Schools to collect information about arts programming and resources. A separate survey was created for local arts and culture organizations to gather information about their arts education offerings. The map will be updated annually; data from the 2020-2021 school year will be active on the map by fall 2021.

LEAD is the first artlook® map to launch outside of Ingenuity’s original Chicago map and provides a template for other school districts seeking to use data to strengthen teaching, learning, whole-child education and strategies to address equity gaps. Locally, Assessment Technologies Group and the University of North Florida are providing data analysis support to translate the map into an advocacy plan.

In recent years, DCPS has expanded its arts education opportunities for students. Recent advancements include the creation of a new arts magnet middle school, Fort Caroline Middle School of the Visual and Performing Arts; new digital arts, digital photography and cinematic film programs in multiple secondary schools; expanded performing arts programs, including show choir, theatre, band and choral programs; the addition of more than 80 fine arts teaching positions since 2013; and active representation for arts education in all pandemic planning efforts to keep programs and positions intact and available as safely as possible.

The LEAD artlook® map can be viewed at jacksonville.artlookmap.com.

 

Koz, McKnight and Sheléa in your living room

Dave Koz & Brian McKnight

For one enchanted evening GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz and R&B superstar vocalist Brian McKnight announce “A Romantic Night In,” a livestream concert that will take place on Valentine’s Day Eve – Saturday, February 13, 2021 – beginning at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST via Looped. They will be joined by special guest Sheléa.

Dave Koz says, “Brian, Sheléa and I are so excited to provide the romantic soundtrack to your Valentine’s weekend celebration at home. Pour a glass of wine, dip some strawberries in chocolate…and leave it to us to provide the musical magic!”

Please note, this is a virtual event and will NOT take place at the Theatre.

“Brian McKnight &
  Dave Koz”
DATE: Sat. Feb. 13, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
VIRTUAL TICKETS: $35

WJCT hosts virtual conversation “The Black Church”

WJCT Public Media today announced it will host a community conversation and launch an interactive initiative in connection with “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” the upcoming PBS documentary series by Dr. Henry Louis Gates. The community conversation, titled “Sights, Sounds, and Spirit of the Black Church,” will be held virtually on February 15 at 7 p.m., and is funded by a grant from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.

Lynn Sherman, Director of Social Responsibility and Community Engagement at Baptist Health, will host the community conversation, which will feature panelists Jeff Boddie, Associate Director of Worship, Downtown, at Shiloh Church, Bishop Charles Bernard Eichelberger Sr., Pastor & Founder at Cathedral of Deliverance, and Ben Frazier, President & Founder of Northside Coalition of Jacksonville. Registration for this free virtual event is open at wjct.org/events/blackchurch.

“Northeast Florida’s diversity is its strength, and WJCT Public Media is proud to host this conversation centered around the connections between faith and community, and between our community’s history and its future,” said David McGowan, President of WJCT Public Media. “We encourage our neighbors to join us in exploring and celebrating the cultural and historical importance of local Black churches and their musical traditions to our region, as part of WJCT Public Media’s celebration of Black History Month.”

Additionally, WJCT Public Media invites members of churches across Northeast Florida to record and share a video that is five minutes or less in length that explains what the black church means to them. The stories will be archived in the Florida Collection at the Jacksonville Public Library through February 28. Videos may be submitted at wjct.org/blackchurch.

“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is a four-hour documentary series tracing the 400-year history of the Black church in America, produced by McGee Media, Inkwell Media and WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Get Lifted. The series features interviews with John Legend, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson, Bishop Michael Curry, Cornel West, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Rev. Al Sharpton, Yolanda Adams, Rev. William Barber II, BeBe Winans, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie and more. It premieres at 9 p.m. on February 16 and 17 on WJCT-TV, and PBS stations nationwide, as well as streaming on the PBS app, PBS Passport and PBS.org.

“‘The Black Church’ is a landmark documentary that beautifully illustrates the preeminent role church, faith and spirituality have played in shaping the Black American experience,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. “Through these grants, we are helping public media stations -- public radio as well as public television -- leverage the documentary series to bring together new partners and explore how the role of the Black church has evolved in their communities and impacted our nation.”

“Our series is a riveting and systematic exploration of the myriad ways in which African Americans have worshipped God in their own images, and continue to do so today, from the plantation and prayer houses, to camp meetings and store-front structures, to mosques and mega-churches," said Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. "This is the story and song our ancestors bequeathed to us, and it comes at a time in our country when the very things they struggled and died for — faith and freedom, justice and equality, democracy and grace — all are on the line. No social institution in the Black community is more central and important than the Black church.”

Major corporate support for “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major support is also provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc., Ford Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers. Public radio station engagement grants are funded by CPB and administered by the VuHaus Group, a public media music organization of stations. 

“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is presented as part of WJCT Public Media’s celebration of Black History Month. For a full list of programming, visit wjct.org/blackhistory.

Cummer Museum safely functions during January 2021

The Museum, in partnership with The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, is curating a retrospective exhibition to celebrate the “30th Anniversary of the Art Ventures Fund”. Thirty artists have been selected to include one work — one for each year of Art Ventures grantmaking. Art Ventures is an endowed fund at The Community Foundation, launched in 1990 through a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts that was matched by generous local donors. The fund makes grants annually to individual artists and small arts organizations so recipients can explore or refine the next level of their craft, with more than $1.4 million invested since its inception.

Upcoming Events & Programs:

Culture and Conversation: The Invincible Garden Ladies, a virtual lecture with Abra Lee, renowned horticulturist and founder of Conquer the Soil and BIPOC Working Hort Group Thursday, Jan. 14 @ 7 p.m. Free | Registration required. Sponsored by Joan and Jim Van Vleck.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Virtual and In-Person Experiences Monday, Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free | Registration required. Sponsored by The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida's Presidential Grants Program.

Virtual Lecture with guest curator, Susan Gallo, on the Museum's, Eugène-Louis Charvot, highlighting the artist's works in our collection Thursday, Jan. 21 @7 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Art Ventures Programming: In partnership with The Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, the Museum is hosting special programming with Art Ventures grant recipients on select Free Friday nights. Visitors will enjoy poetry readings, spoken word, musical performances, and more. Friday, Jan. 15 Tiffany Melanson | Mal Jones Friday, Jan. 29 Rebecca Levy | Hurley Winkler 5 to 8 p.m. | Free Admission registration required.

Hiromi Moneyhun, Bonsai, papercut. Art Ventures 30th Anniversary Exhibition Education Slow Art Wednesdays: Take a fun and mindful break Wednesday, Jan. 13 & Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Acrylic Painting for beginner/intermediate levels with artist Allison Watson: Six-week, in-studio classes Jan. 13, 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17  from 1 to 4 p.m. Members $270, Non-Members $360, Registration required.

Basic Drawing for beginner/intermediate levels with artist William McMahan: Six-week, in-studio classes; Jan. 14, 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. Members $270, Non-Members $360. Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour: Topic: Art Ventures 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Friday, Jan. 15 @6 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Museum Friends: Play-filled activities for art lovers ages 3-5: Multi-week, virtual class for a child and favorite adult. Topic: Laugh Lines Jan. 16, 23, 30 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Members $60 per pair. Non-Members $75 per pair Registration required.

Artist Expressions: Drawing, painting and more for art lovers ages 6-12 Multi-week, virtual class. Topic: Come Take a Ride in My Time Machine, Jan. 16, 23, 30 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Members $75, Non-Members $90 Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Activity: Topic: Art Ventures 30th Anniversary Sunday, Jan. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free with admission.

Teachers' Virtual Lounge: Connect with Educators Tuesday, Jan. 26 @5 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Virtual School Tours: Check online for details, Sponsored by Community First Credit Union.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

The Cummer Museum is ready to entertain you

Here are a few ideas to bring your family and friends to this month. Give them a call and make your reservation today. Make plans to have a Merry Christmas this year. 

Illuminating Nature | December 11, 15, 18 | 5 to 9 p.m. + Admission to the Museum and Gardens is FREE on Tuesday and Friday nights and includes this event. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Register Here. Play witness to the transformative power of light and color in the Cummer Gardens during this unique opportunity to view a familiar landscape in a whole new light!

After the sun goes down, come experience an installation of glowing fabric sculptures throughout the Cummer Gardens. Make an evening with them by dining in the Café (reservations are suggested), enjoying live music, and cozying up with a beverage from the garden bar.

Winter Art Camp (Virtual!) December 28, 29, 30 - During this online winter camp, young artists will explore the Museum to experience different perspectives and mediums across cultures, times, and locations and create their own unique artworks.
Ages 6 to 8 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Ages 9 to 12 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Register Here. Members | $25 per class; Non-Members | $30 per class. + Registration fee includes art kit to complete art-making activities during each class and a complimentary family admission pass.

Shop the Season – Shop Online: Just in time for the Holidays! Gifts from the Cummer Shop support our mission, and we know you will find unique finds they will adore. Free ground shipping on orders over $50. Offer expires Dec. 17. Use your member discount code, Member10, at checkout and save 10% off all purchases.

Meal Delivery

Let Chef's Garden cook for you! The Cummer Café is adapting to be more socially responsible in finding ways to best serve you, their valued community. Chef’s Garden, the Café’s catering team, is taking even more precautions to ensure they are working to the highest levels of health and safety standards. Chef’s Garden’s Meal Delivery Program offers socially responsible dining options with ready to eat meals for your family dinners. Available for same-day delivery when purchased before 12 p.m.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

‘The Hip Hop Nutcracker’ virtually brings theatre back to JAX

FSCJ Artist Series Broadway in Jacksonville presents: “Celebrated Holiday Dance Spectacle” available to stream for Jacksonville audiences and features special appearance by Hip Hop Pioneer - MC Kurtis Blow.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker, a contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music, is available to stream for Jacksonville audiences this holiday season. The live capture, filmed as a part of a partnership with PBS, will allow recurring and new patrons to experience this beloved holiday tradition at home, as theaters across the country remain closed.

Hip Hop Nutcracker - School Edition Performance Dates: December 3 - 17, 2020
Ticket Link: FSCJ Artist Series School Performances.

Hip Hop Nutcracker - Public Livestream Performance Dates:
December 18, 2020, at 8 p.m.; December 19, 2020, at 8 p.m.; December 20, 2020, at 3 p.m.
Ticket Link: FSCJ Artist Public-Livestream Performances.

Directed and choreographed by Olivier-nominated Jennifer Weber, The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music. A unique and joyful event, this evening length production is performed by a supercharged cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. The show is produced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) with Executive Producer, Eva Price, and co-commissioned by the United Palace of Cultural Arts.

Preview the action HERE in this video.

"We're thrilled to be able to bring our show to new audiences as well as to those who have made The Hip Hop Nutcracker a holiday tradition," said NJPAC Producer David Rodriguez. "This year, not only will audiences experience the magic of The Hip Hop Nutcracker, but do so in their own homes.”

“While I’m saddened we can’t take The Hip Hop Nutcracker on the road this year, I’m thrilled we’re able to find a way to bring this show to audiences around the country for the seventh consecutive season,” says Executive Producer and Tony Award winner Eva Price. “This will be a holiday season unlike any other. I’m so glad we’ll have this comforting, inspiring and inclusive tradition to provide much-need and well-earned joy.”

Just like the original, in The Hip Hop Nutcracker, Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince go on a dream adventure battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and learning the lessons of the holiday season. Innovative digital graffiti and visuals transform the landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story from traditional 19th Century Germany to the vibrant, diverse sights and sounds of contemporary New York City. Through this re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, the dynamic performers of The Hip Hop Nutcracker take us on a journey that celebrates love, community and the magic of the holiday season.

Hip Hop Nutcracker - School Edition Tickets for The Hip Hop Nutcracker - School edition start at $6 per individual.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker virtual program includes: A full-length performance video, an educational guide that provides literacy and history lessons as well as activities for your students & a pre-recorded Q&A with creator Jennifer Weber.

Ticket Link: fscjartistseries.org/hip-hop-nutcracker-school-edition Hip Hop Nutcracker - Public Livestream General Admission tickets for THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER start at $20.

VIP Access Package available for purchase starting at $50: Includes Livestream performance plus Live Talkback following the performance, Video On Demand access, & autographed show poster.

Ticket Link: FSCJ Artist Series Tickets Hip - Hop Nutcracker, Public Livestream.

At home with the Cummer Museum

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is working hard on reopening plans to welcome you back soon. Our goal is to create the safest and best visitor experience that is centered around the highest quality works of art and historic gardens that are accessible and fun for everyone.  Their reopening phases will include the Gardens, followed by a full campus reopening.  As they continue to work toward finalizing a timeline for when they can safely reopen their doors, please be assured that they have been developing an extensive plan which implements the highest-level health and safety protocols to greet you.  To learn more, click here.

Florida conjures visions of a lush tropical paradise, with vast natural resources and endless opportunities for those most daring to try.  The cultural landscape, however, is a combination of nature and humanity; the landscape, from white sand beaches to murky swamps, provides the backbone; the inhabitants provide the culture.  Florida’s cultural landscape is light, bright, expansive, and ripe with potential, but also wild, untamed, ambiguous, and obscure.  Tour the exhibition here.

STAY SAFE, STAY SHOPPING: Discover unique gifts, including puzzles, books, jewelry, apparel, children's items, and more.  Now you can shop online anytime at the Cummer Shop Online Store.  The Cummer Shop is filled with items that are educational, inspirational, and fun.  The selections reflect the quality of the Museum’s Permanent Collection, Gardens, and Exhibitions.  Discount code for you as a member to receive the member 10% off is Member10.  You support our mission - proceeds from the Cummer Shop support exciting and diverse exhibitions and programs for our community.

ENGAGE WITH THEM: The Cummer Museum continues to provide comfort, wisdom, and the means for self-expression and connection through our virtual presence.  Visit here for innovative solutions to experience the Museum and its benefits from home.