Each day, Jacksonville’s arts and culture community enriches our city as a whole and our quality of life as individual citizens.
But occasionally, our arts and culture community is too passive in touting its massive impact across the city.
And, too often, it hasn’t been proactive in using its influence to demand a seat at the table when city leaders make decisions on major issues.
“The cultural community has been a little whiny about not being included,” said Hope McMath, director of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. There’s not an issue that the arts and culture community can’t play a role in (addressing).”
WORKING TOGETHER
For Numa Saisselin, president of the Florida Theatre, the challenge has been about getting organizations to move out of their individual silos within Jacksonville’s cultural circle and to “play nice with others” for the good of the whole community.
It’s about looking “to expand the circle,” Saisselin said.
To that end, the Cummer and Florida Theatre are among 50 area institutions and organizations in Cultural Fusion, a loosely formed coalition working to make sure the arts and culture community has a voice that’s heard and acknowledged on the city issues.
THE YEAR OF THE RIVER
McMath, Saisselin and Jacksonville Dance Theatre creative director Tiffany Fish were part of a contingent of local arts and culture leaders who recently met with the Times-Union editorial board to lay out Cultural Fusion’s recent progress.
The group is dedicating 2015 to raising community awareness about the St. Johns River is our region’s most important natural resource.
ONE ARTISTIC, CULTURAL VOICE
It’s a fact that Cultural Fusion will admirably embrace during its “Year of the River” campaign.
Cultural Fusion members will work in tandem to hold exhibits, special programs, performances and other creative events focusing on the St. Johns’ natural beauty to its geographic importance.
It’s an inspiring undertaking that deserves applause.
“We’re trying to use our collective assets to make the community better,” McMath said of Cultural Fusion’s members.
And they are.
If to paraphrase Shakespeare Jacksonville is a stage and we all have our roles to play on it, Cultural Fusion is playing its part very well.
