Programs

The St. Johns Cultural Council has a proud twenty-year history as the Local Arts Agency for St. Johns County, Florida.  Our programs – made possible by generous individual donors and foundation support – build excellence in the cultural community and benefit both residents and visitors. 

Individual Artists and Organizations 

  • Grants
  • Professional Development Workshops
  • Marketing and Promotional Support
  • Performance, Publication and Exhibition Opportunities

The St. Johns Cultural Council promotes the development of individual artists, arts institutions, community arts partners, cultural programs and activities and audiences.  We provide grant funding through our State of the Arts program and assist local artists and cultural organizations with grants administered by others.  We provide professional and technical support to develop and promote local programs and events.  

Our artist registry and online listing of arts organizations allow artists and organizations to develop collaborations and an online presence at no cost to them. Professional Development Workshops are offered to help artists and arts organizations build skills and capacity for local arts, culture and heritage programs.  We present performances, host literary competitions, and curate exhibitions of visual art, providing economic opportunities for local artists and opportunities for our residents and visitors to experience the arts.

Community  

As the Local Arts Agency we support the work of individuals and organizations throughout our community while presenting – and offering support for - programs that benefit community members of all ages. 

Businesses and individuals are able to invest in our work as sponsors of events like the  ROWITA Awards, which recognize outstanding women in the arts; our Art in Public Spaces exhibitions, which provide opportunities for individuals to experience the work of local visual artists; and free public concerts, featuring the music of local performers.

We offer visual, literary and performing arts activities for children and adults directly and through small and emerging organizations and individual artists. Sponsored programs have included Ancient City Poets, Apex Theatre Studio, Fort Mose Historical Society, Saint Augustine Music Festival, Florida Chamber Music Project, the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, and the Council on Aging.

Our weekly newsletters connect community members and visitors with educational opportunities and provide information about the rich history of arts and culture in St. Johns County.

Children

  • Arts Education in Public Schools
  • After-School Programs for At-Risk Youth
  • Sponsorship of Arts and Culture Programs and Activities
  • Scholarship Opportunities

The St. Johns Cultural Council supports artists, arts organizations and businesses in assisting the County's schools to enrich the lives of local children. Students who participate in the arts attend school more regularly, do better academically and have fewer incidents requiring detention or incarceration.

We provide funding for arts education programs for children and underserved youth and professional development for teachers. Past recipients include the ACE afterschool arts program, the Limelight Theatre, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, and Compassionate St. Augustine. ROWITA scholarships assist outstanding young women in pursuing arts studies at the college level, with three scholarships offered to deserving students each year.