Beaches

The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach to Recognize Leaders in the Arts

Beaches Celebration of the Arts

February 23, 2020 | 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

The Surf Club at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach will be making a splash with the inaugural Beaches event.  Beaches will be an annual celebration of artists, individuals, and organizations who have shaped and enhanced our art-filled beaches community.  This fun and formal affair will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Guests will be transported to a vibrant, whimsical, deep sea setting; and will enjoy cocktails, beaches-inspired chef specialties, live art, music, an awards presentation, and auction items that reflect our dynamic community. 

The inaugural Beaches judges are:

Barbara Golden, Communications Manager of St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches Visitors Convention Bureau.

Barbara Colaciello, community arts advocate, motivational speaker, director, performer, and former colleague of Andy Warhol.

Lisa Goodrich, Business Development Strategist at Brunet-Garcia Advertising, Inc., involved with several Jacksonville nonprofit organizations, and has a passion for community engagement.

The Beaches Honorary Chair is Irene Lazzara, Trustee of the Lazzara Family Foundation.  The Lazzara Family Foundation has a long history of supporting programs and projects focused on expanding and improving arts and culture, educational opportunities, and the emotional and physical challenges in our community.  

"The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach is elated to have such an esteemed member of our community involved with Beaches!" 

-Donna Guzzo, CCPVB Executive Director 

CCPVB will kick-off the Beaches celebration event with a free open house at the Cultural Center on Saturday, February 22, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  CCPVB is partnering with Beaches Go Green, known for their education and advocacy about the impact of waste on the planet, and their interactive sculpture garden at Deck the Chairs,  to create a recycled, beach-themed art display for guests to enjoy. Beer and wine will be available for donation, and hors d'oeuvres will be served. 

The Cultural Center has been working closely with esteemed individuals and organizations involved in the arts to create an inspiring celebration that will recognize the artists, individuals, and organizations that use the arts to enhance our community.

This year's Beaches judges have finished reviewing all of the submitted nominations.  Each submission was carefully considered, and the top nominees in each category were chosen based on a number of factors. 

The top nominees in each category are listed below, and are in no specific order:

Emerging Artist Award - Awarded to an emerging artist of any age who has displayed great accomplishment with their fine art or craft medium.

Mary Ann Rosenthal

Gentry Gudal

Marlene Scheer

Arts Education & Advocacy Award - Awarded to an artist or arts advocate with a track record of advancing the arts and/or educating the general public, business leaders, elected officials and students on the fundamental value of arts in the community.

Dawn Wolf, Owner & Teacher at Ponte Vedra Ballet

Beaches Go Green

Rod Morris

The Art of Giving Award - Awarded to a business, large or small, or an individual committed to funding and/or sustaining arts and culture programs within the community.

Steve and Elaine Wyman

Art with a Heart in Healthcare

Teresa Radzinski

Community Impact Award (Member's Choice Award) - Awarded to an individual, business or organization that has demonstrated a tangible and measurable development of arts & culture in the community.

Deck the Chairs

Tim Ellis, Organizer of the Beaches Museum Music Series

St. Augustine Art Association

Beaches Award - Awarded to an individual business or organization dedicated to ensuring that & culture are ingrained into the everyday life of the community.

Christine Hoffman, Director of the Beaches Museum

St. Johns County Cultural Arts

Kristopher Jackson, Board President of Players by the Sea

Beaches could not be possible without our community partners, Mike Wicks, Amy Crane, Diane Bradley, Barbara Colaciello, Barbara Golden, Lisa Goodrich, and Beaches Go Green.

Beaches is sponsored in part by The Lazzara Family Foundation,  Pet Paradise, Google, and Morgan Stanley.

Tickets and tables for Beaches are available at Beaches.givesmart.com.  Contact Angela de Gregory at [email protected] or 904.280.0614 X 1203 for more information.