Florida Department of State

Florida Department of State
Kurt S. Browning
Secretary of State

Florida Leaders Launch Art Builds Florida! Statewide Student Art Contest

Today, Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning announced Art Builds Florida!, a statewide art contest inviting Florida’s 9-12th grade high school students to create visual pieces of art that express the importance of art and culture to the future of their state. From September 8 to November 7, 2008, students can submit original 2-dimensional artwork exploring the four key areas of Florida’s strategic plan for the arts, Culture Builds Florida's Future.

The Florida Department of State and Margo Bindhardt, chairperson of Citizens for Florida Arts, Inc., officially opened the Art Builds Florida! contest on the back steps of the Old Capitol. Remarks were delivered by Secretary Browning; former Senator Charles W. Clary III, FAIA; Tony Carvajal, Executive Vice President of the Florida Chamber Foundation; Chancellor Frances Haithcock, K-12 Schools, and special guest Tom Prestopnik, long-time arts educator from Martin County. Complete contest information and official contest rules are available on the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs Web site at http://www.florida-arts.org/artcontest/.

Florida’s 67 counties have been divided into four regions, each taking one of the focus areas of the state’s 10-year strategic plan, Culture Builds Florida’s Future. The four areas are: Leadership, Design and Development, Learning and Wellness, and Strengthening the Economy. The winning designs will become visual representations of the strategic plan, helping to develop momentum and inspire excitement for future activities in each focus area through a variety of promotional materials.

The 32 finalists will be announced on the Division’s Web site in December 2008. Their work will be forwarded to a panel of arts professionals and officials from partner state agencies who will then select the final winners and runners-up in each category.

The four winners and their families will be invited to Tallahassee in April 2009 for events recognizing their achievements in the contest. Simultaneously, an exhibition in the Division of Cultural Affairs Gallery for Innovation & the Arts will feature the work of the 32 finalists.

Art Builds Florida! is an initiative of the Division of Cultural Affairs and is sponsored by Citizens for Florida Arts, Inc., an organization that supports the efforts of the Division of Cultural Affairs and the many programs it administers.

The Division of Cultural Affairs is Florida’s legislatively designated state arts agency. The mission of the Division is to foster development and growth of arts activities, provide arts resources and services, award excellence, and promote arts-related public/private partnerships. The Division believes that the arts can help change the world for the better and that it starts with one person, in one community at a time. Through its programs and services, the Division of Cultural Affairs impacts all of Florida’s 67 counties by supporting over 25,000 cultural events. Last year alone more than 33 million people participated in Division grant supported programs, including nearly 7 million school-aged children.