With roots in our community, we strive to support the arts sector through advocacy, promotion, research, community planning and programming. Our focus on arts education is core to who we are as we know that through those efforts, we are working to secure an audience for generations in the future. We are housed in a county-owned historic building (formerly the county’s first courthouse) the Court House Cultural Center (CHCC). Located in the historic downtown Stuart, this venue allows us to serve as a hub of cultural experiences for residents and visitors. We serve two primary audiences: (1) creators and (2) spectators. Creators include artists, teachers, arts organizations, and venues who work in the visual arts (painting, sculpting, mixed media, photography, etc.), fine crafts (jewelry, ceramics, glass, etc.), performing arts (dance, theatre, music, etc.), literary arts, and digital media arts (filmmaking and videography). Spectators include leaders in government/politics and the general public which includes visitors, seniors, students, youth, parents and the business community. Programs & Services Summary:
• Programs: Court House Cultural Center Fine Art Exhibits, Sunset Concerts at the Gallery, Arts Education and Professional Development Workshops and Lectures
• Celebrations of Why the Arts Matter: ArtsFest, mARTies Awards, Marvin S Cone High School Juried Art Show, Plein Air Arts Day, Cultural Conversations, Eco-Art Initiatives
• Promoting the Arts: Scholarships & Awards for Students, Grants & Fellowships for Artists & Cultural Organizations, Online Community Cultural Calendar & Artist Registry, and Collaborations with Local Businesses, Venues & Artists to bring new opportunities to life. MartinArts is very strongly associated with the MartinArts Foundation. Staff of the Council provide support to the volunteers and board members of the Foundation which produce two major fund raising events for the Council’s benefit: ArtsFest and the mARTies Awards. Additionally, the Foundation facilitates Women Supporting the Arts, a women’s giving circle which provides grants to the local arts community. The Foundation contributes annually to the Council operating budget as its primary investment in the arts.
