Stunning Completion of Courtyard Beautification Project

Volunteers - Karen Coker third from right

July 2018

 

Stunning Completion of Courtyard Beautification Project

The Cultural Arts Center at Saint Augustine Beach.

St. Augustine Beach, FL - The St Johns Cultural Council (SJCC) did a phenomenal job transforming the front area at the Cultural Arts Center at Saint Augustine Beach (CAC@StAB) to an inviting courtyard. The recent upgrades and enhancements were a great success. The bold initiative of the “Courtyard Beautification Project” was enthusiastically headed by Karen Coker, a board director with the SJCC. Funds for this commendable endeavor were raised by the SJCC through fundraising events, donors, and private donations.

 

Sally Ann Freeman, an award-winning Master Gardener with the University of Florida and Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), suggested the seaside friendly plants. The landscaping compliments the commemorative bricks that were used ten years ago as the initial fundraiser for the first renovation of the building in 2001. St. Johns County UF/IFAS Master Gardeners is a volunteer-driven program that benefits the citizens of Florida. Among the many excited volunteers from the community were eight students from The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Garden Center, headed by teacher, Jenny Henningsen Palmer, who eagerly helped with digging, planting, mulching, edging, carting materials around, and driving to and from supply stores.

 

The St. Johns Cultural Council assumed the building in 2000 from the City of St. Augustine Beach as a project to restore the building for use as a non-profit arts center. Beginning in 2001, funded by grants from the Florida Division of Historical Resources and individual and corporate donors of over $800,000, extensive restoration and rehabilitation of the exterior and 5,000 sq ft of the interior was accomplished. In 2007, The Dance Company, a local non-profit dance school, became the first anchor tenant, and The Art Studio joined tenancy in 2015.  Further renovations will provide space for more local arts and events for the community as well as visitors.

Come visit this beautiful and inviting art haven to enjoy the arts and the beauty of the building, or you can breathe in the salty ocean air while contemplating its history in the delightfully relaxing, new courtyard: you won‘t want to leave.

The St. Johns Cultural Council began renovations in 2001 with the help of these sponsors, donors, and volunteers:

St. Johns Cultural Council, sponsor and member volunteers

Karen Coker, St. Johns Cultural Council

Florida School for the Deaf and Blind Garden Center, volunteers

Southern Horticulture, plants and trellises

Philip McDaniel, CEO St. Augustine Distillery Company, sponsor

The Division of Historic Resources, sponsor

Craig Thompson, architect

Len Weeks, contractor

Michael and Teresa Radzinski, sponsor donors

St. Augustine Beach Public Works, sprinklers

Sally Ann Freeman, Master Gardner

Home Depot

And the many volunteers who spent hours planting, watering, and beautifying!

About St. Johns Cultural Council

The St. Johns Cultural Council is a 501 © (3) not-for-profit agency. The mission of the council is to promote St. Johns County as a premiere arts destination where the lives of both residents and visitors are enriched through arts and culture.

For additional information call (904) 808-7330 or visit www.stjohnsculture.com. St. Johns Cultural Council is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/St-Johns-Cultural-Council/