Community Foundation opens artist grant application window
JACKSONVILLE – Artists seeking funding for certain projects can now apply for grants through The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
Individual artists age 18 and above in who live in Duval, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns or Baker counties can apply for grants of up to $3,500 each through the Art Ventures program.
Over the past 27 years, Art Ventures has invested in the work of more than 160 individual artists and 95 small arts organizations. The Community Foundation has invested in the quality of life in Northeast Florida by making grants directly to working artists.
The Community Foundation was awarded a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to create the Art Ventures Fund in 1989. Local donors stepped up and raised enough money to endow the fund, which has made it possible to promise that these grants will be made to Northeast Florida artists in perpetuity, making Northeast Florida a uniquely generous and robust place to create.
Apply online at https://www.jaxcf.org/receive/apply/individual-artists

Get your Art Buzz! On this month
ORANGE PARK – The Urban Bean Coffeehouse Café invites the community out for the January edition of Art Buzz. Join local artists and crafters all in one place at this family-friendly event Jan. 21 from 5-9 p.m.
Enjoy a show dedicated to highlighting different mediums and facets of Jacksonville’s visual art scene. Showing include various media; paintings, illustration, pastel, photography and cartoon art.
This is a series of monthly shows hosted by The Urban Bean Coffeehouse Cafe' in conjunction with Local Artists Coming Together. RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/228740570913220/

“Bye Bye Birdie” slated for OPCT
ORANGE PARK – Orange Park Community Theatre presents the second musical of its 2016-2017 season, “Bye Bye Birdie,” book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, and originally produced by Edward Padula.
Directed by Shelley Hayes, this musical comedy takes audiences back to the hip-thrusting, rock ‘n roll days of the late 1950’s where the MacAfee family and the residents of Sweet Apple, Ohio go topsy-turvy over teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie. Come see who will be his one lucky fan chosen for “One Last Kiss” before he is drafted in the U.S. Army.
“Bye Bye Birdie” runs Jan. 13 – Feb. 5 at OPCT, 2900 Moody Ave., on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.
General admission tickets are $25. Reservations are available through www.opct.info or by calling the OPCT reservation line at (904) 276-2599.
This production is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.