Broward Cultural Council Opens 2014 with Annual Planning Forum

The Broward Cultural Council convened its February meeting at ArtServe last night, and followed it with a well-attended 2014 Annual Planning Forum. Members of the community were invited to an arts and cultural ideas exchange; and more than 100 artists, local arts supporters, elected officials, arts organization executives and members of the business and arts community participated. "We wanted to start the year with a positive and inspiring message, involve the community and stir up excitement for Broward County's arts and cultural progress," says Cultural Division Director Earl Bosworth."

A wine and cheese reception in the art gallery with the DCA String Quartet from the Dillard Center for the Arts set the stage for the presentations that followed in the auditorium; the evening closed with a special performance by local dancer and choreographer Pablo Malco.

Broward County Commissioner, District 6, Sue Gunzburger highlighted the significant economic impact of the arts both nationally and locally; while Immediate Past Chair Deborah Kerr talked about Public Art installations at Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 2013, which continue the development of international relations through tourism and trade.

Present Chair Diane Weinbrum spoke about collaborations between the School Board of Broward County, FL and other agencies, in securing the arts in core curriculum in County schools. Bosworth shared a power point presentation on the County's 100th anniversary - Broward 100: The Art of Community, noting as groundbreaking, the partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The centennial is a perfect unified project for this partnership to thrive; and along with our Community Foundation of Broward co-sponsors, we have a triumvirate of culture, tourism and business."

The forum featured a very special guest speaker, Arts for LA's Executive Director Danielle Brazell, who presented in "TedTalk" style, with dramatic poise, about her involvement in transitioning an ad-hoc steering committee to a highly visible arts advocacy organization serving the greater Los Angeles region. Brazell encouraged by sharing how 'do-able' this could be for Broward County, "YOU are the ones who will do this," she said. Her presentation also served to introduce a new advocacy initiative for Broward County, Arts 954 - Broward's Voice for All Creatives.