Photo Flash: Funding Arts Broward Rings in 2015 at NSU Museum of Art

In January Funding Arts Broward members joined three well-known artists for a celebratory New Year's luncheon. In the dramatic exhibition event space at NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, the photographs of three groundbreaking painters, Francis Picabia, Julian Schnabel & J.F. Willumsen, connected in the Museum's latest visual art show Café Dolly, silently hosted the room full of FAB! members. Throughout the lunch, a number of speakers highlighted the phenomenal success of a Funding Arts Broward and Knight Foundation three-year partnership -the FAB!/Knight New WorkAwards. Scroll down for photos!

Grant Administrator Michelle Weinberg shared that "one of the objectives of this project was to enhance the status of Broward County as a supportive community among other creatives nationally. As the word gets out," she cited, "and artists and performers from other states see what's going on in Broward, they will definitely take notice." Knight Foundation Tatiana Hernandez attended the luncheon in representation.

The FAB!/Knight New Work Awards was launched with a $150,000 challenge grant from the Knight Foundation and was matched in dollars and passion by FAB! and outside supporters, creating a total fund of $300,000. These funds were redistributed to eight enterprising arts and cultural projects that would not have existed otherwise.

Executive Director, Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Joy Satterlee spoke about their groundbreaking exhibition. "Dave Mueller's Rock 'n' Old drew crowds in the high numbers," Satterlee said, "and became a pioneering exhibition for the Center and for the City of Hollywood." Judith Carney, Director of Development at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts rose to speak about the Trey McIntyre Project produced in 2013, and described the series of master classes and workshops that guided more than 100 youths through the rigors of artistic creation and self-expression.

NSU's Museum of Art Director and Chief Curator Bonnie Clearwater shared details about the Museum's New Work Award projectResearch and Development: Concerning Belonging. Five South Florida artists created artworks addressing homelessness and led creative workshops with Fort Lauderdale's homeless community in collaboration with the Broward Partnership, which operates the Central Homeless Assistance Shelter.

Funding Arts Broward is more than just fun, and more than just funding. Fun and funding however, do make a great partnership, as having fun doing something that you enjoy while uplifting the community seems a fabulous combination! The membership is comprised of men and women who are interested in extending the arts and enhancing the quality of life in Broward County through the arts.

For further information on FAB!, visit fundingartsbroward.org or call 954-353-7673.

About FAB! - Since 2003, FAB! has awarded more than two million dollars to more than thirty arts organizations in Broward County. FAB!'s mission is to enrich the Broward County arts community by funding high quality Broward -based visual and performing arts programming. All FAB! activities are coordinated by volunteers who each make an annual donation; and share a common belief that art and culture in contemporary society transcends our individual differences and unite us in celebration of the human spirit..

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation - The Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more information, visit www.knightfoundation.org.