Transforming St. Lucie County into the Cultural Gem of the Treasure Coast by Connecting A Community Of Artists & Art Enthusiasts
Written by Better Living Marketing Team
With events ranging from Fine Art exhibitions across the county to ZAMFest, a Zen, Arts & Music Festival on April 23 & 24th at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center, the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance, the county’s representative agency for Arts & Culture, has just one goal – help artists of all disciplines thrive in St. Lucie County.
“We’re focused on being a hub for every type of artist here in St. Lucie County,” says Executive Director Alyona Ushe, highlighting nearly 250 members from disciplines of visual arts, dance, theatre, music, film, fashion, and even culinary arts, mindfulness and wellness artisans. “People often say that the arts are our best kept secret. We’re working to connect our creative forces together and make sure the vibrant arts scene is something everyone thinks of immediately about St. Lucie County.” Since opening a fine art gallery in the 111 Orange Building in Downtown Fort Pierce, the Alliance has hosted dozens of fine art exhibitions, including one that brought legendary landscape photographer Clyder Butcher to Port St. Lucie for a live meet & greet with art enthusiasts.
After kicking off an initial Treasure Coast Arts & Mindfulness festival in 2021, the Alliance collaborated with the city of Port St. Lucie to bring the event back as ZAM Fest, a free Zen, Arts & Music Festival on April 23rd & 24th at the MIDFLORIDA Center that brings together national music acts at night including Diamond Rio, Ton Loc and Tag Team with an uniquely different festival that spotlights wellness and arts activities with Cultural Alliance Music Guild members during the day.
The Alliance also creates signature events like the new Cabaret Series, an upscale jazz club style musical experience every 2nd Thursday at the 500 Orange Event Center. “We’re carefully curating an experience for true music lovers,” says Jake Sanders, Cultural Alliance Community Engagement Manager, highlighting the partnership spotlighting the 500 Orange Event Center, an Alliance business partner where they incubate new shows with musicians belonging to the Cultural Alliance Music Guild. “There is no other experience on the Treasure Coast like this intimate, music centered venue where beautiful artwork from members of our Cultural Alliance Art Guild adorn the walls.” The experience is completed with a full liquor bar by Bonner Mobile Bar, and signature drinks for the show. Small plates are available a la a carte from True Roots Catering, with Culinary Artist Mike Febre featured at the Cabaret Series.
After launching the Cabaret Series in January with Marvelous: The Music of Marvin Gaye and following up with Hot Chocolate & Kool Whip: A Musical Celebration of the Iconic Duos of Yesteryear, the Alliance has a Summer schedule that includes Legends of Pop: Music from the 70’s to Today with Apollo Vega & The Vega Tribe on April 7th, The Dreamers’ Swing Band on May 12th, This Will Be: The Music of Natalie Cole on June 9th and An Evening with Soprano Jacqueline Pimienta on July 14th with classical selections, and favorites from Broadway and the Great American Songbook. Tickets are available from $25 on www.artstlucie.org, with discounted full summer season subscriptions available for every show.
The Cultural Alliance is also addressing environmental preservation through ACE, Arts Conserve the Environment, where students learn environmental sciences, reading, and math through recycled art projects. In partnership with The Inner Truth Project, Cultural Alliance Art Guild members are partnered with survivors of sexual trauma to create art from up-cycled and recycled materials, mirroring the journey of survivors of sexual violence. Another educational program, Young Hearts to Arts, a virtual and outdoor student exhibition and competition provides students with an opportunity to exhibit their work. What began as a creative solution to COVID-19 pandemic became a staple for the Alliance that this year had nearly a hundred participants and over 1000 community members vote for their favorite student art piece. The Cultural Alliance members, Heathcote and Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens host this beloved traveling exhibition.
Tickets to the “Cabaret Series” start at $25 for standard tickets at 8-top rounds and $35 for VIP Preferred Seating at 4-top tables. Discounted series tickets for the complete summer season and 2 and 3 show packages are also available. Individual Artist Memberships for the Cultural Alliance start at $65 yearly and more information is available by calling the Alliance at 772-462-2783 or by visiting the website at www.ArtStLucie.org