Welcome to the Season Preview of Artistry: September to May is when the arts shine brightest in Central Florida. Hundreds of events fill these pages—each one a testament to the passion, creativity and authentic connection that define our region. (View our event calendar online).
At United Arts of Central Florida, we believe that the soul of our community is found in the arts. And right now, we’re stepping boldly into a new era—one that strengthens our sector, amplifies our impact and invites everyone to play a role.
Over the past two years, with the support of the DeVos Family Foundation and in partnership with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, we’ve worked shoulder-to-shoulder with arts leaders across Central Florida to build a stronger, more sustainable creative sector.
This effort builds on the DeVos Institute’s 2022 Orange County Arts Ecology Study, which identified a strong need to build the leadership, financial sustainability and planning capacity of our nonprofits. As a result, 19 arts organizations are now leading with clear, ambitious strategic plans and renewed vision.
That same effort helped United Arts define its own future. We now have a bold, new vision that will drive our work, collaborations and investments in ways that will engender a thriving arts community—one that will fuel lasting prosperity, creativity and well-being for all Central Floridians.
And United Arts has a clearer mission: To inspire and enrich communities by strengthening arts, science, history and culture through strategic collaborations and investments.
To bring this vision to life, we’re focused on three strategic priorities for the next five years:
- Strengthen United Arts to be bold, sustainable and ready to encourage and support a thriving arts ecosystem and innovative cross-sector partnerships.
- Strengthen the arts and culture ecosystem by increasing our investments in nonprofit organizations and empowering artists and creative entrepreneurs with resources to develop, practice and showcase their work.
- Strengthen our community through the power of the arts via cross-sector partnerships and collaborations around key issues facing our community in education and workforce development; health and well-being; placemaking and cultural tourism.
This moment is not just about United Arts. It’s about all of us. That’s why we’re proud to align our work with CANVAS— a cultural plan for the City of Orlando and Orange County— which is launching this fall. CANVAS will guide how we collectively champion and expand arts and culture to benefit everyone who visits and calls this place home.
And your role? It matters. Whether you’re an artist, educator, student, parent, business owner, policymaker, donor or someone who loves the arts, you’re a part of this movement. Your presence, your applause, your financial support—it’s what drives us forward.
We are Central Florida’s hometown team for the arts. And as president and CEO of United Arts, I couldn’t be more proud of our board, our team and the partners who make this work possible.
As Marc McMurrin, president & CEO of the Ginsburg Family Foundation and a trustee of United Arts, said so powerfully at our annual celebration on June 18: “Arts can change minds—and when they do, they can change the world.”
So let’s be bold, united and shape our world by championing the arts. Because when the arts thrive, our community thrives.
JENNIFER EVINS
PRESIDENT & CEO
UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
