Located along 70 miles of salt and freshwater canals and waterways and just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, Palm Coast is one of Florida’s newest cities, boasting nearly 94,000 people.
Since being incorporated in 1999, the city has grown quickly among the scenic coastal landscape.
Along with other quality-of-life initiatives, residents have been creating places to gather and celebrate artistic expression for locals and visitors alike.
Supporting this effort is United We Art (UWA), a non-profit organization that was founded last autumn.
“As Palm Coast continues to grow and evolve, so must the strategic vision for arts and culture in our community,” says Lisa Love, UWA president and CEO. “In support of growth, we need to integrate the arts to serve diverse populations.”
Love notes that for the past 20-plus years, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation (PCAF) had a vision and, through grassroots efforts, that vision came into being. It has offered residents numerous arts and cultural programs such as hosting the Jacksonville symphony, the Palm Coast Arts Festival, Shakespeare in the Park and Violectric.
Through those efforts, PCAF laid the groundwork that will support the next phase of arts and culture for Palm Coast, Love says.
The non-profit says its purpose is to bring together the City of Palm Coast, the arts community and residents by establishing an arts district in Town Center, a mixed-use cityscape of businesses, entertainment, housing and more.
“Our mission is simple,” says Love. That’s “to foster creativity, economic vitality and cultural experiences through artistic, educational and commercial endeavors.”
She says the mission aligns with a key component of a strong and resilient economy in the City of Palm Coast’s 2022 Strategic Plan.
The plan says that partnerships, like the one with UWA, should offer opportunities in Town Center for performance, display, creative expression and more.
“We will also plan and help develop vibrant art-enriched entertainment venues in Palm Coast with a focus on the arts district in Town Center,” says Love.
She adds that the group itself will not be coordinating any programming, a task left for the city. Anticipated events include visual and performing arts offerings.
UWA is working with the city and The Arts District Advocacy Group in a phased approach to developing a strategic roadmap.
The initial phase is to enhance the existing PCAF structure, which will become a city venue. Enhancements will include the addition of a permanent roof, which will allow for additional utilization of the space along with an onsite parking lot.
Love notes that longer-term plans are being identified. Those plans “will continue to evolve with the needs of the community.”
