![]() “She really brought in small and midsize groups to join the major players, which takes a lot of cajoling and convincing and growing pains,” he said. Lynch, a shareholder with the Lowndes law firm, praised Garcia for strengthening United Arts and broadening its outreach beyond the area’s best-known organizations. “We simply haven’t found the right fit with the right person at the right time yet,” said Lynch, adding the ideal candidate will “bring new ideas to the table on how to make things bigger and better.” United Arts board chairman Brendan Lynch said he was “very hopeful” the next president would be selected by the end of March. “There are a lot of stakeholders to answer to.” “Definitely, it’s a complicated job,” Hartley said. Gwinn thinks the time is right to engage the business community even more and revitalize the annual fundraising campaign, which has held steady in donations the past few years. Hartley sees a need for more affordable studios and performance spaces. She knows her successor, still to be chosen, will have more work to do. Dick of Americans for the Arts and United Arts president Flora Maria Garcia, Mayor Buddy Dyer displays an award he received in 2016 for his commitment to the arts. “Now they can find the talent right here,” Garcia said.įlanked by United Arts board chair and Massey Services chief financial officer Jean Grono-Nowry (from left), Jay H. Those trained in such fields, such as lighting and sound, are in constant demand at the theme parks and other venues. ![]() Through partnerships with Evans High School in Orlando and Tohopekaliga High in Kissimmee, along with Valencia College, the University of Central Florida and sponsor JP Morgan Chase, students are put on a career path to learn behind-the-scenes technical aspects of the entertainment business. She’s also proud of starting an educational program that has served more than 600 students. “I think it has made programming richer, deeper and more interesting.” “Our emphasis on diversity and inclusion has opened up arts groups to new programming and new audiences,” Garcia said. Duke Energy used money it had donated toward ArtsFest to support new grants pushing for more culturally diverse events. “We’re not a programming agency.”Īnd the changes benefited other initiatives, she pointed out. “First and foremost, United Arts is a funding agency,” she said. Garcia said the expense couldn’t be justified. Some were dismayed when Garcia ended two high-profile events: a fall gala known as the Red Chair Affair and a festival of free performances across the region called ArtsFest. Sometimes, new approaches ruffled feathers - such as when United Arts began charging a 7 percent administrative fee for running the region’s largest cultural fundraising campaign. She’s always looking at a different approach.” “One of her strengths is not being complacent. “She has always been very creative at looking for solutions,” Hartley said. Hartley said the agreement reflected Garcia’s skills. In her first year on the job, Flora Maria Garcia oversaw a whirlwind of change, including cancellation of the public ArtsFest, changes in the way grants are handed out, and a new approach toward the annual fundraising campaign. “Groups have been able to strengthen their artistic product and their management,” she said. And United Arts is now a funder of the growing Opera Orlando, the professional successor to those hard-working volunteers. This month, for example, she attended the grand opening of the ballet’s new state-of-the-art building. “We’ve seen a huge evolution in the arts” since, said Garcia. The future of opera was uncertain as a group of volunteers presented events after the collapse of Orlando Opera. Orlando Ballet was soon to find itself homeless after a mold infestation in its rented space. ![]() Phillips Center for the Performing Arts had not yet opened a single theater. Arts groups were still digging their way out of economic recession. “I feel good, and it seems like a good time for me to exit,” said Garcia, who has been president and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida since the spring of 2012.Īlthough less than a decade ago, Central Florida had a very different cultural landscape then. After nearly eight years at the helm of the region’s largest cultural-advocacy organization, Flora Maria Garcia will retire on Jan.
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