Access to dance performances, the power of hip-hop, Shakespearean theater, a traveling mural project and art labs are the missions of five local arts organizations that received awards totaling $75,000 from the PNC Foundation’s Arts Alive program.
The grants are part of a three-year, $185,000 commitment to the Jacksonville community.
• With a $10,000 grant, Jacksonville Dance Theatre’s Bridge Project will commission a choreographed work by dancer James Boyd, an African-American with a national reputation in the field.
The work will be presented to underserved audiences and documented by filmmaker Alexa Velez.
• The Stage Aurora Matinee Series will use a $20,000 grant to introduce professional African-American theater to underserved audiences.
For the 2016-17 season, the centerpiece is at least four fully subsidized performances for low-income residents at the Ritz Theatre and Museum.
• With a $10,000 grant, Players by the Sea of Jacksonville Beach will produce “Shake Up Shakespeare,” a program using hip-hop music to engage young people in the study of classical literature, such as William Shakespeare’s plays.
The program will be presented at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida and other locations.
• The traveling Jax Kids Mural Project uses art and creativity to inspire and motivate children.
With its $15,000 grant, the organization will work with 40 underprivileged schools to build a temporary wall where professional artists will create a coloring book-style mural that kids will paint under the supervision of the artist.
• Eastside Arts Saturday Art Labs will use a $20,000 grant to provide youth access to weekly visual, performing art opportunities and other programs in the arts.
The labs are a forum for safe expression, communication, exploration and imagination, as well as cultural and historical understanding.
‘Generous Pours’ helping Boys & Girls Clubs
Hobnob, a restaurant at Unity Plaza in Brooklyn, has launched a cocktail program that will provide financial support to local nonprofits.
Generous Pours debuted its first creation last week: “Celebration,” a sparkling wine drink, available for $7.
The restaurant will host a Generous Pours party 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, when 10 percent of bar sales will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida.
Reservations are not required.
The restaurant also will donate $1 to the Boys & Girls Clubs for each Celebration drink sold through Dec. 31.
In 2017, a new cocktail and benefiting organization will debut every two months.
Walk4Hearing is Nov. 12 at Metropolitan Park
Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Center will participate in the national Walk4Hearing at 9 a.m. Nov. 12 at Metropolitan Park.
The walk is sponsored by the National Hearing Loss Association of America, the largest consumer advocacy organization for people with a hearing loss.
Walk4Hearing’s 5K events have raised more than $10 million since 2006 for programs and services for those with hearing loss.
For more information and to register, visit walk4hearing.org.
Wine and cheese party in the urban wilderness
Nearly 20 restaurants, caterers and local craft brewmasters will be on hand for the third annual ArborEATum Wine & Food Fest from 3-6 p.m. Saturday.
The event will benefit the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens at 1445 Millcoe Road in Arlington.
The festival will feature cheeses, desserts, coffees, local craft beers and more than 100 wines, which are donated by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
Other participants are Biscotti’s, Bold City Brewery, Bono’s & Pastiche Catering, Coffee Perks, Gumbo Ya Ya’s, Guanabana Ice Pops, Havana Jax & Cuba Libre, Indochine, Intuition Ale Works, Mudville Grille, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Publix Super Markets, Restaurant Orsay, River City Brewing Co., Salt Life Food Shack, Soul Food Bistro, TacoLu and Zeta Brewing Co.
Entertainment will be provided by Sidetrack Duo.
Tickets are $55 each or $100 per couple and can be purchased at jacksonvillearboretum.org. Arboretum members receive a 10 percent discount. Guests must be 21 or older.
Proceeds will be used to maintain and fund improvements at the privately operated 120-acre gardens.
Salt Marsh Brewgrass Festival on Big Talbot
North Florida Land Trust is hosting the Salt Marsh Brewgrass Festival at Big Talbot Island on Nov. 19.
The event is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Talbot House, 12134 Houston Ave., with live music, beverages and food.
The concert features the Parker Urban Band, Come Back Alice and Flat Land.
There will be local beers, wine and food trucks with vegetarian and gluten-free food options, along with games for children, a guided 1.5-mile hike and a guided kayak paddle for an additional fee.
Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs.
Tickets — $35 in advance or $40 at the door — can be purchased at northfloridalandtrust.org/brewgrass-2016.
Children 12 and under are free.
The organization is looking for sponsors at a number of levels: $10,000 title sponsor, $5,000 band sponsors, $1,500 beer and wine sponsors, $500 photo booth sponsor and $250 supporting sponsor.
To learn more, contact Genevieve Fletcher at (904) 479-1962 or email [email protected].