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Member Directory for Okaloosa Arts Alliance
We thank the following organizations for their participation as members of the Okaloosa Arts Alliance. Click an organization name for their contact info, a brief introduction, and a link to their website.
- Abrakadoodle
- Act4Murder
- Arts & Design Society
- Center for Lifelong Learning
- Cultural Arts Council Inc
- Dick & Susan Kneller
- Emerald Coast Children's Community Theater
- Emerald Coast Chorus
- Emerald Coast Concert Association
- Emerald Coast Pipes & Drums
- Emerald Coast Writers
- First Arts Concert Series
- Ft. Walton Beach High School Dept. of Fine & Performing Arts
- Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida
- Heritage Park & Cultural Center
- Highsteppers
- James Thoreen
- Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation
- Northwest Florida Ballet
- Northwest Florida State College (formerly OWC)
- Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra Guild
- Okaloosa Chamber Singers
- Okaloosa County Music Teachers Association
- Pastel Society of Northwest Florida
- Pyramid Inc.
- Sinfonia Gulf Coast
- Stage Crafters Community Theatre
- Symphonic Strings of Okaloosa County
- The Beat Goes On
- Ursel & Johann Behnken
- Youth Village
Abrakadoodle
Phone: 850-424-5058 Email: ebakker@abrakadoodle.com
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Abrakadoodle 4072 Burning Tree Drive Destin, FL 32541 |
Abrakadoodle is the country's largest art education program for children ages two through twelve. Abrakadoodle provides age-appropriate activities that feature a wide variety of materials and techniques. Children learn about artists, styles, and media and use their imagination to create their own original art.
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Act4Murder
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Act4Murder P.O. Box 455 Shalimar, Florida 32579 |
| ACT4MURDER is a professional murder mystery troupe that has been performing original, comedic murder mysteries for dinner theater in Northwest Florida since 2003. The shows are written, directed and produced by Paula Hilton, a member of Emerald Coast Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the International Association of Crime Writers. ACT4MURDER performers are experienced actors with a flair for comedy and a love of dinner theater. The shows are performed during delicious 3-course meals at a variety of restaurants in and around the Ft. Walton Beach area. Our shows are memorable and fun, combining theater with a satisfying culinary experience. Act4Murder provides adult entertainment at it's best, and it's... to die for! | |
Arts and Design Society
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The Art Center Museum 17 First Street, SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
 Arts and Design Society (ADSO) sponsors an art gallery with monthly changing visual arts exhibits and offers outreach programs in painting, pottery, as well as sessions in life drawing and photography. Located between Eglin Pkwy and Beal Pkwy, one block north of Highway 98, ADSO also sponsors several art exhibitions throughout the year at other venues. |
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Center for Lifelong Learning
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University of West Florida 1170 M.L. King Jr. Blvd. Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 |
The Center offers more than 70 classes in many categories, including languages, computers, religion, exercise, self-improvement, finance, and art. In addition to classes, special events are held each Friday at noon in the UWF Emerald Coast campus auditorium, featuring popular speakers and topics of interest to the local community. On the last day of school, CLL holds “Final’s Follies,” headlining the CLL literary, performing and visual arts classes. For more information call the CLL office at 863-6548 or visit their web site at CLL-FWB.org. |
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Cultural Arts Council Inc
Phone: 850.682.4488 Email: info@culturalartscouncilinc.org |
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Dick & Susan Kneller
Phone: 850.837.1742 Fax: 850.837.7028 Email: msuenelr@aol.com |
208 Calhoun Ave Destin, FL 32541
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Emerald Coast Children's Community Theatre
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| The Emerald Coast Children's Community Theatre, affectionately known as The Oz Theatre, is centrally located in Bruner Middle School in Fort Walton Beach and serves students of all ages from the surrounding area including Navarre, Destin, Niceville, Bluewater, and Crestview. Oz strives to produce the best quality youth theatre possible. Therefore, we emphasize TRAINING in all performance disciplines: acting, singing, and dancing. Thus forming a solid foundation for each player to be able to bring what is necessary into the actual rehearsal process. Each project is goal oriented culminating in a Showcase or Full Production performances allowing every student the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. Join us for our 2007 Spring Production of "Alice" by Michael Lancy. Come see why they say, "There's no place like Oz"! | |
Emerald Coast Chorus
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| Founded in 1979, the Emerald Coast Chorus is a part of the local community. We belong to a much larger nonprofit, charitable, men’s singing organization - the Barbershop Harmony Society. The Society is dedicated to preserving four-part harmony, a cappella singing – a TRUE American art form. The Barbershop Harmony Society, formed in 1938, has Chapters throughout the United States and other parts of the world and now boasts of 32,000+ members – with a passion to “Keep the Whole World Singing” ! The mission of the Emerald Coast Chorus is to expand our musical capabilities and to grow our membership to entertain audiences of all ages. We want to use the musical gifts we have to entertain people and educate the public about Barbershop-style music. We have an annual performance at OWC Performing Arts Center every spring and host a multichapter show at Camp Timpoochee every September. We sing paid engagements (Singing Valentines, private parties, etc.), and give many free performances for community events (4th of July celebration, the Billy Bowlegs festival), retirement homes, hospitals, and schools. Emerald Coast Chorus is for male singers only. The Sugar Beach Chorus of Fort Walton Beach is ladies-only and also sings a cappella four-part harmony. | |
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Emerald Coast Concert Association
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P.O. Box 815 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549-0815 |
| Emerald Coast Concert Association is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and volunteer corporation comprised of members from the communities of Okaloosa County. Board members aim to bring culture and entertainment through the performing arts to the Emerald Coast, while keeping ticket prices at a minimum. ECCA is always looking for people who would like to volunteer or become a member of the Board. | |
Emerald Coast Pipes & Drums
Phone: 850/243-2879 E-mail: Matheson31@cox.net
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Emerald Coast Pipes and Drums, is a non-profit grade 5 band, composed entirely of volunteers. The band is dedicated to the culture and preservation of the ancient tradition of bagpiping music of the principal Celtic Nations of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and Isle of Man. All performing and student bagpipers, and marching band snare, tenor and bass drummers are welcome to play with us. |
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Emerald Coast Writers
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P.O. Box 6502 Destin, FL 32550 |
| Emerald Coast Writers is one of the leading writers' groups in the Northwest Florida region, boasting over 100 diversely talented members. ECW was founded upon the premise of nurturing, educating, and promoting established and aspiring writers to showcase and publish their work, and this continues to be at the heart of their mission. ECW's goals include, but are not limited to: the creation of unified, professional guidelines for organizational development; the publication of a yearly digest, and other works, presenting quality work; the presentation of workshops and invitational seminars, featuring published writers of merit and others who may constructively contribute to the personal goals of writers. | |
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First Arts Concert Series of
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103 First Street SE Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548 |
 The mission of First Arts is to expand the music/arts ministries of
the church through the promotion of a series of concerts, performing
arts, and visual art events. Events are to appeal to all ages and to
be promoted both in the church and the community. First Arts includes
the concert series as well as other special art events. All events
celebrate God-given creativity and talent. Noted by musical experts
as one of the finest acoustic settings in the region, the sanctuary at
First United Methodist Church in downtown Fort Walton Beach was
dedicated in October 1989. With a current seating capacity of 500,
plans call for a future expansion to seat 750. First Church's
sanctuary, with its 11 1/2 rank Zimmer pipe organ and Yamaha grand
piano, already has drawn the attention of internationally known
performers. First Arts' goal is to continue to bring performers that take
advantage of this setting and to present some of the premier
performing groups from around the world. |
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Ft. Walton Beach High School
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400 Hollywood Blvd Ft Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
| Christa Whitaker directs the department of Fine & Performing Arts through the Ft. Walton Beach High School. Approximately 180 students are involved in the department ranging from freshmen through seniors. | |
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Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida
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115 Westview Ave. Valparaiso, FL 32580 |
 The purpose of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida is to collect and preserve material culture pertaining to the region's history, to illuminate economic and social history through research and exhibits, and to inspire interest in Florida's heritage by offering educational programs and services to the public. |
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Heritage Park & Cultural Center
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Heritage Park & Cultural Center 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
| Heritage Park & Cultural Center
is made up of
three museums which present the history of the Fort Walton Beach area from prehistoric times, some 12,000 years ago, the first school in 1912, and through the close of the post office in the 1950's.
It is the purpose of these museums to preserve and hold their collections in trust for humankind. The Museum Division uses its collection to educate, for exhibit, research and advanced study. The museums host over 13,000 visitors annually from all 50 states and many foreign countries. An additional 7,500 school and civic organization members receive educational programs. |
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Highsteppers
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17 Industrial Street Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
 Highsteppers, the "Toast Of The Emerald Coast," performs show dances in the style of Broadway and Hollywood. They are dedicated to promotion of the performing arts through tap dancing, juggling, singing. |
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James Thoreen-Artist
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33 Anastasia Dr Ft Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
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Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation
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4323 Commons Dr W Destin, FL 32541 |
 In the mid 1930's, Coleman and Mattie Kelly came to Destin from Washington County, Florida to develop a 900 acre turpentine farm and brought Destin its first significant payroll. The Kelly's were considered one of Destin's pioneer families who joined the popular "fishing families" such as the Marler's, Destin's, Maltezo's and Taylor's. The couple built the first cottages for tourists in Destin and launched the first deep-sea sport fishing boat in Northwest Florida. From the mid 1930s until her death in 1992, Mattie Kelly used her business acumen and love of culture to nurture the community. Publicly and privately, the Kelly's supported the arts, education and churches throughout Destin.
The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation was established in 1995 to honor the dream of Mattie May Kelly so that the Arts would continue to flourish and become a real part of the lives of the local and tourist community. |
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Northwest Florida Ballet
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310 Perry Avenue S.E. Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548 |
 Northwest Florida Ballet was founded in 1969 by dance pioneer Bernadette Clements Sims. The organization’s mission is to provide quality dance performances and instruction for Northwest Florida; identify and develop talented dancers; and increase appreciation of the arts through public education and outreach. |
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Northwest Florida State College
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100 College Blvd Niceville, Florida 32578 |
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Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra Guild
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P.O. Box 572 Niceville, FL 32578 |
The Northwest Florida Symphony Guild (NFSG) supports the Northwest SymphonyOrchestraof OWC and the Northwest Florida Youth Orchestra and provides musical experiencesand education for area residents and school children. Our goal is to develop interest and promote participation in musical programs, activities, and concerts in the area. Annual membership is open to anyone interested in supporting the NFSO and musical arts education. |
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Okaloosa Chamber Singers
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| Founded in June 1994 by Dr. Marilyn Overturf, the Okaloosa Chamber Singers is an auditioned ensemble composed of 24 advanced singers from all regions of Okaloosa County. OCS strives to bring the highest calibre choral music and vocal performance to Northwest Florida. Music of the Renaissance through the Contemporary periods is explored, including both accompanied and a capella repertoire. | |
Okaloosa County Music Teachers Association
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Pastel Society of Northwest Florida |
PO Box 5133 Fort Walton Beach FL 32549 |
| The Pastel Society of North Florida (PSNF) is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization and is a member of the International Association of Pastel Societies. Organized in 1988, PSNF is an association of artists who work in the traditional pastel medium and who are intent on increasing public awareness and acceptance of pastel as a serious painting medium. The organization provides opportunities for members to exhibit in both juried and non-juried all pastel shows, and to attend workshops conducted by master pastelists. It was the first art organization in Northwest Florida to sponsor national and local juried exhibitions exclusively for pastel artists. It also is the first pastel organization to feature a site on the World Wide Web. | |
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Pyramid Inc. Charlene H. Wrightsman Website:
www.pyramidinc.org |
FWB |
The grittiest troupes of actors, singers and dancers ever to take the stage
inspiring and  entertaining standing-room-only audiences… talented artists,
sculptors and jewelers creating for art patrons across Florida and beyond.
Adults with developmental disabilities seeing themselves as artists or
performers… earning commissions and fees… gaining self-esteem and self
confidence… participating richly in the life of their communities. Families
brimming with pride… the community seeing beyond their disabilities to
appreciate their abilities.These imaginings are the reality at Pyramid Incorporated’s six centers in five Florida cities: Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, Tallahassee (2) and Tampa. Pyramid’s arts program, in tandem with a curriculum of computer and literacy training, peer counseling and skill-development classes, physical-nutritional and behavioral assistance, is a means to an end. A meaningful day for some… an epiphany for others. |
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Sinfonia Gulf Coast
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P.O. Box 6326 Destin, FL 32549 |
 Sinfonia Gulf Coast is the Emerald Coast’s only full professional orchestra dedicated to redefining the traditional symphony experience. Sinfonia is committed to upholding the highest standards of orchestral quality while presenting classical music with contemporary sophistication. For our debut 2006-2007 season we are featuring an incomparable line-up of masterpieces performed by the region's most talented musicians and amazing, international guest artists. |
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Stage Crafters Community Theatre, Inc.
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P.O. Box 1749 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 |
 The purpose of Stage Crafters is to produce interesting, entertaining, and cultural full-length plays; to produce one-act plays and other forms of entertainment for the membership and the public; to encourage creative effort in theatre arts; and to train actors, directors, producers, and technical personnel consistent with our capability. Stage Crafters produces four shows per calendar year, including at least one musical. Open auditions are held approximately 8 weeks before the dates of the performances. All performances are currently produced at the Fort Walton Beach Municipal Auditorium in the time frame of late March/early April, June, August and November. Stage Crafters encourages anyone who wants to get involved either on-stage or off-stage in the myriad of technical and support positions to contact them. |
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Symphonic Strings of Okaloosa County |
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Groups from the elementary, middle school and high school Symphonic Strings have received “Superior” ratings at both the District and State levels of the Florida Federation of Music Clubs for 3 consecutive years. The Symphonic Strings of Okaloosa County recently received an invitation to perform at Universal Studios of Orlando in May, 2008. |
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The Beat Goes OnPhone: 850.729.7081 Email: ahkurz@embarqmail.com |
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| The Beat Goes On is a tap dancing and clogging group established for entertainment, exercise and FUN! The group meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 pm at the American Legion on Hollywood Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach. The classes cost $20 per month and are open to all adults whether interested in performing or not. For more information, contact Anita Kurz at ahkurz@embarqmail.com or at 729-7081. | |
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Ursel & Johann Behnken
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111 Clifford Dr Shalimar, FL 32579 |
Youth Village
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Nellie Bogar, Founder/Executive Director 897-3166 (home) 986-0549 (pager) |
 The Youth Village is an after school & summer program for children ages 6-16 in the Greater Ft. Walton Beach area. During the school year we are open from 2:00pm-6:00pm and during the summer months from 7:30am-6:00pm.
Our Summer Arts/Education Camp will take place from June 9-August 15. The morning curriculum includes: reading, writing and science (fun hands-on stuff!) and the afternoon curriculum is dedicated to The Arts. Workshops will include acting, dancing, singing, stage make-up, etc., and will culminate in an end-of-summer production on Saturday August 9 at Striving for Perfection Ministries in Ft. Walton Beach. This summer's musical/comedy production is entitled: Homecoming (the animals are back!) |
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The Center for Lifelong Learning, an independent all-volunteer school, is a tenant organization on the UWF Emerald Coast campus that conducts two eight week semesters annually, one in mid September and another that begins in mid January. 
The Symphonic Strings of Okaloosa County was first established in 2001 for 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders at Kenwood Elementary School in Fort Walton Beach. Class instruction is offered for the following orchestral instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass. The program has since expanded to include W.C. Pryor Middle School and steps are underway to add the “Choctaw Strings” to the 2008 master schedule at Choctawhatchee High School.