The Maguires of Lakeland, with the support and assistance of Platform Art, has partnered with the First United Methodist Church to establish a significant public art installation on Lake Morton Drive to illustrate and celebrate the essence and endurance of the city’s first neighborhood.
A signpost displays directional arrows and QR codes linking users to the websites of Lakeland’s creative community partners:
Florida Dance Theatre
Florida Children’s Museum
Lakeland Community Theatre
Lakeland Symphony Orchestra
Platform Art
Polk Museum of Art
Polk Theatre
Activist Encourages Donors to Support Local Art Organizations
This photo from 2013 recreates the album cover from The Beatles' Abbey Road thanks to four cultural pillars of Lakeland's creative economy: From the left, Alan Reynolds, Lakeland Community Theatre, Daniel Stetson, Polk Museum of Art, Mark Thielen, Imperial Symphony Orchestra, and Polk Theatre's Laura Milton.
Donna Renfroe
LkldNow
Feb 1, 2021 - For Michael Maguire, art is a lifelong passion. Late last year he put his money where his passion is by writing large checks to nearly a dozen Lakeland arts organizations — and he urges others to do the same.
Maguire made the donations after learning there was a gap between what the organizations requested and what they received in city grant money.
Maguire is an activist and former member of the Lakeland Mayor’s Council on the Arts, which distributes the grants. He wants people in Lakeland to view the arts beyond the dollar sign. Giving is more than just support for the arts, he says.
“It’s investment in creativity,” Maguire says, “investment that generates progress, new thinking, solutions to problems, entertainment and food for the soul.”
Engage. Invest. Enjoy!
City boosts the creative economy
with grants, marketing push
Cary McMullen
LkldNow
October 7, 2020 - In spite of the economic and health threats posed by the coronavirus pandemic, arts organizations in Lakeland will continue to receive funding from the city in the coming year. And a new city-funded website and marketing campaign could raise their visibility and viability in the weeks and months ahead.
The Mayor’s Council for the Arts recently announced the recipients of grants for 2020-2021, with a total distributed amount of $235,618, most of the $250,000 the city budgeted for support of the arts.
Workshop seeks consensus for public art policy
TO - Mayor & City Commission
FROM - Tony Delgado, City Manager
February 12, 2020
City Commission Policy Workshop - Art in Public Places Advisory Committee / City Ordinance 4774
Pursuant to discussions among the Mayor & City Commission, a workshop to discuss public policy issues of interest to each elected official is scheduled for Friday, February 14, 2020 at 9:30 a.m., or immediately following Agenda Study, in the City Commission Conference Room. The purpose for this workshop is for the City Commission to discuss the current status of Ordinance 4774 Creating A Public Art Fund; Creating An Art In Public Places Advisory Committee.
Click on the image above to review the presentation. Click here for the data.