Text Campaign Supports Arts and History Education Programs For Key West

The Key West Art and Historical Society is asking the community to take a minute to text VOTE4 to 22333 and help promote and preserve our rich arts, historical and cultural heritage. Voting will remain open through 11:59 p.m. Monday Nov. 17. Winners will be announced December 2.

Ongoing since Monday [October 20], those with a cell phone can help bolster the future of arts and history for children of Key West– by submitting a single text.

Key West Art and Historical Society, one of Florida’s oldest not-for-profits, is one of six South Florida organizations competing for a prestigious $ 20,000 Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award. They are the sole 2014 Florida Keys-based award nominee.

If awarded, The Society will use the grant monies to fund an education outreach initiative that will bring the rich arts and history of this region into the classrooms and help empower children to take ownership over the region in which they come from and inspire the next generation of Hemingway’s, Mario Sanchez’s or Suzie dePoo’s.

“The idea is to take the art and history of the region into the schools, so the children understand the unique history of where they live and it empowers them to take ownership of where they live,” says Michael Gieda, Executive Director of Key West Art and Historical Society.

To win, The Society must bring in the highest number of votes — with votes submitted by text message. Key West Art and Historical Society’s individual code is VOTE4 to 22333. Those without a cell or outside of the US can dial 747-444-3548 toll-free.

The Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award, presented in partnership with the Miami New Times, invests in artistic excellence by funding arts projects that engage Knight resident communities in collective cultural experiences. Each People’s Choice Award nominee began as one of 75 finalists in the 2014 Knight Arts Challenge, a competition that rewards the best and most innovative ideas for the arts.

“Some of South Florida’s most exciting art is happening at the grassroots level, with small and emerging groups like those nominated for the Knight Arts Challenge People’s Choice Award,” said Dennis Scholl, vice president of arts for Knight Foundation, which, through its Challenge, funds projects that bring South Florida together through the arts. “We see the award as a fantastic way for South Floridians to become more acquainted with the cultural assets we have in our own backyards.”

For more information, call Christine Nottage, Development Director at 305-295-6616 ext 111.  Your Museums. Your community. It takes an island.