CRESTVIEW — North county arts community members are preparing for a busy year of cultural activities.
Among the Friends of the Arts’ activities are:
•The formation of View from the Stage, the non-profit Crestview community theater troupe’s official name. The group is rehearsing for its April 12-14 production of the British farce "See How They Run."
•Co-sponsoring the Laurel Hill Spring Arts Festival on April 13.
•Finding ways that the Friends can support Northwood Elementary School's creation of a regional fine arts academy.
•Supporting increased community involvement for Crestview's Sister City program, particularly through a spring student-internship exchange with the chamber of commerce and a June trip to Noirmoutier.
•Considering bringing out-of-town performers, including regional artists such as the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, to Crestview.
•Continuing efforts to enhance Warriors Hall technical facilities at no cost to taxpayers.
•Planning for Nov. 16’s "Jingle Pops and Jazz," an evening of swing and jazz music with a holiday flavor.
DID YOU KNOW?
Friends of the Arts organizers frequently leverage a creative crossover among the community's several arts and cultural organizations.
Some of the Friends members also are members of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce's Art and Culture Committee.
Several members of both groups are involved in the Okaloosa Arts Alliance's north county committee and participate in various community programs.
Want to go?
The Friends of the Arts meets monthly at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday at Journey Java Connection, 269 N. Main St. Any artist or art lover may attend.
Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cultural and arts groups overlap to serve the community