A Note from the Director

Dear Friends:

Happy July 1! It’s a month full of patriotic celebrations, vacations, my birthday…all the fun events that come with summer. It also happens to be the start of the State of Florida’s fiscal year. I know, just as fun as backyard BBQs!

You may have already heard, but funding for the State of Florida’s Cultural & Museum Grants was vetoed by the Governor last week. The Beaches Museum joins hundreds of other museums, theatres, and cultural institutions across the state in being, quite frankly, stunned and in many cases, devasted, by this news. In addition to the countless hours that we have invested in to writing this grant, the funding goes towards our operations to the tune of $40,000-$70,000, annually. While the amount fluctuates based on the state budget each year, going to zero was not even within the realm of considerations for us and many like us.

While we will be putting a focus on making sure our state legislative leaders know who we are, what we do, and the positive impact we make on our community, local economy and more, we are grateful for the support that we have from our local community year-round that will help to soften the impact.

Summer membership renewals will be going out soon so please consider renewing or even upping your membership for this year! If you are not a member but would like to be, you can join right now! Or, if you would like to donate straight to our general fund we welcome that, too!

As always, we appreciate you and your support. Oh and if you have company visiting you over the summer, please make sure to bring them by the Museum-the perfect rainy OR really hot day activity!

See you at the Museum!

--
Chris Hoffman
Executive Director

Gallery Tour: "Exalted Shores"
11 AM - 12 PM, July 27th, 2024

In a continued celebration of local artists, Beaches Museum is proud to present the works of Clint Burbridge and Tom Schifanella. The community is welcome to join the artists for a personal tour of the gallery. For a more intimate opportunity to immerse yourself in their work, techniques, and inspiration, join the artists at the Museum for a special tour of their exhibit. The artists will also hold a Q&A session to offer extra insight into their artistic processes and experiences.

Artist Statement:

Northeast Florida has always been a unique and special place. It was the home of native peoples for more than 10,000 years before being colonized by early European settlers in the 1500s. Our complex and beautiful landscapes have been a source of inspiration for many artists including John Audubon and Winslow Homer.

In that same vein, Exalted Shores is a collaborative exhibition by two artists that showcases the stunning beauty of Northeast Florida’s coastal environments through the mediums of photography and art glass. Clint Burbridge’s glass forms are inspired by the architecture and anatomy of nature and Tom Schifanella’s photography captures our local landscapes in fresh and unexpected ways.

Our goal is to invite the viewer on a visual journey, immersing them in the natural beauty of Northeast Florida’s exalted shores and encouraging them to see the beaches, marshes, and forests we enjoy every day with a new perspective.

Register for the Tour

Chris Hoffman celebrates 10 years with the Beaches Museum

Congratulations to our Executive Director, Chris Hoffman, as she celebrates 10 years with the Beaches Museum!

Museum past and present leaders gathered last week to celebrate the occasion including all of the Board Presidents who served during Chris’ tenure (pictured). Attendees reflected on the Museum’s accomplishments over the past 10 years that included:

- Launched partnerships with Cummer Beaches, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Ritz Chamber Players, and Florida Chamber Music Project.
- Events started: Riding the Rails: Pablo Beach Train Day, Springing the Blooms
- Events established: Beach Legends, Chapel Concert Series
- The endowment, Jean H McCormick Founders Fund, created and funded
- All 7 roofs replaced along with a myriad of maintenance and preservation projects!
- Renewed participation in both the State Division of Cultural Affairs and the Division of Historical Resources grant programs.
- Chris was awarded the Lazzara Arts Advocacy award by the First Coast Cultural Center and the Margaret McQueen Trail Blazer award from the Rhoda Martin Cultural Heritage Center.
- Professionalized the staff, exhibits, Museum promotion, and volunteer program.
- Oversaw two strategic plans including a new mission, vision, and Museum logo!

A video shown at last year’s Beach Legends event is a great snapshot on the last decade.

Congratulations, Chris, and thank you for your service!

Beaches Community Cookbook Update

Proofs are in and we're off to the printers! The finished cookbook will measure eight by eleven inches with classic white spiral binding and a beautiful soft-touch matte cover. It's the perfect slice of history for your coffee table, and it's packed with classic recipes for your kitchen table, too.

Select the button below to reserve your cookbook (local pick-up only). Be sure to follow along on social media for updates and look forward to the Cocktails and Cookbooks release party, which will feature drinks and light appetizers.

Reserve Your Copy

Leave Your Mark! Buy a Brick!

Show your Beaches Museum pride, memorialize a loved one, or celebrate something special by having your message displayed on a commemorative brick to be installed inside our Train Enclosure.

Engraved on your brick could be a name, a message, a business, or something else entirely! Whatever you decide, your brick will serve as a visible reminder of your commitment to the Museum and the Beaches area.

Every brick has a story. Write yours and make your mark as a part of the Beaches Museum. History is in the making, and this is your chance to memorialize the things that matter most to you. Your brick will be a place where the past meets the future in a perfectly preserved moment as a permanent part of Beaches history.

The 4”x 8”x 2 ¼” bricks are engraved using state-of-the-art laser technology and they are all guaranteed for life.

Buy-A-Brick

Support the Museum through Membership!

Membership at the Beaches Museum is a great way to show your support!

Join us in preserving, understanding, and celebrating the history of the Beaches – become a member of the Beaches Museum. Join now, and you receive all the benefits of membership, including access to historic buildings, the Beaches Museum, and rotating exhibits showcasing the colorful heritage of our Beaches communities.

You can become a member of Beaches Museum on our website. You can also donate directly to the Museum. When you choose to donate, you can select a project that most interests you, including the Chapel Preservation Fund, the Jean McCormick Founders Fund, or the Museum’s General Fund.

Join or Renew!

Beaches Museum Legacy Circle

Help ensure a future for our past by making a planned gift or a gift to our endowment! 

To learn more about remembering the Museum in your will or contributing to the future sustainability of our organization, please contact Chris at 904-241-5657 x 113 or [email protected].

Save the Date!

September 7

Train Day

September 13

Gala at TPC Sawgrass

Fall Schedule

Coming soon!

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