Sharing the past year of accomplishments and the future goals, the Flagler County Cultural Council (FC3) hosted their annual meeting on Friday, October 20 at the Flagler County Tourism Offices.
The lunch-hour meeting offered a chance for members to connect and for others to learn more about the role of the council.
Co-chair Nancy Crouch led the meeting with an overview of the intensive work completed by the council which has included refinement of the organization’s bylaws, setting up the administrative functions, an overhaul of the membership and sponsorship programs, in addition to an ongoing array of community outreach events.
The Flagler County Cultural Council is also participated in two major surveys – the completed AEP-6 through the Americans for the Arts, whose results were release last week, and the ongoing Flagler County Cultural Council Strategic Planning Survey which will determine the strategic goals of the Flagler County Cultural Council, Flagler’s official Local Arts Agency. 
“Very busy. We’re out there trying to represent ourselves at every festival and public gathering that we can,” said Crouch.
Unveiling the new FC3 website, project lead Pam Richardson took attendees on an interactive tour through the new site with her trademark humor, while membership chair Elaine Studnicki offered more reasons to join, capped by a moving call to action – BELIEVE.
“While we’re out there working community events, we’re building up the support and awareness that we’re developing a really great place for the future,” said Studnicki.
“Believing in something helps people have ownership. Ownership and belief move the whole world forward.”
One of the initial founding steering committee members, Studnicki is optimistic about the future.
“I’ll be honest. I was very encouraged by what I saw today. I was encouraged to see how people are accepting us throughout the community,” she said. “I think that is a golden step forward.”
FC3 produces a monthly newsletter “FUSION” and all content from the public is due by the 20th of the month, and can be emailed to info@flaglerartsandculture.org, for potential inclusion in the publication or on the organization’s social media.
The meeting highlighted the importance of differentiating the roles of the Flagler County Cultural Council (Flagler’s Local Arts Agency), which oversees and supports arts, culture and history for ALL of Flagler County, and the United We Arts organization which formally announced their presence this week, with a mission to hyperfocus strictly on the formation of the arts district in Palm Coast’s Town Center area, and is a member of the Flagler County Cultural Council.
“I hope that people take away the importance of a strong and vibrant arts, historical and cultural community and how we can all work together and support one another so that we can all thrive,” said Nancy Crouch.
To learn more about the Flagler County Cultural Council, please visit www.flaglerartsandculture.org.
FC3 Timeline of Accomplishments
In addition to monthly meetings of the Flagler County Cultural Council, the following have been completed in FY 22-23:
– FC3 Receives IRS Nonprofit Designation (August 2022)
– FC3 Receives Flagler County Local Arts Agency Designation via Flagler County Board of County Commission Resolution (October 2022)
– FC3 Administrative Organizational Review by Board of Directors (October 2022)
– FC3 Begin Bylaw Review (October 2022 – April 2023)
– FC3/City Repertory Theatre Collaborative Holiday Event/Fundraiser & Public Outreach (December 2022)
– FC3 Promotion/PSA – Lifeline Radio Show/WNZF (December 2022)
– FC3 Board Retreat & Workshop: 9 AM – 4 PM – (January 2023)
– FC3 Review Update Bylaws, Draft Budget, Membership Program Proposal (February 2023)
– Flagler County State of Tourism Stakeholder Update – Board Attendance (January 2023)
– FC3 Website Development RFP Review Workshop (March 2023)
– FC3 Accepts Oversight of Palm Coast Arts Foundation Turtle Trail Program (April 2023)
– FC3 Approves Bylaws Update (April 2023)
– FC3 Approves Budget (April 2023)
– Garden Club at Palm Coast Spring Festival – FC3 Public Outreach & AEP-6 Survey Collection (April 2023)
– FC3 Membership & Sponsorship Committee Focused Program Review & Revision (April – July 2023)
– FC3 Board Members Attend Turtle Trail #19 Unveiling (July 2023)
– FC3 Newsletter Launch (August 2023)
– FC3 Board Review of Website Assets and Architecture with Zgraph in Daytona Beach (August 2023)
– FC3/Flagler Tourism Office Service Agreement Executed – (August 2023)
– City of Palm Coast Food Truck Tuesday Spotlight Nonprofit FC3 (August 2023)
– FC3 Strategic Planning Meeting with Executive Service Corps (August 2023)
– FC3 Cultural Grant Application Submitted (August 2023)
– FC3 Strategic Planning Stakeholder Meetings Begin (September 2023)
– FC3 Coordination with City of Palm Coast Parks & Recreation to manage 2023 Fall Arts Festival (September 2023)
– FC3:18th Annual Creekside Festival Student Photography Contest Sponsor & Public Outreach Weekend (September 2023)
– FC3 AEP-6 Results Shared with Stakeholders (October 2023)
– FC3 Website Launch (October 2023)
– FC3 Unveils Limited Edition Membership Collector Coins (October 2023)
– FC3 Annual Meeting (October 2023)
FC3 Board Members Added: FY 22-23
– Jay Scherr, Nancy Crouch, Danielle Anderson – August 2022
– Pam Richardson – October 2022
– Greg Feldman, Julia Truilo – April 2023
Multi-Month Projects: *Completed
– AEP-6 Surveys: Board Members, Debra Naughton (August 2022-April 2023)*
– FC3 Membership & Sponsorship Programs Re-Development & Launch (September 2022-September 2023)*
Ongoing Projects/Programs:
– FC3 Turtle Trail Program (April 2023 – Ongoing)
– FC3 Grant Writer candidate list development (August 2023 – Ongoing)
– FC3 Strategic Planning Research & Development (September 2023 – Ongoing)
– FC3 Signature Event Development (September 2023 – Ongoing)
– Flagler County Community Arts, Culture & History Event Social Media Promotion – Ongoing
– FC3 Newsletter – Ongoing
FC3 Professional ACH Memberships:
– Americans for the Arts
– Visit Florida
– Florida Cultural Alliance
