PALM COAST, Fla. — Rolling out more tables to accommodate additional attendees, the gathering of the Flagler County Cultural Council on Thursday, October 1, celebrated five years by honoring the people who helped establish the organization while looking ahead to new opportunities for arts, culture and history in Flagler County.
Held at the Palm Coast Community Center, the annual meeting brought together representatives of local arts, culture and history organizations, elected officials and residents. FC3 shared an annual report recapping its history, recognized founders and early board members, and unveiled two major initiatives: the Flagler County Oral History Project in partnership with Daytona State College and the Tom Gargiulo Art in Public Places Grant Program.
Flagler Schools students provided the most memorable moments throughout the evening, including a mesmerizing rendition of the national anthem by Flagler Palm Coast High School junior Jade Hreib, and a live reading of the “Elf Diaries” from the 2025-26 Josh Crews Writing Project anthology by Beaver Toyota Student of the Week Kyle Abreu. The reading was a highlight of the meeting, showcasing the young voices helping shape the community’s creative future while underpinning the
For FC3 Chair Danielle Anderson, the turnout offered encouragement for the organization’s next chapter.
“As an organization, the Flagler County Cultural Council was extremely excited to see familiar faces heading in the doors for our annual meeting,” Anderson said.
Some attendees had not participated in several years, she noted. Their willingness to return, learn about FC3’s work and express interest in becoming active participants reinforced the council’s efforts to strengthen the county’s arts, culture and history communities.
The anniversary report traced FC3’s beginnings to community discussions in 2021 and its designation as Flagler County’s official Local Arts Agency in 2022. It highlighted accomplishments including stewardship of the Turtle Trail, student arts opportunities, cultural grant administration and expanded connections among local organizations.
Those efforts reflect FC3’s three strategic pillars: advocacy, collaboration and support. The council works to provide a unified voice for the cultural community, connect organizations through partnerships, and offer financial, promotional and marketing assistance.
The two initiatives announced during the meeting build on that mission.
The Flagler County Oral History Project connects Daytona State College students with residents, historians and community organizations to research and record local experiences. The partnership brings education and historical preservation together, helping ensure that community voices remain available to future generations.
The Tom Gargiulo Art in Public Places Grant Program, slated to launch January 2027, honors Gargiulo’s contributions to art in Flagler County and his commitment to making art accessible. Funded in part through Florida’s specialty arts license plate proceeds, the program is intended to create additional support for public art. Annual, monthly and one-time donations offer another way to help sustain the effort.
FC3 also expressed appreciation to Flagler Broadcasting, the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, and the Palm Coast Songwriters Festival for donating door prizes – tickets to coveted upcoming events including the Taste of the Fun Coast on October 27, the Palm Coast Songwriters Festival in April 2027, and a pair of tickets to any show at The Fitz this season.
The prizes offer members and nonmembers an opportunity to experience local entertainment while introducing audiences to participating organizations.
Another highlight came from Dollworks Jax, which offered a sneak preview of its upcoming November show at Expressions Gallery on Colbert. Its work prompted conversation and gave attendees an opportunity to learn more about the artists and the gallery’s offerings.
Humbled by the breadth of community support, FC3 celebrated both the accomplishments of its first five years and the renewed participation that will help carry its work forward.
For information about membership, programs and community events, visit www.FlaglerArtsandCulture.org.
