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New Summer Hours at The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
WINTER PARK - During the summer the Morse will close at 4 p.m. on Fridays; our extended evening hours will resume November 2. Until then, public hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The galleries are closed on Mondays.

From Words to Music: Creating Opera From Scratch
Pensacola - Pensacola Opera has set out on a pilot project with Holley-Navarre Primary to create From Words to Music. This unique project has selected two classes from Holley-Navarre Primary to choose a text that they would normally read for class anyway to set as an opera. Ms. Weekley’s Wiggle Worms, a first grade class, selected a book about Johnny Appleseed. Ms. Pahukoa’s Pineapples, a second grade class, have chosen a short story entitled, ”How I Spent My Summer Vacation” by Mark Teague as the basis of their opera.

2007 Jacksonville Film Festival Award Winners
Jacksonville - The Award Winning Films are:
Feature: Sin Ti
Documentary: Chops
Short: Regarding Sarah
High School Student Film: Eddie Sprocket and the 21st Century
College Student Film: The Little Gorilla

Women Contemporary Artists Presents Annual Awards
Sarasota - Women Contemporary Artists held its annual End of the Year Party where they presented financial awards to area college women completing their sophomore year. The objective of the annual award is to provide assistance and recognition to women who have made a commitment to obtain a degree in Fine Arts versus graphic, illustration or animation arts. Fine Art majors focus on developing their own unique vehicle for creating art versus creating work that is directed by outside criteria. The funds awarded may be used in any way the student sees fit, assisting with the purchase of materials, equipment or travel to help them enhance their learning experiences.

Bach Festival Society Announces the
14th Annual Young Artists Competition Winners
Winter Park - Music students from across the state filled the halls of Rollins College's Keene Hall on Saturday, April 14th for the 14th Annual Young Artists Competition presented by the Bach Festival Society and the Morse Museum of American Art. Four outstanding artists were awarded cash awards and certificates of excellence in the finalist round:
First Place: Paishiun Nelson Hsieh of Orlando performed on the violin
Second Place: Benjamin Anderson of Ocala performed on the French horn
Third Place: Yoon Won Chung of Longwood and John Urban of Jacksonville shared this award and both performed on the piano.

New Contemporary Opera Wins $50,000 Grant from Funding Arts Network and Knight Foundation
MIAMI - Miami-based Funding Arts Network (FAN) and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation presented the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts with the $50,000 Knight New Work Award, the largest single grant in FAN’s 10-year history, for the production of Macandal. Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of Knight Foundation, presented the grant for Macandal, a new contemporary opera commissioned by the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. The $50,000 Knight New Work Award is the first of two such awards, totaling $100,000. Macandal won over FAN and the advisory panel with its high artistic merit and its broad appeal within the Miami-Dade population. The presentation was made at FAN’s annual awards luncheon on May 8 at the Radisson Miami Hotel. Adding more glitter to the Miami-Dade arts scene, 27 additional FAN grantees were also announced, making this year’s pool one of the largest in FAN history at $270,000. In 2008, the second $50,000 Knight New Work grant will be awarded after another selection process.

Kravis Center Volunteers Honored at Annual Salute
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts has named Jack Linden of Boynton Beach as its 2007 Volunteer of the Year. The Volunteer of the Year award recognizes an individual’s enthusiasm and unyielding support to the Kravis Center. In presenting the award, Kravis Center Chief Executive Officer Judith Mitchell noted that Mr. Linden has generously volunteered his time at the Kravis Center for nine years, serving in a variety of positions.

Center Board Member to Receive ArtServe’s 2007 Star Award
Hollywood – Art and Culture Center of Hollywood Board Member Nina Nissenfeld was selected as one of the recipients of ArtServe’s 2007 Star Award in recognition for her contributions to the Center and the arts. A docent at the Center for 16 years, Nissenfeld currently chairs the Center’s Docent Program. Under her strong leadership, this program has become a vital volunteer group that assists the Center’s staff with visual art exhibition guided tours. For Nissenfeld, a former art appreciation teacher in New York, sharing her love and knowledge of the arts with others comes naturally. She continually supports the non-profit’s programming and fund-raising efforts as well. Nissenfeld is also an avid collector of contemporary studio glass and enjoys visiting galleries and museums.