Blogs

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) is proud to announce Niceville-based oil painter Kathy Schumacher as the official poster artist for the 30th Annual Festival of the Arts. This milestone event kicks off Friday, October 24 with the Arty Kickoff Party, followed by the festival weekend October 25–26 at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village […]

Melanie Moore Reflects on ArtsReach, Access, and a Creative Future By Zandra Wolfgram When Melanie Moore first joined the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) in 2015, she had a handful of outreach programs, a few local school connections, and a big vision. A decade later, Moore, now the foundation’s director of education and community engagement, […]

MKAF celebrates Mental Health Month with a $10,000 boost for its life-changing arts education programs By Zandra Wolfgram May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and for the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF), it’s a powerful reminder of how creativity and compassion intersect. Through its signature ArtsReach program, MKAF brings high-quality arts education directly to K-12 […]

By Zandra Wolfgram The stage is set, the guitars are tuned, and we’re adding a little extra soul to spring in Destin. Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation is thrilled to announce a just-added performance to its Concerts in the Village series — the internationally acclaimed blues-rock artist Kara Grainger will perform Thursday, May 8, at the […]

Black Jacket Symphony Brings Journey’s ‘Escape’ to Life May 1  If you’re ready to relive the golden era of arena rock, mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 1, as Black Jacket Symphony takes the stage at the Dugas Pavilion in Destin to perform Journey’s iconic album, Escape, in its entirety. Part of the Mattie Kelly […]

By Zandra Wolfgram  As the days grow longer and the Emerald Coast comes alive with springtime energy, Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation invites you to experience one of Northwest Florida’s most anticipated events: Concerts in the Village. Recently named one of the “Top 10 Things to Do” by The Florida Travel Guide, this beloved 10-concert series […]

By Zandra Wolfgram Artist Kelly Pierre hails from South Louisiana’s vibrant culture, where his Cajun French-speaking family owned shrimp boats. Summers spent learning the shrimping business along the Gulf Coast deeply connected him to the seafood industry. “I got to touch and hold all kinds of marine life. They are beautiful and amazing, and I […]

By Bridget Gorder By popular demand, Adam Ezra Group returns to cap the Concerts in the Village series on Thursday, June 6. Combining elements from pop, rock, soul, and folk, the band is bold and unique, dazzling audiences with a wide variety of musical tastes. From patron living room shows to sold-out headline concerts, this […]

By Bridget GorderThe Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Concerts in the Village series is in full swing, and this week’sshow is one you won’t want to miss. Gotta Groove Band is traveling all the way from Land OLakes, Florida, to showcase their musicianship with you on Thursday, May 16.Here are five reasons why you should groove […]

Featured Guest Artist at the Festival of the Arts Arty Kick Off Party,Friday, Oct. 27 at Henderson Beach Resort In her words …Although I didn’t start painting until mid-life, I was always blessed with acreative side.  After following my military husband around the world andraising two beautiful children, I jumped both feet into my art […]