First Coast Cultural Center

Classes and other programs: Our classes offer an initimate, exceptional learning experience in an inspiring setting with locally and nationally recognized artists and educators. We provide multi-faceted curriculum from novice to advanced levels, and it extends maximum accessibility in a broad range of programs that strive to develop the individual's artistic interests and abilities. In addition to our exceptional on-site programming, we offer a wide scope of educational opportunities for underserved communities throughout the Beaches and St. Johns County. Our center's outreach efforts are targeted at reaching underserved children and adults by bringing high-quaility arts education and artistic experiences to community centers, rehabilitiation centers, and special needs schools. Our outreach department fulfills our mission by hiring highly qualified art and music therapists and instructors, purchasing professional art supplies and providing educational and therapeutic hands-on instruction for several longstanding programs.

Sound Connections and Music Therapy: We have been the leading non-profit arts organization that has made music therapy for children with special needs a priority in the St. Johns County school system. In 2006, we started a small pilot program, music therapy at Cunningham Creek Elementary School, which is the public hub school for children with special needs. Because of the continued success of the Cunningham Creek program and the national notoriety, which includes our winning The American Music Therapy Association Award for both fundraising and program design, this vital resource for children with varied disabilities was expanded in 2015 to serve three additional St. Johns County schools. We have continued our expansion to include St. Johns County schools to include a total of eight schools, which includes three Title I schools: The Webster Elementary School, Osceola Elementary School, and First Coast Technical College (Pre-K Headstart Program). We renamed Sound Connections/Music Therapy for children with special needs "Sound Connections and Music Therapy".

Exhibitions and facilities rental: We present exhibitions annually of professional artists' work in our galleries with opening receptions for each. Our exhibiting artists are also available during these exhibition openings for one-on-one opportunities for questions and answers about their creative process. The galleries are free and open to our community because of our incredible individual and corporate support.