​There's an impressive array of murals and mosaics that focus on well-known events and Black residents of Jax, both past and present, visible all over town. This year, Art Republic’s Lift Every Voice project created murals that almost exclusively represented Jacksonville’s African American heritage. And, the addition of the Black Mural Map website is a wonderful guide to all the incredible murals that can be seen on the sides of buildings, towers, and fences downtown and in the surrounding areas of the community. 

​The word is getting out about ARTSee & Shop, The Cultural Council’s second annual art and cultural engagement gallery, located at the Markets at Town Center. What most people may not know is how ARTSee & Shop started and the extent of the sponsorship from Hines, the parent company of The Markets at Town Center.
 
If you’ve been to the gallery, you were probably surprised to see such an impressive display of local artists and creatives in a place like the Town Center, where national chain stores are the expected retail experience.  It’s a wonderful option for shoppers looking for something unique and the opportunity to shop local. And, it’s a fantastic opportunity for the Jacksonville arts community to have their work for sale in such a visible location on the Southside where local artwork can sometimes be elusive.

The new mural at Don’t Miss a Beat is a bright and beautiful declaration of the transformative power of the arts. It’s beautifully set against the backdrop of trees at Woodstock Park and surrounded by neighborhoods where exposure to the arts is not easily accessible, to say the least.

Juneteenth memorializes an incredible day for African Americans. It is also emblematic of two ideas we take for granted today - freedom and immediate access to information.