The Arts Council announces its 2012 mARTies Awards event, which this year will be a Red Carpet evening held at the StarStruck Performing Arts Center on May 3rd. Cocktails, buffet delights, and entertainment will be enjoyed during the reception, followed by the theatre-style presentation of the awards to the Outstanding Media Artist; Performing Artist and Visual Artist in the adult and student categories as well as Outstanding Volunteer in the Arts. Nominations are currently being accepted, so if you know someone who is deserving of this recognition, please contact the Arts Council (287-6676 ext. 12) for a nomination form – don’t delay, the deadline is just around the corner.

The Arts Council, serving Stuart and Martin County, presents the avant garde works of four artists on First Thursday Gallery Night, February 2, 2012 from 5-8:00 p.m. as part of the “New” exhibit currently on display at the Court House Cultural Center, 80 E. Ocean Blvd, downtown Stuart. First Thursdays are free and open to the public.
Curator, Debra Magrann, will moderate a panel discussion starting at 5:30 p.m. and close with “the New: Next Steps”.

The Arts Council is presenting a series of three lectures on legal issues tailored to the perspective of artists, musicians and others involved with the creative arts. The “brown-bag” lectures will be held at the Court House Cultural Center, 80 East Ocean Boulevard from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, January 25 and February 1.

The Arts Council & Sunset Bay Marina invite art and music lovers to come by land or sea to Waterfront Wednesdays at Sunset Bay, a weekly arts and fine handcrafts show featuring local artisans.