Members of the Gainesville community met Saturday to discuss the possibilities of a cultural arts center that would be located in East Gainesville.
The gathering at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center featured passionate discussions and entertainment, with the event perhaps becoming the first step to creating a place where the city’s youth will have a safe space to create and heal.
Derrick Frazier went to the event with his wife who is connected with the community and what is transpiring.
“There is no place you can go where arts isn’t beneficial.”
He shared that art is a part of the well-being of a community. He also shared his thoughts on the meeting.
“I felt like today’s meeting was more like a spark. Now, we need to come back together and set the blaze. Once we have that next step or two, then we can have that true fire, infusing arts everywhere.”
The discussion’s three-person panel featured City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker as moderator with panelists Marshall Davis Sr., the managing director of the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Miami, and Marion Caffey, a producer, creator and current Director of The Apollo Theatre in New York City.
The event started and ended with performances from various groups, including singing, dancing and acting from 1000 Voices of Florida and Star Center Theatre. Art and historical artifacts also dotted the room. Throughout the discussion, the panelists shared their thoughts, along with personal stories to show the benefits of having a cultural arts center.
The discussion ended with a question-and-answer segment with the audience to share their thoughts. Audience members asked about the possibility of a cultural arts center, jobs, obstacles and other solutions.
Duncan-Walker explained why a cultural arts center would be beneficial to the community.
“Something like this is important for the community because we all understand the value of the arts, healing, health and mental health,” she said. “Art is something that since the beginning of time, humans have enjoyed, and we have evolved over time and our art has evolved with us.”
Duncan-Walker said “a proliferation of gun violence in this community” is increasing the need for the center. She feels Gainesville needs to have a space where young people can feel safe and be healed.
Still, a major hurdle to having a center open is funding.
The city commissioner acknowledged it would take “significant resources” and partnerships, but she does remain optimistic.
“It certainly is something that’s doable. I believe that the return on this investment will be felt for generations.”
She explained this is somewhat of a personal mission to her. Many years ago, she worked at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center with Davis and realized, “His system saves lives.”
When she returned to Gainesville and realized there isn’t something like it, she was inspired to try and replicate it.
“I felt like our kids and their parents in this community deserve that,” she said.
If the mission is successful, the cultural arts center would be in East Gainesville. Duncan-Walker explained that East Gainesville is where the significant need is. Anyone can go, but it needs to be accessible to the individuals that may not be able to readily access it. Before this event, the Gainesville City Commission supported the idea unanimously. At this point, the project is in the fact-finding stage. She explained that a consultant has been hired and will produce a report that will be reviewed by the city commission in the next couple of months.