Title
"The Immortal Fountain: The Fountain of Youth in Art and Myth" grant application (NB)
This item involves a request to accept a "Culture Builds Florida" grant from the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs, if awarded, to support an art exhibition and related community education and engagement project titled "The Immortal Fountain: The Fountain of Youth in Art and Myth."
Explanation
In 2013, Americans will celebrate the Quincentennial of Ponce de Leon's landing on Florida's east coast and the subsequent 500-year relationship between America and Spain. This historic anniversary offers an opportunity to work towards a deeper understanding of both the historical context and the cultural significance of our on-going relationship with Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries of the Western Hemisphere. Our goal for the proposed exhibition, The Immortal Fountain, is to explore the significance of the Fountain of Youth story, the mythic explanation for Ponce's discovery of Florida. We will also challenge our audience to consider the broader implications of the Fountain story. To reach the widest possible audience we plan to partner with a variety of community organizations and institutions. Our objectives are to build leadership by creating public/private partnerships that will include government and business leaders, as well as educational institutions and cultural advocates; and also to promote learning and wellness, by using art to educate the public about the facts and fictions surrounding the idea of the Fountain of Youth and its implications in popular culture as well as its relevance to Florida's history and identity. We also plan to promote art in public places by exploring the creation of a "Quincentennial Fountain" project for our community.
The proposed exhibition will focus on finding images - paintings, sculptures, illustrations and ephemera - that reflect the concept of the "rejuvenating waters" enjoyed by those who trave...
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