The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys recently held its Board of Governors meeting at The Studios of Key West, where Executive Director Jed Dodds led trustees on a tour of the organization’s galleries, classrooms, artist studios, rooftop venue “Hugh’s View”, and the PEAR House artist residency program.
The Foundation regularly combines board meetings with nonprofit site visits to help trustees connect their board service with the real-world outcomes of local philanthropy and the In Paradise For Good Community Grants program.
On May 8th, Foundation staff joined The Studios for its Toast to Teachers event, recognizing the educators who help bring arts experiences to hundreds of local students each year through Schools at The Studios, a program that was funded in the Foundation’s 2024 grant cycle.
This year, The Studios received Community Foundation funding for “Making History: Building Audiences,” a suite of programs designed to engage new audiences through stories rooted in Key West’s historic diversity.
A centerpiece of the project was Ghost in Bahama Village, an exhibition by nationally acclaimed artist ransome featuring new works inspired by the history of Bahama Village and themes of migration, identity, and belonging. During the exhibition, 92 students from Horace O’Bryant Elementary, Gerald Adams Elementary, and Montessori Children’s School visited the galleries to learn local history and create artwork using collage techniques inspired by the exhibit.
The grant also supported Riff on Rox Films, a partnership with Boston’s Roxbury International Film Festival. The program included screenings of films centered on diverse voices, including Paradise Reflected, a documentary by local filmmakers Antonio “Hollywood” Allen, Jose Davila, and Martha Hooten exploring the meaning of Key West’s One Human Family motto through interviews with residents from across the community.
Following the screenings, audiences participated in community discussions that continued beyond the theater. The project also created professional development and networking opportunities connecting local filmmakers, artists, historians, and cultural leaders with national arts organizations.
The Studios of Key West’s programs use arts and culture to strengthen community connections, preserve local stories, and create opportunities for young people. In addition to receiving Community Foundation grants, The Studios also holds an endowment fund at the Foundation to help support the organization’s long-term sustainability and future programming.