How Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
learned to love Christmas in Florida
When she moved to Cross Creek in 1928, one of our most acclaimed writers suffered culture shock at her first subtropical Christmas: Too warm and sunny, and birds were singing! No snow, festooned trees, carolers, or roaring fire in the hearth! How did she get over it? Here's the story.
Thank you for a great 2016!
We appreciate all of your support
In this season of gratitude and reflection, we are so thankful for your support. You've helped us provide meaningful public cultural programs statewide: From our lively, colorful FORUM magazine to fascinating community speakers, museum exhibits, teacher workshops, local grant projects, family reading programs, and veterans' engagement with their communities. And much more. Your support makes a big difference. If you'd like to contribute to our good work, please consider making a year-end contribution.
Teachers: Explore the life,
work and 'mystique' of Zora
Apply now to join teachers from around the nation at "Jump at the Sun: Zora Neale Hurston and her Eatonville Roots," focused on the life and work of the famed author and anthropologist. Thanks to a $170,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, we are offering two weeklong workshops in her hometown near Orlando: July 9-15 or July 16-22, 2017. More information and apply.
The Smithsonian is coming to Okeechobee
Join the fun on Dec. 17 at special kick-off events for the six-week showing of our traveling Smithsonian exhibit, "WaterWays," at the Okeechobee County Historic Courthouse. We're touring this multimedia exhibit on the historical and cultural importance of water to six Florida cities. For more about this and our other events around the state, click here.
Our great thanks go to Pineapple Press and UPF
A big "Thank You!" goes to Florida book publishers Pineapple Press and the University Press of Florida. They are providing gift-bag goodies for 50 high school students from around the state who will be competing in our Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest on March 11, 2017.
Our great thanks go to 