Old Florida Celebration of the Arts:

Once again the Cedar Key Arts Center hosted the Artist's Reception for the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts guest artists. The Saturday evening event well attended with appetizers and beverages enjoyed by all. In addition the Arts Center sponsored a $500 Award for Creativity which was awarded to Paul Anderson of Tallahassee, FL for his abstract stainless steel and film creations.

During the month of March, 2008 the Arts Center organized a community-wide event called "Bead for Life." Bead for Life is a non-profit organization that helps women in war-torn and AIDS ridden Uganda by coordinating the sale of the beads and jewerly the women make from recycled magazines. Over $2,500 was raised by the Arts Center through the sale of jewelry in the small gallery upstairs in March, at the Women's Club luncheon and fashion show and at the "do it yourself" beading event on Saturday, March 15. 97% of all money collected through the sale of the beads and jewelry is sent back to the Uganda women who have been able to help their communities improve housing, health-care, and education for the women and their children. Check out the Bead for Life website (www.beadforlife.org) for more information.

The Cedar Key Arts Center needs a new roof. After 20 years of excellent service our roof has sprung a leak and after careful consideration the board has decided the best course of action is to replace the roof. With technology that is now available the roof should last 50 years. The Arts Center Board carefully created a reserve over the past 15 years knowing that this sort of expense would come up at some point. However, the new roof will significantly deplete that reserve. Therefore, the Arts Center is soliciting donations in a "raise the roof" campaign. If you are interested in contributing, checks should be written to the Cedar Key Arts Center, memo line "roof," PO Box 949, Cedar Key, FL 32625. Artists can contribute works of art that will be exhibited and sold in the Member's Gallery with 100% of the proceeds going to the roof fund.

Thanks to all of you who have already made generous donations to the roof fund.