The FRPA named the Arts Council of Greater Weston as the winner of its 2023 Voluntary Service Award Group.
The Arts Council of Greater Weston, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the community by ensuring that there are a wide variety of cultural and educational opportunities available locally.
Its mission is to help the City of Weston provide diverse arts and cultural events and activities that will place Weston among the pre-eminent South Florida communities; assist existing arts and cultural organizations in their efforts to bring high-quality events and programming to enhance the quality of life for all residents and neighboring cities; assist the city in reviewing requests to sponsor or provide venues for arts and cultural events; be a liaison between the community, the City of Weston and the Broward County Cultural Affairs Division; and raise awareness for the current issues affecting the arts and culture within our community. In short terms, “Building Community Through the Arts”.
The Arts Council of Greater Weston provides planning and oversight of diverse cultural activities, highlighting the spaces offered by the many beautiful parks and facilities in Weston. Among those events are Weston World Fest, Chalk in the Park, Celebrate the Arts Day, The Weston Foreign Film Series and The Student Artist Showcase.
The Arts Council of Greater Weston’s success is due to its ability to nurture student volunteers, inviting them to assist and participate in many events giving them opportunities to learn and earn community service hours, in addition to, offering scholarships to high school seniors that have worked with the organization. Annually, the Arts Council provides over 400 volunteers to help plan, organize, and execute arts and cultural events for Weston residents and visitors. Volunteers include students, adults, and the Arts Council Board Members. With well over 5,000 volunteer hours, they are a true asset to the city.
The Arts Council of Greater Weston is an organization that places high importance on diversity and endeavors to establish an atmosphere in which people from diverse backgrounds feel embraced and reflected. The ACGW Board consists of members from various cultures, ethnicities, age groups, and abilities.
Due to the City of Weston’s unique contract form of government, the City relies heavily on community partnerships to make many of its events possible. Per Weston City Manager Don Decker, “The Arts Council board brings tremendous value in that they have the skills, experience, and commitment to manage all aspects of planning and implementation of the numerous events they put together (i.e., Weston Foreign Films Series, Chalk in the Park, Celebrate the Arts Day, Weston World Fest, Student Artist Showcase, and Summer Instagram Photo Contest).” Over the past 20 years, the board and what it does has grown. Don Decker states “They are a critical component of what makes Weston special and unique.”
Laura Dobrzanski, Arts Council President, stated, “We are incredibly delighted to receive such a prestigious award from the Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA) amongst the many other well-deserving applicants. This award represents the countless hours, hard work, and dedication of our volunteers who over the past 20 years continue to endlessly pour their passion into arts and cultural events without whom these events would not be possible. We are very grateful for these individuals as well as our unique partnership with the City of Weston who continue to be strong advocates for superb art and culture experiences to enhance the quality of living for our community.”
