The Doris Bardon
Community Cultural Center
Help the Arts Association of Alachua County build a place where community members can gather to create, perform, exhibit, teach, collaborate and share.
Alachua County abounds in cultural treasures: visual arts, music, dance, drama, photography, galleries, and museums. Yet, we lack a community cultural center. Doris recognized this unmet need after moving to Gainesville in 1978. [See Doris's bio .] From 1985-1997, Doris and friend Murray Laurie toured Florida to research the state's cultural resources. This culminated in two books by Doris and Murray: Museums and More (Maupin House,1991) and Florida 's Museums and Cultural Attractions , (Pineapple Press,1998).
For decades, Doris Bardon pursued her vision of building a cultural center in Alachua County--a place where artists of all types could work and perform, where students could learn, and where the community could enjoy cultural arts at an affordable price. In the months before her death, she found strong support from the Arts Association of Alachua County.
With your participation, the Doris Bardon Community Cultural Center will fulfill this community's needs and serve as a tribute to a woman who loved her community and worked tirelessly on its behalf.
You can help make her vision a reality.
Turning Doris's Dream into Reality:
The Doris Bardon Community
Cultural Center
Members of AAAC have been visiting cultural centers around Florida seeking advice and ideas. A survey is being conducted seeking information from AAAC member organizations as to their needs regarding gallery, performance, or teaching space.
Doris felt so strongly about the need for such a center that she left start-up money for it, with instructions that if it is not accomplished within 5 years, the money will revert to another issue she felt strongly about. Ideas are needed from all local organizations. The wider community will only join in this endeavor if it appears that local arts groups need such a center.
There are many innovative ideas for the DBCCC beginning to surface. One idea focuses on children and the arts' contributions toward a livable, healthy, creative community. Duval Elementary School is evidence that it can be done. Another idea is from the Fine Arts Association which has been raising money for gallery space, and has volunteered to suppport the DBCCC with their talent and money. In another area, individuals from UF and SFCC who desire to reach out to the community at large want to do that through the DBCCC.
We need to know your organization's needs. Our survey asks 3 questions: (1) what is your budget; (2) what are your needs for exhibit space (linear ft), performance space (size of stage and number of seats), and teaching space; and (3) what other ideas do you have?
Come on along - join in and let?s do it!
The Arts Association of Alachua County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations to AAAC-Doris Bardon Community Cultural Center Account are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.