Community Foundation of Broward celebrates spring 2026 arts showcase highlighting major regional impact across dozens of arts organizations in Fort Lauderdale and beyond

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Fort Lauderdale once again turned into a gathering point for creativity, performance, and community connection as the Community Foundation of Broward hosted its Spring 2026 Arts Showcase titled A Season in Full Bloom. The event, held on April 17, brought together artists, nonprofit leaders, donors, and families to highlight how arts funding continues to shape cultural life across Broward County.

The showcase served as both a celebration and a live demonstration of the impact of long-term investment in the arts. Nonprofit organizations that receive support through the Foundation stepped onto the stage to present their work in a variety of formats, from live performances to visual storytelling and interactive presentations. The result was a layered program that reflected the diversity of Broward’s artistic community.

Representatives from more than 18 arts organizations attended the event, filling the space with a mix of performance energy and community dialogue. Among the featured participants were Brevo Theatre, Girls Choir of South Florida, New City Players, ArtServe represented by Tai Chi practitioner Lori Kerrigan, WEG Films, Avenue of the Arts in partnership with Twenty6North Productions, and Art Prevails Project with Darius Daughtry.

Each group brought its own artistic language to the stage. Some focused on movement and music, others on film, poetry, or community storytelling. Together, they formed a program that shifted constantly in tone and style, moving from quiet reflection to bold expression.

Read also: Tradewinds Elementary School marks 30 years of educational excellence with a community celebration honoring students, staff, and school leadership

The Girls Choir of South Florida opened one segment of the program with a participatory song and meditation, inviting the audience into a shared moment of calm and focus. Shortly after, Brevo Theatre presented a dance performance inspired by The Color Purple, combining choreography with emotional storytelling rooted in resilience and transformation.

New City Players Inc. followed with Art & Hope, a theatrical piece designed to explore themes of friendship, renewal, and human connection. The performance was described as playful and immersive, encouraging audiences to engage not just as viewers but as participants in the emotional rhythm of the story.

ArtServe’s presentation introduced a different pace altogether, featuring a Tai Chi demonstration by Lori Kerrigan. The movement-based practice added a reflective layer to the program, highlighting the role of wellness and mindfulness within creative expression.

Film also played a central role in the showcase. WEG Films presented insights into The Old Man and the Parrot, a South Florida feature described as a surrealist comedy starring Cuban actor Rubén Rabasa. The film has previously premiered at events such as Slamdance and the Miami Film Festival, and its inclusion at the showcase connected local audiences with broader film circuits.

Avenue of the Arts, working in partnership with Twenty6North Productions, used their segment to discuss murals and their role in community identity. Their presentation focused on how public art can reshape neighborhoods, create shared visual landmarks, and strengthen local pride.

The program also included reflections from the Cultural Foundation of Broward, which shared insights drawn from recent community “Listening Sessions.” These discussions have been used to better understand how residents engage with arts programming and what kinds of cultural experiences are most meaningful across different communities.

Read also: AutoNation and Habitat for Humanity of Broward celebrate completion of new Fort Lauderdale home for registered nurse and single mother of five after major community build project

Closing the showcase, the Art Prevails Project delivered a reflective poetry reading led by Darius Daughtry. The performance brought a quieter emotional tone to the event, emphasizing language, memory, and personal reflection as central parts of artistic expression.

Behind the performances and presentations lies a structured system of support that makes events like this possible. One of the six core grantmaking areas of the Community Foundation of Broward is art and culture, and the organization continues to invest heavily in this sector as part of its broader mission to strengthen community life.

Each year, the Foundation allocates approximately $3 million specifically for arts-related initiatives. These funds support museums, performance groups, educational programs, and community arts projects across the county. Over the past year alone, Foundation-supported programs reached more than 166,000 people through museum visits and historic attractions, while 65,000 residents participated in arts festivals, exhibitions, and live performances.

In addition, around 9,500 participants—including students and seniors—engaged in arts training and educational programming, showing how creative initiatives extend beyond entertainment and into lifelong learning.

The Foundation’s long-term impact is also visible in its cumulative investment record. Since 2016, it has committed approximately $3.9 million to more than 98 arts-related projects, reaching over 100,000 residents across roughly 70 percent of Broward cities. This geographic spread highlights how arts funding has been distributed beyond major cultural centers and into smaller communities as well.

Leadership at the Foundation emphasized that the Arts Showcase is not only about performance but about connection and shared purpose.

“We are proud to support such talented, passionate individuals who are leading with love and transforming our community through art and culture,” said Community Foundation of Broward, President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson. “These gatherings are about more than presenting art; they’re about bringing people together. By creating space for connection, we spark new collaborations, expand artistic expression, and strengthen the arts community across Broward County.”

Artists participating in the showcase also highlighted the importance of visibility and community engagement. For many, the event offered a rare opportunity to present their work directly to donors, supporters, and fellow creators in one shared space.

“Opportunities like this are incredibly meaningful for us—not only to share our work, but to connect with the community and fellow creatives who are equally passionate about the arts,” said Zaylin Yates, founding managing director of Brevo Theatre. “We deeply appreciate the Community Foundation’s support and the care that went into curating such a dynamic event.”

Beyond the stage performances, the showcase reflected a broader ecosystem supported by the Foundation. Today, it manages 590 charitable funds that help distribute resources across multiple sectors including education, housing, healthcare, environmental resilience, and nonprofit development.

Over the past four decades, the organization has directed nearly $215 million into community initiatives ranging from student achievement and mental health support to disaster relief and affordable housing. Arts funding remains one of its most visible and community-facing investments, connecting donors directly to cultural programming across the region.

As the event concluded, the sense among attendees was not only appreciation for the performances but recognition of something larger: a sustained effort to keep art accessible, visible, and deeply rooted in community life.

In Fort Lauderdale, A Season in Full Bloom was not just a theme. It was a reflection of a cultural landscape still growing, still shifting, and still finding new ways to bring people together through creativity.