The Community Foundation of Broward celebrates its Spring 2026 Arts Showcase

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – A stage filled with music, movement, storytelling, and reflection became the heart of Broward County’s arts community this spring as the Community Foundation of Broward hosted its Spring 2026 Arts Showcase: A Season in Full Bloom on April 17. The event gathered artists, nonprofits, donors, and community leaders under one roof, turning funding into something visible, audible, and deeply human.

The showcase was designed as more than a performance program. It was a living demonstration of how grants and philanthropy translate into real cultural impact. Broward County nonprofits that received support from the Community Foundation of Broward took the stage to share their work, offering audiences a direct look at how creative projects are shaping neighborhoods, schools, and community spaces across the county.

Representatives from more than 18 leading arts organizations attended, alongside foundation board members, donors, staff families, and families of featured artists. The atmosphere was part celebration, part reflection, and part creative exchange. Each performance or presentation added another layer to a broader story about art as a tool for connection.

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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 a distinct artistic voice, ranging from theater and film to poetry, movement, and community storytelling.

The program unfolded like a mosaic, with each piece offering a different emotional texture. The Girls Choir of South Florida opened space for participation with a blend of song and meditation, inviting the audience into a shared moment of calm and focus. Brevo Theatre brought energy and emotion with a dance performance inspired by The Color Purple, blending movement with narrative depth.

New City Players Inc. presented “Art & Hope,” a playful yet thoughtful theatrical piece centered on friendship, renewal, and the unexpected ways people connect. In contrast, ArtServe offered a quieter moment through Tai Chi, led by Lori Kerrigan, highlighting the relationship between movement, balance, and mindfulness.

Film and visual storytelling also played a major role in the showcase. WEG Films introduced The Old Man and the Parrot, a South Florida feature film described as a surrealist comedy. The project, starring Cuban actor Ruben Rabasa, has already drawn attention at film festivals including Slamdance and the Miami Film Festival, adding a cinematic dimension to the evening’s lineup.

Community-focused dialogue was another key element of the event. Avenue of the Arts, in partnership with Twenty6North Productions, led a discussion on murals and their role in shaping public space and identity. The Cultural Foundation of Broward contributed insights from recent community “Listening Sessions,” offering reflections gathered directly from residents across the county.

The Art Prevails Project, led by Darius Daughtry, closed the program with a reflective poetry reading that brought the evening back to words, voice, and shared emotion. It was a quiet ending to a showcase filled with movement and sound, leaving the audience with space to think rather than simply observe.

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Behind the performances lies a significant and sustained investment in the arts. The Community Foundation of Broward identifies art and culture as one of its six major grantmaking focus areas, part of a broader mission to expand access to creative experiences across the county. Each year, the foundation allocates approximately $3 million to support arts initiatives.

That investment reaches far beyond stages and galleries. Over the past year alone, foundation-supported programs have allowed more than 166,000 people to experience museums and historic attractions. Another 65,000 community members participated in arts festivals, exhibitions, and live performances, while approximately 9,500 individuals—from students to seniors—engaged in arts education and training programs.

The foundation’s long-term impact is even broader. Since 2016, it has invested $3.9 million in more than 98 arts-related projects, reaching more than 100,000 residents across roughly 70% of Broward’s cities. These projects span disciplines and communities, reflecting a consistent effort to make arts access more widespread and inclusive.

Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Broward, emphasized the deeper purpose behind the showcase and the organization’s ongoing support for the arts.

“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 direct engagement with the community. For many, the event served not only as a performance opportunity but also as a rare chance to connect with peers, funders, and audiences in a 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.”

Today, the Community Foundation of Broward oversees 590 charitable funds and has spent four decades building long-term philanthropic partnerships. Over that time, it has directed nearly $215 million toward causes including student achievement, arts and culture, career readiness, senior support, environmental resilience, health care, mental health, affordable housing, and disaster relief.

Each of these initiatives is powered by donors and fundholders who create charitable funds through the foundation, ensuring a steady flow of support for local needs. Officials say this structure allows philanthropy to remain both flexible and responsive, while still maintaining a strong focus on community priorities.

The Spring 2026 Arts Showcase stood as a reminder of what that system can produce when it works at its best. It was not only a celebration of artistic talent, but also a demonstration of how sustained investment can shape a cultural ecosystem—one performance, one project, and one community connection at a time.

For more information about the Community Foundation of Broward, visit https://www.cfbroward.org/.