Sunshine may be the big draw in Florida, but culture gets its turn in the limelight.
Class Acts
It’s teambuilding? Check. Lots of fun? Check. Something they’ll remember? Check. Art classes have all of the above, and Florida has plenty of art studios that welcome groups.
Headquartered in Jacksonville with locations in Orlando and Oviedo, Yes You Canvas! can comfortably seat 40 for “paintalongs” in a spacious studio with room for catering, socializing and even small meetings.
“We stress camaraderie and the cohesion of doing something together that allows individuals to express themselves artistically,” says David Durrett, owner of the venue. “Painting is unlike anything that a business group will have done before. It breaks down the hierarchy, and everyone interacts in a true teambuilding experience.”
Along the same lines, Painting with a Twist in Sarasota bills itself as “fun art, not fine art,” with games and music in the mix as well as any food and drink groups care to bring.
“It’s amazing how happy people are when they leave,” says Hope Kinney, co-owner of the facility. “It’s all about relaxation. You honestly forget everything when you’re here.” Painting with a Twist can also bring the fun off-site to local hotels and convention venues. Another studio is located just north of Sarasota in Bradenton.
Art on the Go
Art becomes an immersive group experience at an art enclave like F.A.T. Village (Flagler Arts & Technology), an evolving four-block creative district north of downtown Fort Lauderdale and populated by open artists studios, galleries and live theater.
In downtown Orlando, City Arts Factory is the area’s largest art gallery collective, while in Jacksonville’s Riverside Avondale historic district, must-sees include the Cummer Museum of Art and a weekly arts market featuring live music and organic produce.
