Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Gala is Sold Out!

After nine years, the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Induction ceremony is getting a makeover. Historically held at venues honoring individual inductees, the 2023 ceremony will debut the new Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Gala. This ticketed event is set for October 17 at Bonnet Springs Park. For tickets click here. Bonnie Parker, a longtime local arts advocate, and member of the original Polk Arts Hall of Fame Committee recognizes the importance of honoring the work of Polk’s arts and cultural icons. “It’s just right that we honor those who have committed so much of themselves to the arts scene, as they’ve made all of our lives better because of their contribution,” she noted.

Dr. Daryl Ward, the Executive Director of PACA, also believes that the hall of fame ceremony is worthy of a county-wide celebration. “We do such a good job of celebrating other achievements in our county. It’s only right that we set aside a night to celebrate all things arts and culture,” he said. The event will feature a catered dinner, live music, local art, while the evening will be highlighted by special recognitions of the arts and cultural community.

Years ago, the Polk Arts Alliance honored arts organizations and individuals with a series of awards known as the Community Arts Recognition Program. Though the program eventually evolved into the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Ceremony, this year the awards are making a comeback. “It’s really important to recognize and honor the hard work that our arts organizations and arts supporters do for our community,” Ward said. The awards are separated into six categories: Volunteer of the Year, Philanthropic Organization of the Year, Arts/Cultural Organization of the Year, the Rising Star award, the Art for Good award, and the Arts Educator of the Year award. The finalists have already been named and the winners announced the night of the Gala. “We took nominations from the community, and quite frankly, all of the nominees are deserving,” Ward said. “The applications revealed just how much work is going on in our arts and cultural sector,” he continued.

The Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will be the crowning event of the evening. This year’s class features six individuals who have all made their mark on Polk County and beyond. Click here to learn more about this year’s Hall of Fame class. The Gala, which kicks off at 6pm with a social hour, is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at polkarts.org.

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