A Brief History of the South Florida Center for the Arts

The South Florida Center for the Arts (SFCA) was organized in 1988 when it opened its Fine Arts School in South Dade County. Art, music, dance and theatre were available to the communities of Homestead, the Redlands and the South Miami area. Brownie Ballard, Executive Director, and Linda Lloyd, Music Director, were the founders of the school. Art, musical and theatre productions were produced year round, and scholarships were available to underprivileged children.

The Center was located in the Cauley Square Village, which was owned and operated by the Ballard family for many years. Thomas Cauley, who built Cauley Square in 1920, also built his family home in the same area in 1916. His home was chosen to house the South Florida Center for the Arts. SFCA flourished in Cauley Square until 1992, when Hurricane Andrew destroyed the Cauley Square Shops and the historic Cauley home.

With an undying love of the arts, Brownie brought the nonprofit organization (SFCA) to the Keys, to help promote and enhance the cultural arts in the area. A new Board and the Arts for Youth program was established in 1994. The Upper Keys Concert Series began in 1995.

A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD


Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe that the Upper Keys Concert Series is entering it’s thirteenth season! We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your support of the South Florida Center for the Arts over the past years. We are a nonprofit organization whose goal is to promote and enhance the cultural arts in the Upper Keys. We are committed to providing our community with talented and professional performers.

Our new relationship with the Coral Shores Performing Arts Center has turned out to be a successful one that has allowed us to grow and expand our entertainment programming.

Our "Arts for Youth" program continues to bring the cultural arts to our youth in the community. Through the public in-school programs and community events, we can offer our youth the experience of live quality programs and workshops. We now offer scholarships for music students in the Upper Keys public school system. We thank you for your support of our organization and we appreciate your loyalty. Only through the continued dedication of our members, our businesses and sponsorships, can we continue to grow and maintain our high quality of entertainment.


Thank you and enjoy our thirteenth season!



Executive Board

Brownie Ballard

Susan Gordon

Linda Lloyd

Beverly Middleton


Directors

Gloria Avner

Nancy Perez-Miller

Denise Nedimyer

Ava Stegall