Cultural Offerings Add Color and Flair to the Florida Keys

FLORIDA KEYS — In the mid-1930s, with the Florida Keys reeling from the Great Depression, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration dispatched artists and writers to the island chain to paint murals, write guidebooks, teach craft classes and help turn the area into an attractive vacation destination. 

Today, the Keys’ creative and cultural community is more vibrant and varied than Depression–era officials could have imagined. Writers are drawn by the easygoing ambiance and the company of their colleagues, musicians and actors by the chance to practice their craft before an appreciative audience, and artists by the ever-changing tropical light and the opportunity to depict a uniquely engaging locale. 

The presence of the Keys' visual, literary and performing artists — and the galleries and theaters where they showcase their talent — makes every visit to the island chain a cultural delight. 

Visitors seeking the work of artists and artisans can find it literally from one end of the Keys to the other. Galleries abound, featuring oils and watercolors, sculpture, Haitian primitives, collage, pottery, hand-crafted jewelry, wood carving, stained and blown glass, metalwork, acrylics and fine crafts. 

Some galleries spotlight tropically themed pieces, some are cooperatives run by the artists themselves and others are gallery/studios where visitors can meet the artists and watch them at work. Regular gallery strolls and art walks are popular, particularly in Key West's historic Old Town and Islamorada's flourishing Morada Way Arts & Cultural District. 

In addition, the Florida Keys offer a full calendar of art and crafts shows. Ranging from juried exhibitions of fine art to colorful craft extravaganzas, these gatherings draw creative spirits from the island chain and elsewhere. 

Outdoor art can be seen throughout the Keys, from murals celebrating the underwater world to sculptures enhancing public places. There’s even a fascinating Keyswide sculpture trail.

At the heart of Key West's creative atmosphere is its literary legacy. Tennessee Williams maintained a home on the island from 1949 until his death, Robert Frost was a frequent visitor and Ernest Hemingway produced some of his finest work during his nearly decade-long residence. Annual festivals are held celebrating both Hemingway's and Williams’ life and work, and visitors can tour Hemingway’s former home and a museum devoted to Williams. 

Today, Key West's literary community, which has sheltered many Pulitzer Prize winners and notables ranging from Elizabeth Bishop to Judy Blume, continues to thrive. Each January the widely recognized Key West Literary Seminar draws writers such as Amy Tan, Frank McCourt and Carl Hiaasen to explore aspects of literature relating to a specific theme. 

From Key West to Key Largo, the performing arts flourish. The Keys are home to numerous theaters and community groups — many with long and productive histories — whose offerings are enthusiastically supported by residents and visitors. 

The talent pool encompasses skilled locals and visiting professional actors seeking sunshine and creative opportunities. Musicals, dramas, comedies and children's shows all take their turn on the stages of the Keys. 

While some visitors are attracted by the musical sounds of waves lapping the shore and breezes stirring the palms, many other types of music can be heard as well. Notable musical groups include Impromptu Classical Concerts of Key West, Florida Keys Community Concert Band and the Florida Keys Concert Association. 

The Keys may be renowned for their exceptional diving and fishing, easygoing tropical atmosphere and warm and welcoming climate, but their place as a haven for creative spirits can't be denied. Dating from the Depression era, culture is a vital part of the area's unique and vibrant appeal. 

Florida Keys culture: keysarts.com, fla-keys.com/arts-culture/