COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR Leading International Competition Celebrates Collaboration of Design + Art in Public Spaces The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) in partnership with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) is proud to announce that the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) recently received the 2023 CODAaward for Collaboration of the Year! CODAawards: Collaboration of Design + Art recognizes outstanding projects that integrate commissioned art into interior, architectural, or public spaces. The 11th annual international design competition recently announced winners across 10 categories, as well as 2 People’s Choice Award winners and a new Collaboration Award. This year’s 411 submissions came from 24 countries around the globe, celebrating innovation and artistic excellence. This year, a new award was added for the first time. Titled the Collaboration of the Year Award, this honor goes to the project that demonstrates the importance of the collaborative process among creative teams, commissioners, and industry resources. Toni Sikes, CEO of CODAworx states that “The Collaboration of the Year Award recognizes the collective imagination of many professionals who work together to create spaces that are transformed through artwork. The end result is pure magic.” Information on the 2023 CODAawards is available on CODAworx.com. “It is an honor that CODAworx created a category that represents the heart and soul of the Underwater Museum of Art and recognizes its true collaborative nature,” said CAA Executive Director Jennifer Steele. “The CAA is grateful to work alongside co-founders Allison Wickey and SWARA, Walton County, The Reefmaker,... Read More

  A CULTURAL & CULINARY EXTRAVAGANZA Crescendo! 2024 Kick-off Thursday, Jan. 25 Crescendo! Vintner Dinners Friday, March 1 Crescendo! Main Event Sunday, March 3 Sinfonia Gulf Coast, the vanguard of our region’s performing arts scene, reveals the lineup for its highly-anticipated three-day annual fundraiser, Crescendo!: A Cultural & Culinary Extravaganza. A creative fusion of culture, cuisine, and community giving, this exceptional event promises to be the pinnacle of the 2024 Northwest Florida social season. Mark your calendars for Crescendo! 2024 set for March 1 to March 3, 2024. Festivities begin on Thursday, January 25 at 11 a.m., with a Crescendo! Kick-Off Lunch at Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits located at The Market Shops in Miramar Beach. Enjoy an incredible lunch prepared by award-winning chef/co-owner Jack McGuckin, sip elegant wines from Bouchaine, indulge in delectable desserts, shop all of the must-have accessories of the season from The Jewel, door prizes and raffle items, and more. Tickets are $150 per person and include lunch, wine and gratuities. On Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m. Crescendo! weekend will begin with a series of carefully curated vintner dinners hosted in elegant homes and venues throughout the Emerald Coast, which pair the talents of local and regional “celebrity” chefs with some of the country’s most acclaimed vineyards for a delicious evening of food and wine. Participating wineries have included Darioush, Arietta, Perus, Lerner Project, Bouchaine, and more. ‘Celebrity’ chefs have included Fleetwood Covington (Seagar’s Prime Seafood & Steak House), Jack McGuckin (Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits), Dan... Read More