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  The Seaside School, Inc. Launches Multi-Million Dollar Seacoast Collegiate High School Expansion Project with Northwest Florida State College The Seaside School, Inc., Florida’s oldest continuously operated public charter school and #1 combination public charter school in the state of Florida, announced today the launch of the Seacoast Collegiate High School (SCHS) Expansion Project in partnership with Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC). This multi-million-dollar expansion project will further expand the partnership between SCHS and NWFSC by providing a permanent home for SCHS at the South Walton Campus of NWFSC as well as developing a high school dual enrollment center for all students in Walton County. In addition, the new facility will include “The Accelerator” which will offer training, mentoring, and collaboration to new area businesses and entrepreneurs. “Walton County and the surrounding areas are currently experiencing rapid growth,” said Patrick McCarthy, Seaside School Foundation President. “We believe investing in the people of our community is needed and necessary now more than ever. By expanding this partnership between two historically successful institutions, we will make Walton County an even better place to live and thrive.”Currently, ninth and tenth grades at SCHS operate in five classrooms that are leased from NWFSC at the South Walton Campus. Students in eleventh and twelfth grades attend classes on the Niceville Campus of NWFSC. With this expansion project, The Seaside School, Inc. will be able to consolidate all high school students at the NWFSC South Walton Campus as well as expand the collegiate programs to more... Read More

  By Anna Fisher, Associate Artistic and Education Director Spring is here and summer is right around the corner at Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC). I’ve already started humming along to all of my favorite Sound of Music songs in preparation for our May 5th-14th production. The hardest part for me is not humming along during the show! The excitement from our young cast members is palpable, not just for this production but for all of our upcoming summer camps as well. We’re excited too because that means a whole lot of energetic students dancing, singing, acting, and bringing life to our space. We love providing a place where students can participate in creative, team-based activities that don’t involve a screen. There are so many great skills that these kids build while having fun- like teamwork, literacy, confidence, communication, and voice and movement. Our summer camps start at age 5 (rising Kindergarteners) and go through 12th grade. We offer week-long mini player camps throughout the summer for our youngest students to act, dance, sing, and create art while learning how to put on a production. Our elementary aged children have their choice of singing and dancing in our week-long Camp Showtime camps, or show their spots in our two-week musical theatre camp 101 Dalmatians. We also offer the one week, non-musical camp for our elementary aged students Alice in Wonderland at three different locations including ECTC, Defuniak Springs, and Gulf Coast State College in Panama City. Our teens have a... Read More

  Experience Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, a one-of-a-kind projection art festival where artists from throughout the world use the most recent digital technologies to project their original works onto the iconic white walls of Alys Beach.Sometimes referred to as “Photon Bombing,” “Guerilla Projection” or “Urban Projection,” underground artists have been using the latest design, animation and projection technologies for many years to cast dynamic images onto skyscrapers and other urban structures as a means of artistic expression. Digital Graffiti brings these artists together in one place to celebrate and showcase their unique talents on an amazing backdrop. Attracting digital artists, filmmakers, musicians, interactive designers, photographers, VJs, producers, celebrities, agency executives and fans of art, technology and architecture, digital submissions come from as far away as Israel, Austria, Canada, Germany, London, India, France, Italy and China. Thousands in cash prizes are awarded. Purchase tickets at www.digitalgraffiti.com. The post Explore the Magnificence of Digital Graffiti May 19-20 appeared first on Bay Life | News, Events and Community Information.   Read More

  By Christopher Manson Celebrating its 35th year this month, the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County’s ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival is one of the organization’s signature – and biggest – events. In recent years, the CAA has expanded this into Art Month, with visual, performing, and literary arts programming in diverse formats at various venues throughout Walton County. Additional Art Month events and programs include Under the Sea, a fundraiser for the CAA’s Underwater Museum of Art; the Longleaf Writers Conference, formerly the Seaside Writers Conference, a gathering of creative writers from across the nation, featuring award-winning scribes from the worlds of poetry, fiction and screenwriting offering workshops and seminars; Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, a unique “projection art” festival employing digital technologies; “Sinfonia Goes Pop!,” a free concert at the Alys Beach Amphitheatre; performances by the Emerald Coast Theatre Company; and, of course, gallery events. Find the complete Art Month schedule at culturalartsalliance.com. CAA Events Director Allie Anderson says patrons can expect new twists for May 13 and 14’s ArtsQuest festival at Grand Boulevard Town Center. “Things are different with the layout,” she says. “We’re expecting around 5,000 people over the weekend.” This year’s festival includes adult art classes with the likes of Justin Gaffrey, non-stop live entertainment and new sponsors. “The other events are happening almost every day throughout May,” says Ms. Anderson. “We support and promote them all and want people to go to as many as they can.” Ms. Anderson handles all of the... Read More

  For Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast La Luna Children’s Boutique, located in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®, raised $5,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast during their Inaugural Spring Fashion Show and Tea Party, held on Saturday, April 1. Presented by The Spears Group and Emerald Coast Magazine, the event welcomed over 100 families to Grand Boulevard’s North Lawn for a kid’s fashion show, sponsored by John Lee Nissan. Over 30 local models, ages 2-12, walked the runway, courtesy of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®, showcasing the boutique’s latest spring and summer arrivals. Following the show, guests entered the springtime Tea Party, sponsored by Vacayzen, featuring light bites from Charcuterie by Shelli, pop up shops from local vendors, a DJ, and Easter-themed arts and crafts activities. The Easter Bunny made a special appearance during the tea party and greeted the crowd of children before sitting down to take family photos, courtesy of Meltdown 30A and Jenna Kaye Photography. “We are humbled by the generosity of our customers and this community,” said La Luna owner, Karoline Kellogg. “We are also wowed by the generosity of the Boys and Girls Club, who are obviously invested in this nation’s future. As they afford children from our community a safe and positive environment to express themselves and enjoy their youth, we are honored to have been able to support their wonderful work.” Throughout the afternoon, La Luna also raffled off a variety of items including gift cards, vacation... Read More