I Joined the Gainesville Fine Arts Association & Here's Why It Matters
Big news over here and I just have to share it! I recently became a member of the Gainesville Fine Arts Association (GFAA) and honestly, I have been smiling about it ever since. If you have been following along, you know that I am an Ocala-based painter who loves road trips, makes art whenever and wherever I can, and is figuring out this whole parenting-and-creating-at-the-same-time thing. Joining GFAA feels like a huge step forward in building the kind of artistic life I have always wanted.
If you are an artist, art lover, gallery owner, or creative soul anywhere in Central Florida, I would love for you to keep reading because this community might be exactly what you have been looking for too.
A little about GFAA
The Gainesville Fine Arts Association has been supporting visual artists in North Central Florida. They run the beautiful GFAA Gallery at 1314 S Main Street in Gainesville, Florida, host juried shows, community murals, and so much more. They are a 501(c)3 nonprofit and their mission is simple and wonderful: art is for everyone.
I have been admiring what they do for a while now and becoming a member again just felt right. Gainesville is only about 40 minutes north of me in Ocala, which makes it so easy to stay connected and show up in person for events, gallery openings, and member meetings.
Why community matters so much to me as an artist
One of the best parts of being a working artist is the people you get to meet along the way. Other painters, makers, sculptors, and the gallery owners and curators in Florida who dedicate their careers to bringing art into people's lives. Those connections are everything. They inspire your work, open doors you did not even know existed, and remind you that you are part of something much bigger than your own studio.
As someone based in Ocala, Florida, I am always looking for ways to stretch my creative community beyond my own backyard. And Central Florida has so much to offer! From the arts scene in Gainesville and Alachua County up north, to Orlando, Lake County, and Marion County closer to home, there are so many talented artists and passionate art supporters just waiting to connect.
GFAA is one of the best bridges I have found to make that happen.
What I am hoping to do with this membership
I am planning to get involved in exhibitions, participate in the artist events, and explore every opportunity GFAA offers for visual artists in Florida. I also want to use my platform here on the blog and over at artistnamedbritt.com to shine a light on the incredible Central Florida art community and the people making it so vibrant.
If you are a painter, sculptor, or visual artist in the Ocala, Gainesville, Orlando, or greater Central Florida area, I would genuinely love to connect. Whether you are already a GFAA member or just curious about the local art world, let's talk. Community is how we all grow.
Come find me and come find GFAA
The GFAA Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11am to 4pm and is always worth a visit if you find yourself in Gainesville. And if you are in Marion County or anywhere in Central Florida and want to say hello, you can find my work and my story at artistnamedbritt.com. I am always happy to connect with fellow artists, collectors, and anyone who loves the creative world as much as I do.
Here is to new memberships, new friendships, and all the good things that come from showing up for your community!
