Grantee Feature: Art and Culture Center/Hollywood’s 2020 Summer Exhibit and Camp

The Art and Culture Center/Hollywood presents contemporary gallery exhibitions, live stage performances, and award-winning education programs in the visual and performing arts at three unique facilities in downtown Hollywood. The Center’s mission is to cultivate creativity and the support of the arts in our community through education, innovation and collaboration.

A special message from Art and Culture Center/Hollywood’s Executive Director, Joy Satterlee:

“As the Art & Culture Center/Hollywood continues to adapt to the ever-changing conditions and difficult times created by Covid-19, it’s been extremely challenging but we – staff and Board members – are gratified that we are able to serve our community by adapting our exhibitions and programs.

Time to Play Exhibition, Chris Bogia. (Photo credit Khami Auerbach)

On June 6, we opened our family-friendly summer exhibition Time to Play in our contemporary galleries, featuring works by eight national and South Florida artists. We adapted and revamped the exhibition to remove all the “high touch” and interactive components as well as implemented a series of safety protocols for visitors such as providing sanitation stations throughout the gallery, requiring all attendees to wear a face coverings and incorporating additional cleaning and sanitizing procedures by staff.

Time to Play Exhibition – Jen Clay (Photo credit Leo Sarmiento)

For this exhibition, our Curator Meaghan Kent created a series of stimulating art-making activities that are printed in the exhibit brochure for gallery and at-home play. Time to Play will remain on exhibit through Aug. 16.  We are pleased we are able to re-open our galleries at 50 percent capacity, although we miss the groups who usually visit during the summer.  

Art and Culture Center/Hollywood 2020 Summer Arts Camp

On June 15, we began our 2020 Summer Arts Camp for our Broadway Actors, Young Actors and Young Artists campers. We have greatly reduced our enrollment capacity to keep with CDC protocols (8 youth per camp). Additionally, we are requiring our campers, teachers and staff to wear face coverings plus maintaining strict and regular disinfecting of high-touch surfaces and shared equipment. We also take staff, teachers and campers temperatures daily and monitor symptoms.

Summer Arts Camp – Young Artists (Ages 6-12) – (Photo credit Khami Auerbach)

We have had very positive feedback from our camp families on all of the protocols we have implemented.  Due to a number of reasons, we cancelled our summer camp for ages to 4 to 5 years old. We also have adapted our Arts Aspire leadership development program so it, too, can take place this summer.

Summer Arts Camp – Young Actors (Ages 6-12) – (Photo credit Khami Auerbach)

In addition, we are eagerly waiting to hear how Broward County Schools will structure the 2020/2021 school day so we may create and implement curricular and after-school programs for children and youth.

Summer Arts Camp – Young Actors (Ages 6-12) – (Photo credit Khami Auerbach)

The 500-seat Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, which we manage, has been closed since March 17, and we are presently working with Broward County Schools to re-open this facility. Our current youth programs have been relocated and no other entities may rent/utilize our theater until we receive approval for individuals to be present at our theater. We have created re-opening guidelines and will be submitting these for the Broward County Administrator’s approval. We look forward to the theater reopening as quickly as possible — of course, in a safe manner.

The Art and Culture Center/Hollywood hosts a small virtual group lesson.

The re-opening of our programs and facilities, along with the return of staff to our administrative offices, has been a welcome change after being closed since March 16 for a total of 81 days. While schools and business were closed, we added online classes and virtual gallery tours to our website and social media platforms to serve and engage our constituents.  

We realize that many other arts organizations are not open to the public and are also being creative by virtually engaging audiences. We look forward to having our entire arts community return to doing the work that enriches the lives of residents and visitors throughout South Florida and our State.”


We would like to thank Joy Satterlee and Art and Culture Center/Hollywood for giving us an update on the Center’s recent activities, and for the important work they do for the arts in their community.

*Interested in being featured on Culture Builds Florida? Please fill out this form HERE
(Note: submission does not guarantee inclusion.)

Art Talk: Rainer Krenstetter, Principal dancer with Miami City Ballet

We sat down recently to chat with some of the Principal dancers at Miami City Ballet, and got an inside look into their world and activities with the company.

Rainer Krenstetter was born into a dance family in Vienna where he began his ballet training at the Ballet School of the Vienna State Opera. In 1999, he was accepted into the Royal Ballet School in London and continued his training there until 2000 when he became a corps de ballet member with the Vienna State Opera Ballet. In 2002, he joined the Staatsballett Berlin under the direction of Vladimir Malakhov and went through the ranks up to Principal dancer in 2013. He joined Miami City Ballet as a Principal dancer in November 2014.

Rainer Krenstetter

Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA): Why did you choose a career in the arts?

Rainer: My parents were dancers at the Vienna State Opera in Vienna, Austria, so I grew up in the theater and opera world. As a very young child, I loved going with my parents to spend time backstage — in the dressing room, in the make-up room, the costume department, being around everyone… I just fell in love with the atmosphere of the theater, of the opera.

That was my true passion — the atmosphere of the opera house… the smells, the dust, the different people. I thought, since my parents were dancers, that if I danced I could also be a part of the opera world. So, I danced.

Rainer Krenstetter performs Alexei Ratmansky’s Namouna at Staatsballet Berlin. © Bettina Stob

DCA: Have long have you lived and worked in Florida?

Rainer: I started in November 2014. I remember arriving to Florida the day before I started, on November 1. When I landed at the airport, I was wondering… “What is going on here?”…Halloween is not so celebrated where I am from. Upon arriving at the airport I saw all the flight crew, baggage claim attendants, everyone on Lincoln Road and Miami Beach in these costumes. I thought, what is happening here?? Why is there a carnival? So that was my introduction to Florida.

DCA: What was it that attracted you to the United States, and to join Miami City Ballet?

Rainer: I was dancing in Europe from 2000-2014 with Vienna State Opera Ballet and Staatsballett Berlin. During that time, I was performing all over the world but mostly danced classical ballets such as Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Giselle. As an artist, I believe it is important to experience and learn as much as possible. Part of the reason I moved to Florida was to gain new experiences.

Miami City Ballet dancers Tricia Albertson and Rainer Krenstetter performing “Emeralds” from George Balanchine’s Jewels. © Alexander Iziliaev

I have always been interested in the choreography of George Balanchine, but I did not get to dance as much Balanchine in Europe as I wanted to. In Berlin, when our artistic director would ask what works we wanted to perform at our gala, I would always ask to perform works by Balanchine such as Tarantalla, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, and Stars and Stripes.

When I found out that Lourdes Lopez, the artistic director of Miami City Ballet, was looking for a male principal dancer, I knew it was time to pack my bags and head to Florida, as I really wanted to learn more about the Balanchine style and have an opportunity to perform more of his works.

DCA: Tell us a little bit about your organization. What are you currently working on?

Rainer: While we wait until it is safe to perform on stage again in front of audiences, I am keeping busy with my classes, and I am doing a lot of teaching. I am also available for private lessons [contact Rainer via Instagram], and because we have time and the technology available, I can teach all over the world – even to Japan!

Rainer leads an intermediate “Move with MCB” class on Instagram (recording saved to Youtube)

DCA: In your opinion, what is the greatest contribution that your organization makes to you community?

Rainer: In every art form… ballet, visual art, theater, music… what we do is give inspiration to the community. At the venues we perform in throughout Miami, Broward, Palm Beach and Collier counties, I see our community’s reflection. We are open to the entire community in South Florida, not just for the people who can afford a $200 ticket, as we have accommodating ticket prices and opportunities for all audiences to enjoy our shows.

We are here for everyone, and that is what I love about Miami City Ballet. We are dancing for our community, and we see that reflection at our shows. It is very different from what I have experienced anywhere else.

Rainer Krenstetter performs Alexei Ratmansky’s Namouna at Staatsballet Berlin. © Bettina Stob

DCA: What do you think of when you hear “Culture Builds Florida”? Why are the arts and culture important to our state?

Rainer: Well, Florida is famous for beaches, parties, Disney World, Harry Potter World… so there is this image of what Florida is. Right now, it is so important to show the other sides to Florida culture. I’m very happy that with the theaters we have in South Florida, these amazing arts centers that we get to perform in and where people and families can experience dance, theater, and opera with amazing artists. This is so important, to bring the arts to the community so they can enjoy, learn and experience many different cultures.

This has been part one of a three-part Art Talk feature with Miami City Ballet’s Principal dancers. Tune in tomorrow at 8pm ET for another candid conversation!

If you are interested to take a class with Rainer, please contact him on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/rainerkrenstetter/

Art Talk: Stephanie Martino of Florida Film Institute

We sat down recently with Stephanie Martino of Florida Film Institute to discuss FFI’s upcoming (and redesigned for online) 2020 Summer Film Camp.

Stephanie is the Director of CINEMA, a program designed to empower aspiring young filmmakers and to prepare them for the film industry in Florida.

Stephanie Martino

Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA): Why did you choose a career in the arts?

Stephanie: As a young child, I was always fascinated with the arts and creative platforms. I have studied and worked in fashion, interior design and painting. All of those endeavors have led me to love and have a passion for filmmaking.

DCA: How long have you worked in Florida? 

Stephanie: I have lived and worked in South Florida since 1989.

DCA: What is the best part about your job? 

Stephanie: My job, teaching and working with budding young filmmakers, is very rewarding. I am proud that the Institute extends the knowledge and process behind filmmaking to eager young students who want to learn. Some of them actually choose film as a future career path as a direct result of participating in our CINEMA program. I also enjoy working in a team environment with my loyal and dedicated staff members.

DCA: Tell us a little bit about your organization. What are you currently working on? 

Stephanie: Well…due to the pandemic, our upcoming summer film camp will now take place virtually! Even though we cannot be together in person, we are moving forward online and celebrating the 10th anniversary of producing our award-winning summer film camp in partnership with The Coral Gables Art Cinema!

FFI’s Cinematographers in Education and Media Arts (CINEMA) program provides an enriching after-school experience for teens interested in pursuing filmmaking. This year, we are providing a virtual hands-on learning environment at our 2020 Summer Film Camp for interested high school students to learn about the art, business and science of filmmaking.

Camp attendees pose during the 2019 FFI Summer Film Camp at Coral Gables Art Cinema

The upcoming six-week, intense filmmaking camp will begin June 15, 2020 until July 24, 2020. The camp will meet via ZOOM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm. This camp is geared to high school students ages 13 to 18 who seek an opportunity to practice formal film production methods. Students will even be able to use their own devices to create projects, mainly their smartphones, which are becoming a dynamic tool used in filmmaking!

DCA: In your opinion, what is the greatest contribution that your organization makes to your community?

Stephanie: We are very proud of CINEMA, a multi-level learning platform, and how it provides local students with a creative and engaging outlet if they wish to focus on their artistic path now in high school, and to prepare for a possible future career in film.

“Next of Kin”, selected as best narrative film poster during the 2019/2020 school year

DCA: What do you think of when you hear “Culture Builds Florida”? Why are the arts and culture important to our state? 

Stephanie: Florida is not just about sunshine and beaches, although those are great things our state offers!

“Culture Builds Florida” is a great motto and resource for those that enjoy the arts, but personally I am grateful to the CBF blog for publishing content with their grantee organizations like Florida Film Institute, and helping to enhance our mission to educate young adults in our diverse communities about filmmaking and the opportunities it can provide.

DCA: Anything you would like to add?

Stephanie: Yes, thanks for asking — despite the ongoing pandemic, FFI has turned a negative into a positive. We responded by broadening our programming and recreating our cutting-edge, virtual CINEMA program. We are so excited to implement this platform for our 2020 summer film camp students and to give them an unforgettable experience!


The Division thanks Stephanie Martino and Florida Film Institute for their participation in this interview.
For more info about the upcoming 2020 Summer Film Camp, scholarship opportunities and to register, visit: https://flfilminstitute.org/programs-summer-film-camp/

Interested in having your organization featured on Culture Builds Florida? Click HERE to access the proposal form (Note: submission does not guarantee inclusion.)