Visual Volusia: Why Art Matters Here

Nathan Lambrecht

The stunning region may be best known for its world-class beaches, but the art scene in Daytona Beach and Volusia County is just as eye-catching and brilliant. A valuable component of its workforce and economy, the region’s creative talent brings imagination and innovation to their jobs. 

It’s no wonder educators are introducing mediums, like studio art, to patrons at early ages.

From museums to galleries – including the Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens (OMAM), the Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS), The Hub on Canal, the Museum of Art – DeLand and ArtHaus – here’s how the region is supporting arts programming. 

Introduction to Studio Art 

First things first: What is studio art? While it encompasses many styles and techniques, broadly speaking, studio art is defined as art that’s created within a studio environment. This can include painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics and photography. And while there are multiple ways to practice studio art, there are just as many ways to use it for the community. 

Tabitha Schmidt, executive director of MOAS, says it’s the museum’s multidisciplinary melding that’s so vital for patrons. “We have a little bit of everything,” Schmidt says. “Programmatically, we do a summer learning institute for kids, and we combine science |and history. We offer studio (art opportunities), but we also host gallery tours and planetarium shows.” 

Schmidt points out that the utility of art for people preparing to enter the workforce is also remarkable. 

“There’s a whole visual language in the arts and studio,” Schmidt says. “It taps into a creative space in your brain. Whether they’re studying math or something else, a lot of times with young students, you’ll see art projects involved, because they can learn fine and gross motor skills. They can learn to connect dots, they can learn to think outside the box. They can critically think about how to solve a problem.” 

The Hub’s Hands-On Approach 

The Hub on Canal is a nonprofit art gallery that recently bolstered its studio arts offerings, thanks to the acquisition of Jane’s Art Center, a ceramics studio, which was donated to The Hub in 2023. 

Executive Director Richard England says the ceramics studio and focused art gallery has increased the scope of what The Hub does by 35% to 40% and added a significant classes and workshops component, which already included all-ages workshops and classes in arts, dance and language. 

While England notes the region tends to attract retirees, The Hub is actively working to expand its youth offerings because “exposure to the arts and culture helps round students out and gives them perspective.” 

In addition to its youth-oriented summer camps and classes, it offers several outreach programs. The newest, “Hub on the Run,” was launched in 2023 and brought hands-on arts programming to roughly 2,200 elementary school students in its first year. 

OMAM’s Community of Creatives 

The Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens is uniquely remarkable. Executive Director Stephanie Mason-Teague notes that, while the nonprofit’s focus includes veterans, it also works to bring the arts to youth. 

“Our goal is to really inspire all of our community with art and nature, support our veterans, and be a creative opportunity for everyone,” Mason-Teague says. “For kids, that includes summer camp for ages 6 to 12. We also do a program called SOFA (School’s Out for Art), which is where we offer arts workshops to students on certain days when school is closed. We also offer things like free Family Art Nights.” 

In 2024, OMAM plans to offer classes to the littlest learners. “We’re going to be working with the early learning coalition and offering classes for 3- to 5-year-olds,” Mason-Teague says. “We’ll be specifically looking at how we can use the Florida standard and literacy and combine that with art.” 

Along with helping kids grow up to be more innovative and think more imaginatively, art exposure is beneficial for other reasons. 

“Art can help to bring generations together, whether they be families or veterans or just members of our community that maybe would not otherwise have an opportunity to interact together,” Mason-Teague says. 

More Unique Offerings

There’s much more to the arts scene in Daytona Beach and Volusia County. Here is just a sample of unique opportunities available to emerging performing artists. 

DBSS YES! Program: The Daytona Beach Symphony Society began a YES! (Youth Experiencing Symphony) program in 1995, which brings free classical music performances to students enrolled in Volusia County Schools, private schools and home-schoolers. During the nearly 30-year initiative, DBSS has presented six to seven performances for students at the Peabody Auditorium during each school year. Students then participate in a question-and-answer session with the performers. Since its inception, the YES! Program has introduced over 60,000 area students to classical music. 

Peabody Auditorium Foundation’s Young Audience Series: Peabody Auditorium schedules many plays, concerts and shows throughout the year, and the Daytona Beach attraction also runs a foundation that teaches students about all aspects of the performing arts. The Youth + Art = Success! program allows students to attend cultural performances and earn scholarship opportunities, while a Young Audience Series also brings plays to schools so that kids can gain a full appreciation of the arts. The Young Audience Series staged plays such as “Charlotte’s Web” and “Ada Twist: Scientist & Friends” during the 2023-2024 school year. 

Athens Theatre: The performing arts are celebrated all year long at Athens Theatre, where the 2024 lineup of plays includes “The Rocket Man,” “Frozen JR,” “Forever Abba,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Liverpool Legends: The Complete Beatles Experience.” The theater in DeLand also hosts a Youth Academy where area students of all ages can learn about acting, as well as self-confidence, public speaking and teamwork.