This award, named after one of the original founders of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, honors an individual dedicated to ensuring that arts and culture are woven into the fabric of everyday life in the community.
Jason Peoples is the Executive Director of the Jacksonville Arts & Music School, a Creative Youth Development Program leveraging arts education and social-emotional learning to empower future creative leaders, Jason brings a wealth of experience from his nearly decade-long service in the United States Army during critical campaigns like the Global War on Terrorism, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. With a deep understanding of the significance of effective leadership in challenging situations and a recognition of the positive impact of arts on nurturing innovative thinking, Jason has been recognized for his work, featuring in various media outlets in Jacksonville and participating in notable events like VOID Magazine’s 35 Under 35 (2018), TEDx Jacksonville’s “Kids at Play” forum, and Cultural Fusion Jax as a guest panelist and speaker. Alongside his wife, Tori Peoples, and their three daughters, Jayah, Lyric, and Trinity, Jason remains dedicated to advocating for positive youth development. His educational background includes studies in Business Administration at the University of Phoenix, Nonprofit Management and Executive Nonprofit Leadership at Duke University, and Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking and Psychology at the University of Georgia. He is known for his ability to think creatively and analytically, to think with, as he calls it, “B.I.G.”—Bold Innovative Goals in mind.
PNC is one of the largest banks in the country, with national capabilities delivered by a local team. As members of this community, they’re deeply invested in its success, making meaningful contributions of time and resources each year to support local philanthropic initiatives, from early learning to the arts. PNC understands the transformative power of art and believes that exposure to the arts can enrich lives and help us build stronger, more vibrant communities. Nationally, the PNC Foundation has awarded nearly $20 million in grants to visual and performing arts organizations through its Arts Alive initiative since 2009. Locally, PNC contributed more than $250,000 to North Florida arts organizations in 2023 alone, including support of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, as well as the Cathedral Arts Project, Jacksonville Children’s Chorus, Jacksonville Symphony, Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, and more.
Taryn “LoveReigns” Wharwood is a multifaceted creative force, renowned for her roles as a poet, writer, author, emcee, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and curator. Affectionately known as Love, she has become a catalyst for empowering performers, artists, and entertainers within her community. Currently serving as the Program Director for The Performers Academy of Jacksonville, Love’s mark on Jacksonville’s artistic landscape is undeniable, standing as the founder of Artis(Tree) Live, The Closet Jax, and as the Co-Founder of The Cypher Open Mic Poetry & Soul—an event that boasts the title of the longest-running open mic in Jacksonville’s history, as well as recently having served on the Mayor’s transition team for Arts, Culture & Entertainment.
The Walrus is a music venue, vegan restaurant, and bar in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Jacksonville, FL, owned by Alexander Eli Michael. The Walrus acts as a community hub and solidarity space for the Jacksonville community. The Walrus, an exciting music and performance venue, also holds space for local art and culture organizations such as JASMYN, JCAC, Girls Rock, Food Not Bombs, Florida Access Network, and more. The Walrus hosts a yearly pride festival, Duval County Queer Pride, in addition to year round weekly LGBTQ events. The Walrus creates a transparent artist-first ticketing model where artists/event producers make 70% of ticket sales. The Walrus also creates opportunities for local artisans to sell their goods and merchandise. The Walrus’ owner Alexander Eli Michael is a nearly 20 year veteran of the Jacksonville live music community, leading The Walrus as an establishment with professional sound and ethics.
David Luckin joined WJCT as a development producer in 2000, bringing with him 19 years’ experience as a Jacksonville news photographer and a lifelong passion for music. The New York native hosted his first local music program at Gainesville’s NPR affiliate while earning his degree at the University of Florida.
Shortly after joining WJCT, his drive to deejay resurfaced, and he conceived and developed “NightFlight,” a weekly one-hour program that showcased the laid-back sounds of “downtempo” and “chillout.” Luckin’s program immediately developed an audience of loyal listeners. Within three years, he was on the air two hours a night, five nights a week with “Electro Lounge,” a popular program of “music without walls” that attracts listeners around the world. Married with two children, Luckin also enjoys films, vintage cars and the beach.
Amanda Holloway grew up in Jacksonville, went to FCCJ on a talent grant where she also worked in the art gallery for a few years before moving to Philadelphia. There, she received her first Bachelors degree in Photography while also working at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the permanent collections photography department. Ms. Holloway moved to Montana and worked for Americorps in the western Rocky Mountains (taking millions of photographs) before returning to college at the University of Montana this time for her post bac degree in Art Education. After 6 more years out west, Ms. Holloway returned to Florida where she has been teaching art for over ten years now in Duval County. Amanda Holloway still creates artwork of her own and exhibits as often as she is able. She loves her students beyond compare and is so very passionate about teaching them the positive benefits that art has in the world. She instills in them a love for the arts that they will carry throughout their entire lifetimes, and it is contagious.
Carol Grimes is a dedicated member of the Board of Directors for Lumen Repertory Theatre and a founding board member of the former Phase 8 Theatre. A passionate advocate for the fair compensation of theatre artist, Carol has dedicated her post-retirement volunteerism to supporting the arts. She is also the co-author of Chosen by Jane, a book celebrating the life and achievements of her close friend Jane Condon, the renowned principal of Jacksonville’s premier arts magnet schools, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
John Silveira joined Riverside Avondale Preservation after spending 23 years operating Certified Farmers’ Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a Navy veteran, John brought the skills of an air traffic controller combined with a Farmers Market professional. Both skills are necessary to convert a parking lot into a vibrant market for hundreds of vendors and thousands of guests each weekend. He has been the Riverside Arts Market manager and director for the last 8 years where he has grown this incredible event into a thriving cultural hub for the community, inviting thousands of residents and tourists alike each week. John himself has been a personal champion for every artist, farmer, and maker that has been accepted as a RAM vendor, working with them directly to help them succeed as a business owner. While his work to curate the entire market creates an impact on northeast Florida at-large, his work with each vendor empowers them to be their most creative and successful individual.
