In the Media

Congratulations to Renee Favo, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Art of Giving Award! Renee and her husband Mike have supported arts and culture in six states over the past 38 years, including Jacksonville, Florida for the past 19. She is a former board member of the Jacksonville Dance Theatre, past Director of Music at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Jacksonville Beach, and current board member of the GFWC Jacksonville Beaches Woman’s Club, also working with the Community Giving Committee. She served on the 2025 ExZOOberation Steering Committee and is a cantor and choir member at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Jacksonville. Renee’s parents set a wonderful example of giving, and she is proud to see her own adult children continuing that legacy.

Join us in celebrating Renee and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

Renee’s photo credit: Claire Favo

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Congratulations to Renee Favo, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Art of Giving Award! Renee and her husband Mike have supported arts and culture in six states over the past 38 years, including Jacksonville, Florida for the past 19. She is a former board member of the Jacksonville Dance Theatre, past Director of Music at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Jacksonville Beach, and current board member of the GFWC Jacksonville Beaches Woman’s Club, also working with the Community Giving Committee. She served on the 2025 ExZOOberation Steering Committee and is a cantor and choir member at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Jacksonville. Renee’s parents set a wonderful example of giving, and she is proud to see her own adult children continuing that legacy.

Join us in celebrating Renee and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

Renee’s photo credit: Claire Favo

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Congratulations to @leadershipjax, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Corporate Business of the Year! Leadership Jacksonville was formed in 1976 as a vehicle to stimulate the growth of leadership in our community. More than 4,900 participants have graduated from one of Leadership Jacksonville’s programs since their first class in 1977. Each class participates in an Arts and Culture Day focused on understanding the influence of arts and culture on economic development and in leadership. Participants engage with artists and speakers at various cultural institutions throughout the day.

Join us in celebrating Leadership Jacksonville and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

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Congratulations to @leadershipjax, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Corporate Business of the Year! Leadership Jacksonville was formed in 1976 as a vehicle to stimulate the growth of leadership in our community. More than 4,900 participants have graduated from one of Leadership Jacksonville’s programs since their first class in 1977. Each class participates in an Arts and Culture Day focused on understanding the influence of arts and culture on economic development and in leadership. Participants engage with artists and speakers at various cultural institutions throughout the day.

Join us in celebrating Leadership Jacksonville and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

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Congratulations to @bluejayjax, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Small Business of the Year! Blue Jay Listening Room is a beautifully sacred, intimate music venue with a carefully curated environment allowing guests the space to listen and share an experience they`ll never forget. Blue Jay Listening Room encourages community and togetherness through the gift of live music.

Join us in celebrating Blue Jay Listening Room and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

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Congratulations to @bluejayjax, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Small Business of the Year! Blue Jay Listening Room is a beautifully sacred, intimate music venue with a carefully curated environment allowing guests the space to listen and share an experience they'll never forget. Blue Jay Listening Room encourages community and togetherness through the gift of live music.

Join us in celebrating Blue Jay Listening Room and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

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Congratulations to John A. Lumpkin II, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Robert Arleigh White Award for Advocacy! John is a distinguished producer, educator, mentor, and artist. He holds a Bachelor`s degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida, a Master`s from Florida State University, and has participated in the renowned Ravinia Steans Music Institute and the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program. John`s traveled internationally as an artist and educator, including with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Artist in Residency Program. Under the direction of Wynton Marsalis at the Dr. Phillips Fine Arts Center, John was a part of the Dr. Phillips Jazz Orchestra. Additionally, he was involved in Beyond Music, a platform co-founded by the late Tina Turner, which enables artists worldwide to create and record music collaboratively. John is the founder of the Jazz Discovery Series, The John Lumpkin Institute, and The Covenant, and is the Creative Instructor for the Jazz Combo at Jacksonville Arts and Music School (JAMS). He is deeply committed to his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, and is dedicated to fostering community engagement through music.

How has John’s work in the creative sector impacted you?

Join us in celebrating John and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

John’s photo credit: Rakimism

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Congratulations to John A. Lumpkin II, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Robert Arleigh White Award for Advocacy! John is a distinguished producer, educator, mentor, and artist. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida, a Master's from Florida State University, and has participated in the renowned Ravinia Steans Music Institute and the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program. John's traveled internationally as an artist and educator, including with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Artist in Residency Program. Under the direction of Wynton Marsalis at the Dr. Phillips Fine Arts Center, John was a part of the Dr. Phillips Jazz Orchestra. Additionally, he was involved in Beyond Music, a platform co-founded by the late Tina Turner, which enables artists worldwide to create and record music collaboratively. John is the founder of the Jazz Discovery Series, The John Lumpkin Institute, and The Covenant, and is the Creative Instructor for the Jazz Combo at Jacksonville Arts and Music School (JAMS). He is deeply committed to his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, and is dedicated to fostering community engagement through music.

How has John’s work in the creative sector impacted you?

Join us in celebrating John and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

John’s photo credit: Rakimism

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Congratulations to Don Zentz, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Art Educator Award! With a career spanning more than 40 years, Don has made an extraordinary impact through music education, teaching and leading bands at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. Throughout his career, Don impacted an estimated 13,000 students through band instruction and music courses. Under his leadership for the past 10 years, the jazz program at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts gained a remarkable amount of national acclaim. An honor graduate of Valdosta State University, he has received national awards including John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year, National Jazz Festival Jazz Educator Award, and DownBeat’s Jazz Education Achievement Award. Don was inducted into the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame in 2022 and selected to the Board of Directors of The Midwest Clinic two years ago.

How has Don’s work in the creative sector impacted you?

Read more about Don, and join us in celebrating him and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

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Congratulations to Don Zentz, winner of the 2025 Arts Awards Art Educator Award! With a career spanning more than 40 years, Don has made an extraordinary impact through music education, teaching and leading bands at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. Throughout his career, Don impacted an estimated 13,000 students through band instruction and music courses. Under his leadership for the past 10 years, the jazz program at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts gained a remarkable amount of national acclaim. An honor graduate of Valdosta State University, he has received national awards including John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year, National Jazz Festival Jazz Educator Award, and DownBeat’s Jazz Education Achievement Award. Don was inducted into the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame in 2022 and selected to the Board of Directors of The Midwest Clinic two years ago.

How has Don’s work in the creative sector impacted you?

Read more about Don, and join us in celebrating him and all of the winners at the 48th Annual Arts Awards on September 5: culturalcouncil.org/artsawards

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Leadership change at Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville

Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and Jacksonville Jaguars Announce Artists Selected for Miller Electric Center

Donna Deegan’s priorities; arts awards winners; Jags’ training camp

Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville divides $35,000 in grants to six cultural organizations

Dedication ceremony celebrates the completion of public art at Jacksonville University gates

The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville is sponsored in part by the City of Jacksonville and by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida.

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