Empowering Local Arts and Culture Leaders
Advocating for collaboration and growth in Nassau County arts.
Empowering Local Arts and Culture Leaders
Advocating for collaboration and growth in Nassau County arts.
Our Mission
The Arts Leaders Forum, is dedicated to advocating for the arts and culture nonprofit organizations in Nassau County, Florida. Our mission is to support and educate local art leaders to foster a vibrant community that values artistic expression and events.
THE ORGANIZATIONS
Amelia Community Theatre – ameliacommunitytheatre.org
Amelia Island Book Festival – Literacy | Amelia Island Book Festival | Florida
Amelia Island Jazz Festival – ameliaislandjazzfestival.com
Amelia Island Museum of History – ameliamuseum.org
Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival – ameliachambermusic.org
Amelia Musical Playhouse – ameliamusicalplayhouse.com
Friends of the Nassau County Library – fernandinafol.org
Island Art Association – islandart.org
West Nassau Historical Society – wnhsfl.org
Amelia Island Singers – ameliaislandsingers.com
Amelia Island Quilt Guild – ameliaquilters.org
Amelia Island Writers Assoc. – ameliaislandwriters.org
Amelia Island Dance Festival – ameliaislanddancefestival.org
Arts Alive Nassau – artsalivenassau.org
Amelia Island Opera – ameliaislandopera.org
Blue Fire Theatre – bluefiretheatre.org
Country Star Quilters – countrystarquilters.org
Story and Song Center for Arts and Culture – StoryandSongArts.org
Friends of Fort Clinch – fortclinch.org
Friends of American Beach – friendsofamericanbeach.org
Yulee Historic Council – https://www.facebook.com/groups
Pirates Club of Fernandina Beach – fernandinapirates.com
Northeast FL Fair – www.neflfair.org
Nassau Community Band – https://www.facebook.com/NassauCommunityBand/
West Nassau Arts Alliance- facebook.com/@wnaasocial
ABOUT THE ARTS LEADERS FORUM
Forum Members
Vision and Purpose
Vision and Purpose
We have been promoting the arts in our community for over 5 years. Our organization was founded by a group of passionate artists who wanted to make a difference in their community.
2.23.2026 meeting notes:
Vision and Purpose
Vision and Purpose
Vision and Purpose
Our purpose is to provide a forum for the arts and culture organization leaders to Connect the leaders; Confer with county and city leaders; and Collaborate among the organizations. We also provide a platform for artists to showcase their work and connect with other creatives in the community. We aim to promote diversity, creativity, and collaboration in the arts for all in Nassau County, FL
Our Events
Vision and Purpose
Our Events
We host a variety of events throughout the year, including art exhibitions, workshops, and performances. Our events are open to everyone and are a great way to get involved in the arts community.
MAKE MUSIC DAY 2026
JUNE 21. Amelia Island
See 2026 musicians at
www.makemusicday.org/nassaucounty
DIRECTOR'S UPDATE
Libraries- A Way of Life and Sanctuary for the next Generation
Well, here we are- considering the closing of libraries; just as I was thinking about seeing my grandkids who eagerly greet me and after a hug, hand me a book to read to them. I was imagining the slippery slope that we are on, and it started this year with the idea that we, as enlightened adults and elected officials, would consider a ban on books, and worse, closing libraries. Yep, can’t blame them with all that misinformation and bad influence books provide, and all that waste of taxpayers’ money on a 250-year-old institution that apparently no one wants or needs anymore. Right.
We want our kids and their kids to be able to figure out who they are, where they come from, what is right and wrong and how to lead a happy and productive life. Just like we did. Oh, but wait, we read books and went to libraries. All that life experience published and saved in books in a library. You can see our culture is going off the cliff when the commercials on TV want you to play mindless digital games on your phone all day just to get rewards. This only leads to phones getting smarter than people. And now there is AI coming our way.
Listen, let’s not pile on digital games, or blame budgets, a generations’ vision, or the internet or the cell phone. Think about what we stand to lose, our kids could lose, and the next generations will lose. Giving up on libraries- the repository of thought, history, reason, research and a place to get away from the daily chaos and constant noise of life just to manage a budget? Really?
Some things can’t be justified when there are other options that preserve critical institutions and needs that residents expect in their community. The assumption that residents only want to continue cutting taxes even to the detriment of their own needs and wants, seems somehow misguided. If a budget is considered over the course of a year but not shared with those that are affected by it until the night of the final budget vote, is just nonsense. There is a balance to protect the state, and to protect the quality of residents’ lives. That’s what we have our elected officials for. We trust them to deliver for us the things that matter to us, not necessarily what government or elected officials think we want or can afford to get.
Having the opportunity and pleasure of reading in a serene, calm and quiet environment; encouraging the collecting of favorite books, “…the joy of slow reading and even theft- as in stealing back your time, your life; written in sometime obsolete vocabulary that reads like music to the ears. The pleasures awaiting the reader are heady, immense, and radical. A kind of synesthesia that happens during reading or in libraries, a pervasive closed-in whiff of winter and old paper with notes of clove and saddle leather and woodsmoke” *
Experiencing something from an older era, a different country, an idea that you may never have considered…that’s a gift we humans should all protect and guard for the next generation as it was provided to us. Protecting our stories, history, thoughts, research, discoveries, opportunities, even crimes, are there to be discovered and explored by our next generation. We all benefit from books and not just the books someone says should be available. We need libraries that hold, protect and share all books for us all. We don’t know what we don’t know. However, reading gets you there. Since early man and the cave writings, humans struggle to understand why we are here, where we came from and what’s next- it’s all there, the answers saved from over the centuries for free in our libraries. Some of us may have had parents that didn’t foster reading, respected books or learning; sorry for that, but you- for now- have the library and the unlimited amount of information, and encouragement in printed words to move you along and help you understand who we are and could be. Think of the next generation without grandparents or parents reading to them, or giving them books, or taking them to the library. We all remember the slogan- “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”. Stand up for the next generation and our libraries, the sanctuary of knowledge and thought.
*The New York Review of Books Nov. 16, 2026-A book review of Riverwork, by Lisa Robertson.
Richard A. Restiano, Sr.- richard@neflartsleadersforum.com
Arts and Culture Advocate, Nassau County.
Reviews
What Arts & Community Leaders are saying-
Under the leadership of Richard at NCAC, this group deserves all the support that our area's government and private groups can give them. They do indeed make a difference.
- John Hendricks, President, West Nassau Historical Society.
I am writing to endorse Richard Restiano. I have had the privilege of collaborating closely with Richard and observed his unwavering commitment to enhancing the arts and culture landscape of our county.
- Kim Rust, Director, Arts Alive Nassau.
On behalf of the Yulee Historic Council, I would like to express our appreciation for the work and mission of Richard Restiano and NCAC. Through his efforts key people around the county have now been introduced to our project- a living museum depicting life in early Nassau County. His efforts in introducing me to key leaders has been a great start. We are thankful for Richard and The arts council in Nassau.
- Angie McClellan, President, Yulee Historic Council.
One of the most promising and influential events in which I have participated has been the bi-annual Arts Leaders Forum, organized by Richard Restiano. Joining over 25 different arts organizations and their leaders, the commitment and engagement of individuals and their group goals were both powerful and enlightening. I highly support the efforts of Mr. Restiano in his goals and efforts for the arts.
- Ann Freemen, Board Member, Friends of the Library
Richard, you came along and breathed new life in the arts council and it has been my pleasure to participate in the Arts Leaders Forum which you established. It brings together the growing number of organizations together to exchange ideas and foster collaborative events and agendas. I thank you for your leadership.
- Marla J. McDaniel, Amelia Island Writers Festival.
Richard, your work to improve the appreciation, accessibility, and cultural opportunities for the arts makes our community a more vibrant place to live.
- Aaron Bean, Member of Congress
THANK YOU ALL. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS AND CONTINUE TO GROW THEM COUNTY-WIDE. RR.
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