PANAMA CITY — Bay Arts Alliance Executive Director Jayson Kretzer’s involvement in the Bay County arts and education community is not going unnoticed throughout the state.
The Florida Arts Education Association recently named Kretzer a winner of its statewide Corporate/Institution/Community Service Award.
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Kretzer was recognized for his contribution to promoting the arts and education as an essential aspect of the community. He received his nomination from the Bay County Art Teachers Association, which partners with the Bay Arts Alliance to bring the Best of Bay County School and Paul Brent Endangered Species art exhibits to the Center for the Arts each year.
Generally, Bay Arts officials collaborate with businesses and individuals to spread the arts and education aspect within the community.
“In addition to our art shows and classes that take place at the Center for the Arts, there are many more projects that (Bay Arts) does throughout the community,” Kretzer said. “We typically bring educational components to our local programs and events because our goal is to promote the arts as essential within the community.”
Kretzer joined Bay Arts in 2016, serving as interim board member, president and director before being elected chief executive officer in October 2019. Beginning his tenure a year after Hurricane Michael, Kretzer faced difficult times relaunching the art scene in Bay County.
Despite this, he said the outpouring of community support is what got the art scene to where it is today.
“Of course, I’m very honored to receive this award, but this is really for all the people who have supported (Bay Arts) along the way,” Kretzer said. “I share this award with my community because it takes a town for a community to recover from such a difficult time, and we wouldn’t have been able to get this far without everyone’s help.”
While celebrating the honor, Kretzer said Bay Arts’ future plan is to continue to grow the arts education scene in the community.
“We plan to continue building these relationships because the way we grow and improve is through collaborations and having the community work together for a common goal,” he said. “And for me, that goal is to raise the quality of life in our community.”
FAEA is a membership association dedicated to providing visual arts educators in Florida with the knowledge, skills, and support to ensure students receive the highest quality instruction. The awards recognize individuals who have achieved the highest level of professionalism in arts education and show appreciation for individuals or organizations that have contributed their services to the association and share professional goals.
“It is a pleasure to share in the celebration of those who have achieved the highest level of professionalism in arts education,” said FAEA President Nancy Puri. “We (FAEA) appreciate and embrace these individuals and organizations for their dedication and commitment to arts education in Florida.”
FAEA will honor this year’s winners at an awards breakfast during its 70th Annual Professional Development Conference on October 15 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando. Keynote speakers will be Marilyn G. Stewart, artist and author for Davis Publications, and Amy Gross, fiber and mixed media artist.
