Do you have a thirst for the arts? If so, there’s no better destination in all of Florida than Martin County, home to eight perfect communities along Florida’s Atlantic Coast, including Stuart, named the 2016 Happiest Seaside Town by Coastal Living magazine. The county has a wealth of reasons why it’s one of the state’s most popular destinations for travelers looking for a quaint getaway, but one of the most obvious is the rich arts and culture. Bursting with annual cultural events and home to prestigious art galleries and theaters, Martin County is a hidden gem for the highbrow arts enthusiast. Here are the top reasons Martin County is Florida’s best arts destination.
Local Events
Martin County is home to a number of annual events throughout the calendar year that celebrate the local arts. Events like the Jensen Beach Fine Art & Craft Show (January) and Hobe Sound Festival of the Arts (February) invite art lovers to browse through clusters of vendors showcasing their best art pieces for sale. The planners of the art shows carefully select only the top artists to participate so visitors will see the best artwork in the region.
Additional art festivals that take place in Martin County include ArtsFest, which brings up to 15,000 attendees to downtown Stuart early each year for the outdoor juried art fair with live entertainment and fun children’s activities, as well as the Annual Downtown Stuart Craft Festival, featuring more than 100 crafters selling their work every fall.
For a more personal experience, attend the Martin County Open Studio Tour in January, where more than 20 private art studios open their doors to the public. Visitors are welcome to visit any of the private tours for two days to meet the artists, admire the art pieces hung around the studio and watch them work in their element. Visitors can ask the artists questions about their methods and inspiration to learn the story behind every piece.
Food is another art form, and guests can dive into the culinary arts scene at Port Salerno Seafood Festival. Expect to taste tons of tasty seafood recipes using crab, fish and caught fresh off the coast in Martin County. Live music plays while guests visit art vendors showcasing their works at the event. Finally, readers and wordsmiths alike will find BookMania! to be right up their alley. The annual book festival takes place in Stuart, and guests will be invited to celebrate their love of books while meeting some well-known authors.
Art Galleries
Even if there isn’t an event going on in Martin County, there’s still plenty to explore at any of the 20 galleries located throughout the county. Among the galleries is The Fish House Art Center and Gallery in the Village of Port Salerno (located five miles from Stuart). The studio is impressively large at 3,000 square feet and houses works by resident artists. The exhibit space breaks up into several studios for resident artists to work year-round, and visitors can browse through the latest creations. Types of art pieces visitors will find range from paintings to ceramic artworks to jewelry.
If you’re in Stuart, stop by Court House Cultural Center & Gallery, located in a gorgeous art deco building built in 1937. Step inside and you’ll be immediately transfixed by the contemporary art pieces hanging throughout the white space. Smaller galleries can be found throughout downtown districts in Martin County like Geoffrey C. Smith Galleries (famous for his 18 foot monument situated in downtown Stuart that serves as the iconic symbol of the city), Mimi McCallum Studio & Gallery in Sewall’s Point, and Rare Earth Gallery (eco-conscious art) in Stuart.
Performing Arts
Watch art come alive on stage at Lyric Theatre in downtown Stuart. The theater is recognized for its art deco exterior built in the 1920s. Originally designed to be a silent movie house, the Lyric Theatre hosts fun, original musicals and tribute concerts for big-name rock bands like Queen, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Celebrity guest appearances often headline shows at Lyric Theatre (think Lily Tomlin and Renee Fleming, for example). The Barn in Stuart is another fantastic destination to get your theater fix. The theater is a smaller facility with 169 seats and is known for revivals of plays such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
Public Art
Throughout Martin County, you’ll notice various public art installations, including “Shell Games” in Hobe Sound, “Stained Glass” in Indiantown, and “Artistic Gate” in Stuart. Murals are located in a number of places throughout Martin County as well, including at Sailfish Splash Waterpark and throughout downtown Stuart.
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The legacy of old Florida is alive and well in Martin County, where arts and culture embody the natural beauty of original Florida. Dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and historical preservation are an integral part of the community, with dynamic arts and cultural events and festivals held year-round. Learn more about Martin County’s local arts and culture here, and start planning your trip now.