The Valentine Tour of Homes that just took place on February 13 doesn't happen just so we can all have a chance to visit some of south Walton's most gorgeous homes. It is also an important annual fundraiser for the Cultural Arts Association's Educational Giving Program, which provides crucial grants and scholarships to need-based elementary through high school students and Walton County teachers. This program was implemented many years ago by former CAA President Jack Abbit and the CAA Board of Directors. Since then, the CAA has given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to supplement public school arts programs and allow underserved and need-based students an opportunity to study outside of their classroom with professional artists.

I wanted to share with you all a letter that was written to the Cultural Arts Association last week by one of the teachers who recently received funding from the Educational Giving Program.

"Feb. 2010

Dear Cultural Arts Association,

I want to thank you again for awarding me the Fall grant. I asked for art supplies, and we have had a blast exploring with them all. The picture frames are hanging on the wall displaying the children's beautiful art work. The children love using the stamps and ink pads, and they are learning their numbers and shapes also while doing this. This is an easy way to have fun and learn at the same time. Every time my class sees a big box come in the room, they...

Okay, I might be a bit partial to him because we share a last name, but if by some chance you don't know about Jeffrey Steele already, you are sure to be impressed by his incredible bio and most certainly by his songwriting, vocals and guitar skills when you HEAR him at the 30A Songwriters Festival next month.

Jeffrey has been called "the king of country music," "the James Brown of country music," "the Cole Porter of country music" and " the hardest working man in country music," and is arguably the most successful songwriter in Nashville.

Jeffrey has over 80 top 10, 5, 2 and #1 songs combined, most recently in 2009 for Rascal Flatts' "Here," which was at #1 for two weeks!

Jeffrey has had over 500 songs cut in and eight-year period by over 100 artists with 95 singles released off more than 75 gold and platinum records with over 50 million records sold! His songs have enjoyed over 35,000,000 airplays on radio and television.

This is the list of Jeffrey's hits that have made some of these singers major country music stars:

“I Thought I Lost You” - Miley Cyrus/John Travolta (BOLT)
“Simple Song” - Miley Cyrus
“Somebody” - Billy Ray Cyrus
“What Hurts The Most” - Cascada (UK Artist)
“I Got You Country Right Here” - Gretchen Wilson
“Flyin’ By” - Billy Ray Cyrus
“My Whiskey Years” - Joe Nichols
“Love Won’t Let Me” - Jason Michael...

It appears that some of the gorgeous Monarch butterflies want to stick around for the great weather this weekend!

Or perhaps they want to stay for the CAA's Flutterby Festival that will take place in their honor both Saturday and Sunday in WaterColor's Marina Park, along with a fabulous Fall & Winter Market.

This event originated seventeen years ago as a fundraiser for Walton County children to receive scholarships for supplemental arts education. It also celebrates the migration of the Monarch through our region.

Kids can enjoy yoga, puppet shows, storytelling, puppet making, butterfly garden tours, butterfly wing making, hula hoops, trail hikes, face painting, animal encounters, fun music and more while their parents shop in the cool artist market and partake of seasonal food and libations!

Flutterby is free and open to the public. Some activities require a small fee, though.

We will be featuring Sophia Blair, a 3rd grader at Butler Elementary School, whose yoga butterfly artwork was chosen as the 2010 Flutterby poster/t-shirt winner! Sophia will receive a $100 savings bond from Wachovia.

Two runners up will receive a $50 savings bond, and six students will also receive the same, along with the distinguished People's Choice Award.

All winners will be announced the Saturday of the Flutterby Festival.

T-shirts will be for sale for $15 and wings for $5....

On behalf of the CAA, Seaside Rep and Sinfonia, I'm extending a huge thanks to the many volunteers who worked so hard to make the Beaux Arts Ball & Artist Market happen!

Thanks also to Grand Boulevard and their amazing merchants - P.F. Chang's, Mitchell's Fish Market, Tommy Bahama's, Cantina Laredo and Emerald Coast Coffee for providing a beautiful venue and fabulous food.

Thanks to the artists who participated in the Artist Market on Saturday and donated their artwork for the cause.

And thanks to those who attended the Ball & Artist Market; your ongoing support is crucial to the health and longevity of the arts in Walton County, and we appreciate you!!!

BEAUX ARTS BALL & ARTIST MARKET

In Grand Boulevard this Friday night, September 25, the Beaux Arts Ball will be shaking for the first time since the mid 1990's when the CAA introduced it to Walton County. The following day, the Beaux Arts Artist Market will feature around 40 local artists who are helping to support the Ball by donating artwork to the Ball's silent auction while getting a chance to show and sell their original work to the public.

The Ball will not just support the Cultural Arts Association; proceeds will also benefit the Seaside Repertory Theatre and Sinfonia Gulf Coast, two wonderful and deserving non-profit organizations.

The CAA is proud to be able to work side by side with these two organizations, in addition to our gracious host Grand Boulevard, to produce an incredibly fun event for the community that supports the arts.

I think I can speak for all of the above entities when I say how important and crucial it is for all arts groups and organizations to support each other, not just in times of financial uncertainty, but even in the healthiest economic times.

The Beaux Arts Ball & Artist Market is an event that truly supports the economy in a collaborative and creative way, and all involved will be positively affected...The artists. The non-profit organizations. The guests. The merchants who are providing food. Our host, Grand Boulevard. The musicians being hired to play. The...