President's Message

Dear Art Enthusiasts,

Arthur Mitchell, African American Dancer, once stated, "We must carry the arts to the people, not wait for the people to come to the arts." As administrators holding the torch of arts advocacy, we often find ourselves caught in the dilemma of balancing between the buzz of "arts integration" while continuing to increase the artistic merit of arts-specific courses. Both causes are significant, yet serve a vastly different purpose. Neither focus should discount the cognitive, social, nor personal needs of the student - not to mention the artistic merit of arts-specific disciplines. As administrators, we must embrace both causes passionately.

Serving as a catalyst for promoting dialogue pertaining to the arts and developing a plethora of resources shared among members, the Florida Network will prove invaluable. The FNAA is open to any administrator that is passionately promoting the arts in their respective school, whether the school is traditional, private, charter, or arts-specific. The vision of the Executive Board is that every member becomes actively involved in promoting the arts through shared knowledge, experiences, and expertise. Simply put, art is not a spectator sport. Consequently, I encourage you to grasp the vision of the Florida Network through endorsing our association to your peers, as well as your own active involvement.

Together, we will achieve the mission and vision of FNAA and promote the advancement of the arts in Florida. Remember, Arts longa, vita brevis.

Sincerely,
Craig S. Collins, President
Florida Network of Arts Administrators