Maya Angelou, “Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better.” That is exactly what founder of Strategic Marketing Resources, Inc., Marjorie Floyd believes especially when it comes to giving back to the community. Known for her work with Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Sarasota Ballet, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and others, Floyd is committed professionally and personally to supporting non-profits. Most recently, she was appointed to the Arts Advocates’ 2021-2022 advisory board for a second annual term.
Arts Advocates, formerly known as Fine Arts Society of Sarasota, celebrated 50 years and embarked on a transformation for the future. In addition to rebranding, the organization has reenergized, expanded membership, and increased their community impact during these challenging times. “I am honored and inspired to serve with motivated and capable leaders in the arts community,” Floyd said, “because the arts fuel our passions, are a major source of inspiration for all ages and are a significant economic driver in the region.”
Arts Advocates aims to be a leading umbrella arts organization in Sarasota county. There are many non-profit groups in Sarasota that support a single art form such as dance, theatre, music or opera, but Arts Advocates embraces all art forms, with the common purpose to inspire creativity, advance education, and connect the community to the arts. These goals are achieved by awarding annual scholarships to talented art students, making grants available to qualified art organizations, and inviting the public to attend programs such as the lecture series "Speaking of The Arts..." where nationally and internationally known artists are invited to address members of the community. To date the organization has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to local students, and nearly $150,000 in grants to local arts organizations, schools, and children’s programs.
The board has some significant objectives this year that will impact the future of Arts Advocates and the local arts scene. These objectives include analyzing the challenges confronting nonprofit organizations, sharing observations about the impact of the pandemic on the arts, speculating about how “the new normal” may take shape, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and developing creative ways to interact.
Arts Advocates Advisory board members for 2021-2022 are Todd Engelhardt, Cumberland Advisors; Marjorie Floyd, Strategic Marketing Resources; Pat Golemme, Sarasota Ballet board vice-president; Katherine Martucci, Selby Gardens board member and Children First president; Cheryl Mendelson, Van Wezel Foundation CEO; Mark Ormond, art historian and curator; Andy Sandberg, Hermitage Artist Retreat CEO; Ariel Serrano, Sarasota School of Cuban Ballet director; Jim Shirley, Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County director; Waddy Thompson, author and La Musica board member; Miriam Wallace, New College Division of Humanities chair; Dr. Christopher Wilson, Ringling College architecture and design historian; and Frank Martucci, investment advisor for the Hintzpeter Bequest.