[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Rutherford) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
celebrate the St. Augustine Art Association's 100th birthday.
  Founded on January 18, 1924, 100 years ago today, the St. Augustine 
Art Association has now become the 13th oldest continually operating 
art association here in the United States.
  The association plays an integral role in preserving and promoting 
the artistic heritage of St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest 
continuously inhabited European settlement in the continental United 
States and has been described as the epicenter of the local arts 
community.
  The St. Augustine Art Association Art Center is open year round and 
is free to the public, welcoming over 10,000 visitors annually. The 
gallery hosts exhibitions, concerts, workshops, classes, lectures, and 
artwork from more than a thousand different artists of all backgrounds.
  Thanks to the art center's involvement, these contemporary artists 
are able to keep St. Augustine's present day art colony alive and 
thriving.
  The St. Augustine Art Association also provides outreach programs 
that serve several groups within the community, including the blind, 
local public school students, elder groups, and community businesses. 
These groups are all given access to the association's user-friendly 
gallery there in the heart of St. Augustine.
  On behalf of Florida's Fifth Congressional District, I am proud to 
recognize the St. Augustine Art Association for its contributions to 
our community's local culture, history, and community. We wish them a 
happy 100th birthday.

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