This Good News Story written by Jamey Hitchcock is a Realize Bradenton production funded by the Knight Donor Advised Fund at the Manatee Community Foundation.

ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th Street West, Bradenton

Take a stroll along the waterfront at the Riverwalk and you’ll come upon this local art hub that features an eclectic array of art from a variety of artists, local, state and national alike. Going on 83 years of existence, the ArtCenter continues to involve the community by bringing in new exhibits and events monthly, including the American Watercolor Society International Exhibit. This exhibit is unique, because it only exists in six locations in the country and the ArtCenter is the only one which hosts it in Florida.

The ArtCenter has helped the community come together in many aspects.

“We have over 300 volunteers that help with all aspects of our happenings,” said Carla Nierman, Executive Director at ArtCenter Manatee. “Anyone can enter our open juried shows, anyone can take classes, and we have open houses that are free and allow guests to create and try new experiences.”

After you enjoy some art, you can learn to make it too. Classes are available to the public and with over 3,000 active students, the ArtCenter Manatee offers lessons to hone your skills in painting, pastels, pottery, photography and much more.

“We bring people together with art classes, events and exhibits that change out monthly,” said Nierman. “We also have an awesome gift shop of handcrafted items for the community to enjoy.”

This post is part of the Top 12 Reasons We Love This City series. Read more here.