This project is about cultivating and launching the careers of new artists. The arts industry is so difficult to break into unless you are an outstanding star, an artist may have to work at an entry level job or something outside their field to survive while working at their art part-time in cramped conditions, lacking the necessary materials to practice their art. Some artists take years to hone their particular talents and this center gives them that opportunity.
The inspiration for this project came from the Lincoln Road art community located in Miami, Florida. Fort Lauderdale has it's art community located on the east side, near the downtown business center. The LarkArt Visual Arts Center will be located 25 miles west of Fort Lauderdale in a town called Davie. Davie has about 60,000 residents spread out over approximately 30 square miles, where horses are ridden along the streets and canal banks and most of the buildings have a western theme or facade, even down to the McDonald's and a bucking bronco on the First Union Bank.
SFEC: South Florida Education Center is within the Town of Davie and encompasses several higher education institutions including Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Broward Community College, Nova Southeastern University, and the University of Florida. Some of these institutions have art programs and are expanding every year to include more Baccalaureate and Master's programs. The problem is there is no large exhibition space for artists to show their artwork on a regular basis. LarkArt Visual Arts Center will be the emerging artist's showplace.