Healthy West Orange Arts AND Heritage Center
FAQs
-What is the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland?
The Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland is a beautiful new community gathering space, set in the heart of historic Oakland along the West Orange Trail. The new Center provides space for art and heritage displays, along with a central location for health and wellness programs. The Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center is committed to preserving Oakland’s past, present and future. “Est. 1887” explores Oakland’s history as the industrial and social hub of Orange County more than 130 years ago. This exhibit, conceptualized in conjunction with the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, features framed historic photographs with descriptive text outlining Oakland’s early history, and was specifically pursued in grant funding from Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs. Additionally, there are outdoor spaces for rest and enjoyment, outdoor public restrooms, and there are plans for an outdoor concession area for snacks and beverages.
-What type of programming is offered by the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland?
Programming is focused around Oakland’s heritage, culture, fine art and photography, dance, as well as health/wellness initiatives such as health screenings, health education, nutrition classes, fitness and wellness. Oakland’s Jazz Night gatherings will be hosted at the Center.
-Hours / Entrance Fee
The Center is currently open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. There is no entrance fee.
-How can you get involved in the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland?
Volunteers are the core of Oakland’s community and can help the Center promote its mission. On-site duties include greeting visitors, answering questions, historical research and design, community outreach, folding brochures and collating mailings, data entry, and special projects and events.
To request an application, email arts&heritage@oaklandfl.gov.
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Gabrielle McGee
Cultural Arts and Heritage Program SpecialistGabby holds a master’s degree in Museum Studies, and most recently served as Exhibition Support Specialist at the Orange County Regional History Center, where her responsibilities included research and writing exhibition copy, exhibition design and fabrication, collections cataloging, and development and production of programming and events related to exhibitions. Prior, Gabby worked as a curatorial aide at U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and as a student, was a Bowley Scholar at the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, working with staff on exhibition design and maintenance, collections management, artifact research, and administrative activities. She comes to Oakland with an enthusiasm for small town culture, history, the arts, and furthering positive community engagement.