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Don't Just Take A Vacation…Immerse Yourself In It!

Don't Just Take A Vacation…Immerse Yourself In It!

Experiences and knowledge are the new travel souvenirs, according to Palm Beach County's Cultural Concierge, who helps visitors plan their cultural itineraries in The Palm Beaches, Florida's Cultural Capital®.

"Immersive experiences—not trinkets—make the best vacation keepsakes," says Bama Lutes Deal, Ph.D., manager of the Cultural Concierge program at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.

"Tourists come to The Palm Beaches for its abundant cultural resources, something that sets this destination apart from other warm-weather beach getaways. Many visitors acquire new skills and knowledge while here, taking home vivid memories of those 'ah-ha!' moments, recalling breathtaking performances, creating a work of art in a master class, or exploring coral reefs with expert guidance. Visitors to The Palm Beaches gain know-how and share their adventures on social media by posting videos, images and stories about those once-in-a-lifetime experiences."

Palm Beach County's art studios, galleries and teaching facilities offer abundant opportunities for visitors to experience the arts in a more personal way. Glass-blowing classes, acting lessons, jewelry making and a poetry reading are available year round. This gorgeous, sun-soaked destination is bursting with creative activities of every kind and the Cultural Concierge service is your "insider access" to connect with our artists, photographers, writers and teachers in The Palm Beaches. The Cultural Concierge guides cultural tourists toward unforgettable adventures. "There is always something new for visitors to explore," says Deal.

If you'd like to collect unique experiences, knowledge, memories and, yes, bragging rights, from a one-of-a-kind vacation, this warm-weather beach getaway is for you. 

The Cultural Concierge will help you plan your immersive vacation to The Palm Beaches.  She provides a few examples of upcoming opportunities for participatory activities in this beautiful destination:

Perfect your photography skills at Palm Beach Photographic Centre
Want to brush up Adobe Photoshop skills, learn new ways to use your point-and-shoot or SLR digital camera, or experience professional instruction on the basics of photography?  Classes and field trips at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre in West Palm Beach range from Photography 101 to a five-day masterclass in digital printing Vincent Versace, a pioneer in the art and science of digital photography.

Learn glasswork and jewelry-making at Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts and Armory Arts Center
Learn the arts of glass blowing, glass fusing and jewelry-making, and create a souvenir like no other, with private lessons from a master glass artist at Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts in Lake Worth.  You'll engage in the magic of working with glass in a true, open-air glass blowing foundry in a spectacular setting.  The Center is in South Florida's only surviving historic Florida East Coast Railway depot, now converted into creative spaces and a beautiful gallery.

At Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, a historic armory converted into an arts space, you can fuse your own likeness into a Picasso-inspired work by designing a pattern, cutting and layering brilliant colors of glass, and firing your construction in a kiln.  As the molten soft glass fuses in the kiln, you have created a one-of-a-kind artwork.  Armory Art Center also offers workshops where you will create your own work and photo image transfer onto glass, jewelry forging and pottery.

Explore near-shore reefs, learn to kayak, and experience nature photography at MacArthur Beach State Park on Singer Island.
Learn about the fish and other inhabitants of Palm Beach County's near-shore reef and then snorkel in this spectacular setting.  Kayaking lessons, birdwatching and nature photography are also at your disposal in this water paradise.

Hone your language skills at the Multilingual Language and Cultural Society
For novices or experts, visitors who love languages can take home a priceless souvenir—French or Spanish language skills, plus meeting like-minded individuals, with "drop in" classes, series and private lessons at the Multilingual Language & Cultural Society in West Palm Beach.

Learn how to be a published author at the Writers' Colony at Old School Square.
The Writers' Colony at this historic schoolhouse—transformed into a multimedia arts space—in the center of downtown Delray Beach will prepare you to complete writing projects with the primary objective of getting published or self-publishing.  Fiction writing classes, critique groups, workshops and publishing seminars offer great opportunities for those interested in creative or memoir writing.  Also at Old School Square, the Creative Arts School offers 6-to-8-week classes in art, photography and digital imaging for all skill levels, from beginners to masters, along with studio time and live model sessions.  Its popular Canvas & Cocktails series lets you create an art piece in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying a nice glass of wine, a craft beer or a signature cocktail.

Talk to the Cultural Concierge and learn more.
To plan your own personalized cultural itinerary, and explore options curated just for you, connect with the Cultural Concierge at palmbeachculture.com/concierge

About the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, serving non-profit organizations, artists and arts districts. The Cultural Council administers $4.5 million in grants annually, supports arts and cultural education, provides capacity-building training and advocates for arts funding and arts-friendly policies in Palm Beach County, Florida's Cultural Capital®.  The Council promotes Palm Beach County's cultural experiences to visitors and residents through multi-platform marketing and public information programs, including its one-of-a-kind Cultural Concierge service.

The Cultural Council presents exhibitions featuring Palm Beach County artists and provides additional programming at its headquarters in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building, an iconic Streamline Moderne former movie theater in Downtown Lake Worth.   Also at the Cultural Council headquarters are the Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store featuring products by Palm Beach County artists and the Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center, a VISIT FLORIDA designated Florida Certified Tourism Information Center.

The Cultural Council galleries, visitor information center and store are open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.  For a complete calendar of cultural activities in The Palm Beaches, connect with the Council at palmbeachculture.com  or (561) 471-2901.   To learn about the benefits of individual, business, artist or musician membership to the Council please contact dcalabria@palmbeachculture.com.

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