St. Johns County leaders have identified a West Augustine site, near the former location of Florida Memorial College, as a potential home for a Florida Museum of Black History. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Published on October 21, 2024 at 4:17 pm
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It will be years before a Florida Museum of Black History will open in St. Johns County, but tourism officials are recommending the county start generating interest.
The county’s Tourism Development Council on Monday recommended the county commit $50,000 to marketing and communication for the future museum. A state task force earlier this year selected St. Johns County as the site of the museum.
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The marketing money will require approval by the Board of County Commissioners. It would go to a forthcoming nonprofit organization composed of Howard Holley, a member of the state task force that selected St. Johns County as the museum’s home; Sarah Arnold, current chair of the County Commission; and Greg White, a local advocate for Black History and equity in St. Augustine.
Holley told the tourism council that it’s not to early to begin outreach — that it’s important to be proactive to keep the public and potential stakeholders interested.
“We’re going to need community support, and not just St. Augustine, St. Johns, but throughout this northeast region,” Holley said. “We asked for 100% funding of the state, but we certainly don’t anticipate receiving that. It’s filling that gap is what’s going to be critical for us.”
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Holley said that in addition to a $50,000 commitment this fiscal year, he hopes the county will consider future funding to potentially help offset costs state funding won’t cover.
The council’s approval was nearly unanimous, with yes votes from nearly every member except for Sarah Arnold, who was not present, and Regina Gayle Phillips, who recused herself from the vote.
Phillips, who operates the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, which focuses on Black history in St. Augustine. She did not want it to appear as though there were a conflict of interest.
