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BIT OF JOY | 2025 Arts Awards winners

Published on June 24, 2025 at 11:02 am
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The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville just announced the winners of its 2025 Arts Awards. The awards honor Jacksonville’s creative leaders and innovators and the people who support the city’s arts and culture:  

  • Helen Lane Founders Award: Milt Russos, executive director of the FSCJ Artist Series
  • Corporate Business of the Year: Leadership Jacksonville
  • Robert Arleigh White Award for Advocacy: John A. Lumpkin II, musician and educator
  • Small Business of the Year: Blue Jay Listening Room 
  • Art Innovator: Brian Niece, founder and artistic director of Lumen Repertory Theatre
  • Art Educator: Don Zentz, former director of jazz studies at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
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  • Art of Giving: Renee Favo
  • Community Impact: Kemal Gasper, VP of community engagement at VyStar Credit Union

All of the winners will be honored on Sept. 5. The theme of this year’s ceremony and gala is Fire and Ice, and tickets are available for purchase

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author image Newsletter Writer email Heather Henderson is a writer, editor and artist who has lived in Jax for close to 20 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of North Florida.

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