St. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County is currently the number one ranked location by the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force, followed by Eatonville/Orange County, Sarasota, and Opa-locka.
The task force invited SJC to a special meeting in Tallahassee on April 19 to answer questions about its proposal and the top three sites will go to the state for final consideration.
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The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a motion to approve the draft and negotiation of a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Florida Memorial University to develop a campus-style museum of African American history, performing arts, cultural exhibits, and more.
“Let’s go get this and make it happen!” County Commission Chair Sara Arnold said.
Tera Meeks, Tourism and Cultural Development Director cited a cultural marketing review from 2020 that indicated SJC as a world-class African American heritage destination.
Meeks’ presentation to the BOCC referred to a feasibility study that provided a recommendation for a financially self-sustaining performing arts facility that included a 500-seat main theater with a 200-seat black box theatre along with supporting facilities and amenities.
“We plan to take charter buses to Tallahassee with our community partners to continue our collective pitch that St. Johns County is the premiere location for this museum,” Meeks said.
This would be part of the county’s plan to build the museum on the campus-style location.
Joy Andrews, County Administrator, emphasized the critical importance of location.
“There is not another locale within the state better poised for this museum. St. Johns County embodies Florida’s history at first sight. We possess the power to cultivate and uphold a Black History Museum here. Our community network is robust, our partnerships strong. It’s our duty to champion culture, to pay homage to history, ensuring this endeavor thrives now and for generations to come,” Andrews said.