About
Mission: Good News Arts is a community arts space and gallery that collaborates with artists and community to provide contemporary arts and education that is affordable, accessible, and equitable.
Our small space is in High Springs, Florida.
With a focus on issue-based artistic practices, via curated exhibition and publication opportunities, Good News Arts will provide space for local, regional, and national artists artists to show challenging and engaging work tied to relevant contemporary issues. Artists will be chosen by the power of their practice and message, rather than the commercial viability of their work. Most importantly, we will not divest profits from the artists, instead we will enable artists to keep their sales, and provide honorariums and stipends when able.
Outside of curated exhibitions, Good News Arts will be an open space for community members to present work via additional exhibitions, musical performances, spoken word, events, and whatever else serves the community’s needs. Good News Arts will partner with local schools, libraries, nonprofits, and other community organizations to broaden their impact and serve our constituents as thoroughly as possible. Good News Arts will always seek to center equity and justice in our work as well as the community we are a part of.
Your donations will ensure that Good News Arts is able to keep the doors open and serve artists and community first.
Contact
goodnewsarts@goodnewsarts.com
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1593 High Springs, FL 32655
Hours
Wed. through Sat., 12-6pm
Or by appointment
Physical Location:
18555 High Springs Main Street, High Springs, FL 32643
Meet our Volunteer Staff and Board
Jessica Caldas - Director
Jessica Caldas is a Puerto Rican American, Florida and Georgia based, artist, advocate, and activist. Her work deals with connecting personal and community narratives to larger themes and social issues. Jessica works part time for the Atlanta, GA based nonprofit, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, and teaches at Georgia State University as an adjunct professor, and Chastain Arts Center as a drawing instructor.
In her advocacy work, Caldas has spent time lobbying for policy at the local level in Georgia and spent time with the YWCA Georgia Women's Policy Institute at the 2016 general assembly to assure the passage of the Rape Kit Bill and in 2016 to stop HB 51 in 2017, a bill that would have harmed the safety of sexual assault survivors on college campuses.
Caldas received her Masters of Fine Arts degree at Georgia State University in 2019 and received her BFA in printmaking from the University of Georgia in 2012.
Amy Richard - Board Secretary
Amy Richard is a visual artist, writer and educator. A native of Miami, Florida, Richard completed a BFA in painting from Lamar University (Beaumont, TX) and an MFA in Book Arts from the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) with a special focus on hand papermaking processes including its history, spiritual and healing aspects. Heavily influenced by the cycles of life, Richard's work is a response to the metaphysical energy exhibited in nature, particularly within the detritus or "relics" that remain after life is gone. Using the inner bark of specific plants, known as bast fibers, Richard attempts to capture nature’s vibrancy in her sculptures, prints, paintings and artist books.
Carol Richardson -
Carol Richardson is the Museum Coordinator of The A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center in Gainesville, Florida, a division of the City of Gainesville’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department. She is the Station Manager of WUBA 88.1 FM, an educational community radio station in High Springs, Florida. She currently serves on the Alachua County Arts Council, City of Alachua Recreation and Culture advisory board, WUFT’s Artistry in Motion review panel and the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs’ Media and Multidisciplinary review panels. Her primary area of focus is creative placemaking in historical and cultural institutions.
Elizabeth Ives - Board Treasurer
Elizabeth spent her career working in the non-profit and government sectors. She worked 10 years at the Arts Festival of Atlanta performing accounting duties, negotiating vendor contracts, and writing/managing grants. From there she worked with the Arthritis Foundation, Georgia Chapter and lastly service as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Human Resources for the Midtown Alliance and Midtown Community Improvement District in Atlanta, GA. During her retirement, Elizabeth worked part-time as the Deputy Clerk for Glen Arbor Township, MI. She currently lives in High Springs, FL.
Gerald Clum -
Bio coming soon.