WHO: Art in the Park, Northeast Florida’s only Chalk Drawing competition, returns for a fourth year to Jacksonville. This event is presented by YaYa Productions, Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park, and made possible through a generous grant from the PNC Foundation. Over the years, several illustrious artists joined the competition including Christopher Clark, Elena Ohlander, Roosevelt Watson III, Adrian Rhodes, Grace Bio, Marcus Williams, Jenn Veal, Maiye Elaine, and Tatiana Kitchen. Several talented students from Duval County Public Schools have also competed and produced amazing chalk art. This year’s artist line up will be announced in early March.
The festival was voted by Jacksonville Magazine readers as “Best Art Festival” in 2023.
WHAT: During the competition, artists of all ages will have up to six hours to create a work of art entirely from chalk. Visitors to the park will be able to watch the art happening right before their eyes, talk to the artists and vote on which ones they like best.
The theme for 2024 will be “Under the Sea.” Participants will be given chalk and other tools to create their sidewalk art. Once the time is up, esteemed judges in the art community will visit each piece and vote on their favorites. Combined with the public vote, there will be first, second and third place prizes in three categories: Main Artists, High School Student, and Middle School Student. Elementary School Students are also eligible to create artwork for participation prizes, and past Art in the Park winners will mentor them on their creations.
WHERE: James Weldon Johnson Park, 135 W Monroe St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
WHEN: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sat., March 30, 2024
For more information, contact Jihan White at JihanWhite@jwjpark.org or (904) 515-5098 ext. 3.
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ABOUT PNC FOUNDATION
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.
ABOUT YAYA PRODUCTIONS
Yaya Productions is a full-service events company. Providing services in Event Planning, Event Management, Event Consultation, Public Relations, and Social Media Marketing. Established in December 2017, Yaya Productions also specializes in marketing to the Hispanic community.
ABOUT FRIENDS OF JAMES WELDON JOHNSON PARK
Friends of James Weldon Johnson Park is a nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and contracted with the City of Jacksonville to revitalize the city’s first and most historic public park. James Weldon Johnson Park is located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, adjacent to City Hall, the main branch of the Jacksonville Public Library, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Our mission is to transform James Weldon Johnson Park into a modern, urban space that engages diverse communities and restores vitality to our city’s public square. We accomplish this by adding and maintaining landscaping and amenities and providing daily programming. Ourpark ambassadors and security welcome and share information with our guests while ensuring that James Weldon Johnson Park is clean and safe. Our programming is informed and supported by a variety of community partnerships.