Art and Poetry Created by County Students 

Once a year, St. Johns County students participate in an art and poetry contest sponsored by Betty Griffin Center to promote "A Day Without Violence."  The general public will have an opportunity to enjoy some of the top entries submitted to this contest, spanning the last 15 years of the contest.
 
            Sponsored by the St. Johns Cultural Council (SJCC), the art is exhibited in the Rotunda Gallery of the St. Johns County Administration Building as the next Art in Public Places initiative. 
 
            For 15 years, Betty Griffin Center has partnered with the St. Johns County Schools to hold the art and poetry contest, which focuses on peace in the home. From all the entries, 13 pieces of art and 12 poems are selected for their annual calendar known as "A Day Without Violence", which is distributed to every classroom in St. Johns County and sold in the Betty Griffin Center Thrift Stores to raise funds for the organization. This year, over 1,165 art and 65 poetry entries were submitted by students.   
  As a private, nonprofit agency, Betty Griffin Center provides emergency shelter to abused women, men, and their minor children. Other support services available include a 24-hour crisis hotline, individual and group counseling, forensic / medical rape exams, and legal assistance.  Confidential individual and group counseling is available in all parts of St. Johns County. For more information about Betty Griffin Center or to make a donation, visit http://www.bettygriffinhouse.org/.  If you or someone you know is being abused, please call the Betty Griffin Center crisis helpline at (904) 824-1555.
            
St. Johns Cultural Council's mission is to promote and enhance the local arts, heritage and cultural programs throughout the county.  In pursuance of their role in promoting cultural activities throughout the county, the St. Johns Cultural Council sponsors multiple exhibits throughout the year.        
The St. Johns Cultural Council and Betty Griffin Center would like to thank the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners for their continued support of this Art in Public Places project.  
For more information about the St. Johns Cultural Council visit www.stjohnsculture.com and www.historiccoastculture.com.