To pick from 50 art pieces and matching quotations for the 22nd season, Embracing Our Differences judges had to study more than 10,000 submissions from 122 countries, 46 states and 511 schools. The exhibition, which annually shares images and messages designed to inspire kindness and respect runs from January 19th to April 13th at the Bayfront Park in Sarasota, Florida. It also runs from March 1 to the 31st in St. Petersburg Poynter Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Last year, more than 14,000 students participated in live and virtual field trips with many thousands more visiting in person and viewing the large posters in the park...
Two - 5 person panels of Judges evaluated the artwork and quotations separately, and another group evaluated the quotations to match them with the artwork. That's always the most challenging part according to Sarah Wertheimer - President and CEO of the festival. "You start out reading quotations and you think that will be great with this piece, but then you see another one and think, this is so much better! This is the game until we're able to get them matched". The artists and writers are not involved in how their creations are matched. The results are a display that features a colorful woven depiction of people from different cultures in their native dress holding hands, paired with a phrase "A vibrant tapestry of unity can only be woven from threads of diversity".
The focus on diversity, inclusion and respect his caused problems in recent years for Embracing our Diversity, which was founded upon highlighting those principals. Two years ago, State College of Florida in Sarasota, cancelled a one-month display of the main exhibition because Embracing Our Differences would not remove art that included the words "Diversity" "Inclusion" "Justice" and "Equality". Last year, Sarasota County vetoed funding from tourist tax revenues for the organization because it didn't sell or issue tickets for visitors and could not verify how many visitors attended from "out of the region". That argument forced the annual Chalk Festival to sell tickets for it's November exhibit, normally a free event to attend. Commissioners also rejected funding for the Fogartyville Community and Media Center, known for it's diverse entertainment programs.
Wertheimer said that Commissioners "have chosen to politicize the work we done when we are not, in any way, a political organization". They chose to politicize Human Rights and Human beings. Despite loosing county money, as well as funding for arts and culture from the State, Wertheimer said that this years exhibit will be operating as they have for 22 years. There are different age groups like K-2, grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. All the artwork is approved by the school district. Guides use visual-thinking strategies pioneered by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which ask the students what they see and what it says to them so we're not regurgitating what this art piece means, Wertheimer said. Philanthropist Hugh Culverhouse Jr., donated $107,000 to make up for the vetoed money.
The organization awards $2000.00 to winners of artwork and quotations, sharing the prizes with the schools' art departments. Despite the government's veto on funding, the competition continues, benefiting communities and keeping art, culture, and diversity vibrant in Sarasota and Pinellas counties.
