The Palm Beach Post

New arts website is designed to promote downtown Lake Worth exhibits

BY WILLIE HOWARD | THE PALM BEACH POST | NOVEMBER 1, 2011

LAKE WORTH — Finding visual and performing arts, food, lodging and shopping destinations in Lake Worth became easier Monday when the city's Community Redevelopment Agency launched its arts website - www.lakewortharts.com.

The site was created as part of LULA Lake Worth Arts, a strategic plan launched by the CRA to promote economic development through the arts.

The website is expected to increase awareness about art-related events and places in the city, both for residents and visitors.

In addition to telling users where to see exhibits, listen to live music or enjoy the theater, lakewortharts.com gives them suggestions on where to shop, eat and stay overnight.

"The website will be an engine to attract people to Lake Worth," Tracy Smith-Coffey, project coordinator, told city commissioners during an Oct. 25 presentation.

An events section tells users what's happening downtown, such as the Lake Worth Art League's outdoor show set for Saturday and Sunday at the Cultural Plaza.

The site also promotes "signature" Lake Worth events such as Holiday Wonderland, a series of holiday events set for Dec. 3 through Jan. 6, and next year's Street Painting Festival, set for Feb. 25-26.

"It's gorgeous," said Joyce Brown, manager of the Clay Glass Metal Stone Cooperative Gallery at 605 Lake Ave. "I think it will be a major, major boost for Lake Worth."

The arts website allows visual and performing artists to show samples of their work and to list links to their websites.

A "getting around" section tells visitors how to reach the city's arts district along Lake and Lucerne avenues from Interstate 95 and includes maps showing where to park downtown.

The CRA is not charging for listings on the website yet but plans to begin charging arts program members for use of the site beginning in 2013, Smith-Coffey said.