CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

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Project Summary

The Cultural category of Volusia ECHO enhances quality of life by providing access to cultural arts, increasing cultural tourism, and encouraging downtown revitalization. These projects play a vital role in supporting Volusia County's vibrant arts scene while contributing significantly to the county's tourism-based economy. Cultural venues funded through ECHO create community gathering spaces where residents and visitors can experience music, dance, theater, literature, visual arts, and other creative disciplines. Since its inception ECHO and its partners have invested $100 million dollars in 51 cultural projects throughout the county.

FEATURED SPOTLIGHT

Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS)

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Children with teacher constructing items with blocks on table in museum.
PIcture inside museum and sign for planetarium. Also pictured spacesuit in exhibit.

From dazzling art to mind-blowing science, MOAS is where curiosity meets discovery for visitors of all ages! As Central Florida’s leading museum for art, science, and history, MOAS provides engaging exhibits, captivating collections, and interactive experiences designed to ignite curiosity and inspire discovery.

Thanks to $4.1 million in ECHO Program funding, MOAS has grown with a 9,700-square-foot Children’s Museum, a cutting-edge planetarium, and 22,000 square feet of gallery space featuring incredible art and historical artifacts. Explore permanent collections that span African, American, Chinese, Cuban, and Florida art, and don’t miss one of the world’s largest collections of Coca-Cola memorabilia.

Come explore, learn, and create lasting memories at MOAS!

Learn More
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Learn More About Other Projects Below:

The expansion of the Daytona Playhouse included several improvements: a new lower lobby at ground level, the installation of a wheelchair lift for accessible access to the upper lobby and auditorium, and a new ground-level box office with exterior window access. This project will construct a two-story structure that will provide permanent workshop area, costume prep area, dressing room and rehearsal space. This project was for the renovation of the Landis-Fish building (c. 1905), and the creation of a Downtown Museum. The renovation included the replacement of flooring, walls, ceilings and lighting, as well as the installation of new doors, cabinetry and fixtures. This project focused on constructing a multi-generational center dedicated to cultural, historical, and environmental activities. This project constructed the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural & Educational Center, a 17,000 square foot cultural/educational center. The new center has a lobby, small office, information desk, three studios, amphitheater courtyard, photo lab, kitchen, gallery exhibition corridor, media/music center/classroom, performing arts theatre, exhibition auditorium and multi-purpose area with stage, library and restrooms. The Ocean Center ECHO Gallery created a Grand Entrance off Atlantic Avenue which displays artwork from the Arts in Public Places program. Improvements and enhancements to the Ocean Center which include lighting, sound equipment and power distribution upgrades to enhance the capability for hosting concerts and other entertainment acts, ultimately benefiting our local audiences and the community. This project constructed a plaza to be used for concerts, festivals and community gatherings. The project included the construction of a circular meeting place, 60 feet in diameter with a brick floor surrounded on all sides by concrete benches to accommodate approximately 80 people, with a clock at the center. This project was for the construction of a 66,233 square foot joint use facility that will house both the Museum and the College’s Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts program. The facility has a covered drop-off area; a central atrium for a visitors information desk and public reception area; a museum store; and Café 101. This project was for the construction of a 66,233 square foot joint use facility that will house both the Museum and the College’s Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts program. The facility has a covered drop-off area; a central atrium for a visitors information desk and public reception area; a museum store; and Café 101. The Conrad Center is a comprehensive West Volusia history research and educational center it serves as a combination library/historical archive. This project added a one-story, two room 576 square foot addition to the current house. This project constructed a 5,000 square foot building to house the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection of Oscar Bluemner artwork and the University’s permanent art collection, consisting of over 500 artworks in various media. The facility contains two galleries, one to exhibit changing selections from Stetson’s Bluemner collection and the other to display works from the permanent collection or to be used for special shows. Other spaces include: a vault with it’s own generator and back-up HVAC unit, archival storage for artwork, a preparation area for conservation and framing, an art study seminar room and a lobby that can also be used as a reception area. This project constructed and installed acoustical panels to reduce reverberations and allow sound art to be displayed. This project renovated three cultural venues owned by the Atlantic Center for the Arts, incorporating new energy-efficient technologies, particularly in lighting. Additionally, the garage at the Harris' House location was renovated to expand classroom space. This project added 5,000 sf to the existing administration building and outdoor amphitheater, in addition a founder's room, a reception area, gallery shop and four public restrooms were constructed. The Center at Deltona project focused on enhancing the performing arts components both inside the assembly room and outdoors at the event lawn, as well as constructing a walking trail. This project will construct a new arts and cultural education center to expand the Hub on Canal's ability to deliver arts and cultural programming, particularly in ceramic and other art disciplines. This project involved the construction of a pavilion equipped with restrooms, separate dressing rooms for men and women, dining facilities, and concessions. Additionally, decking and a network of sidewalks were also included in the project. The aim of this project was to build a 98,000 square foot performing arts center situated on the Halifax River in downtown Daytona Beach. The center features a theater equipped with a raised fixed stage, lighting, and seating for 850 people. Additionally, it includes rehearsal rooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, dance studios, exhibit spaces, and a sculpture garden among other amenities. This initiative facilitated the creation of the Noble "Thin Man" Watts Performing Arts Amphitheater and the Maxwell & Irene Dixon Johnson Cultural Park. The 1,000 square foot amphitheater was meticulously designed with an elevated permanent stage, along with professionally installed theater lighting and an audio system. This project will expand the museum to allow for more art exhibits and increase programming and educational outreach.

This project encompassed the design and construction of 22,000 square feet dedicated to galleries, art storage, a Planetarium, and office facilities.

The project was for the construction of a 3,500 square foot Children’s Museum featuring interactive displays, changing exhibits, and classroom areas.

This grant added interactive learning features to the Museum of Arts & Sciences Children's Museum.

This project at the Museum of Arts & Sciences created a more prominent, architecturally distinctive main entrance to building, making it much more visible from the parking lot. An entry court was constructed and features a concrete patio, new landscaping

This project was for the construction of a visible storage area that allows the display of art/artifacts not currently on exhibition.

 This project was for the restoration of the MacDonald House, a home built in 1903 and currently used as a Welcome Center and Tennis Center. Shoestring Theater operates out of a schoolhouse that was built in 1917 in Lake Helen. It is one of three African-American schools from this period still standing in Florida. This grant was to restore the exterior of the building to the original look by completing the following; restoring the cupola, installation of a metal roof, restoration of windows, stairs/latticework/columns restored, restoration of the exterior walls, removal of HVAC window units from the front of the building to the rear and installation of HVAC units. This project will improve the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center by updating the interior/exterior of the building and adding new ADA restrooms. This project was to construct a concrete parking lot with landscaping. This project renovated and expanded an existing building to better serve the community by adding spaces for cultural and art classes, among other offerings. Additionally, an elevator was installed to ensure ADA access to the second floor of the building. This project constructed an addition to the existing REC building, the first floor of the addition houses the ArtHaus, a local non-profit artistic cultural organization, and the second floor provides spaces for additional programming and for the Parks & Recreation Department staff. This project completed a three phase renovation at the Museum of Art DeLand by adding a new HVAC system to stabilize the environment needed to store artwork. This project upgraded the lighting and HVAC systems for the collection storage and exhibition preparation areas and installed a Montel museum quality storage system. The project redesigned the Museum lobby with a Welcome Center and seating areas, reconfigured the theater workshop space, and added 128 running feet of exhibition area in the upper gallery. Acquisition This project involved upgrading a 2,500-seat, 100,000 square foot performing arts center at Bethune-Cookman College. The upgrades included constructing an acoustic shell and improving stage lighting and electrical systems. Additionally, a new sign for the center was created, and monitors were added to the lobby and dressing rooms. The Little Theatre is a 6,000 sf single story frame and block L-shaped structure built in 1954. This project added a second story increasing the size to 10,000 sf. A staircase and elevator were installed to access the second level, the ticket box was enlarged and the restrooms upgraded. This project involves the installation and enhancement of LED signage and digital media systems. This project will renovate and expand the Museum space. This project renovated the kiln room at Gateway Center for the Arts into a potter/clay studio with the kiln area attached. The existing area was enclosed and a HVAC installed. Theatrical girders were constructed within the auditorium and a system of specialty lights were installed. This was a multi-phase project to construct the Gateway Center for the Arts in DeBary. This phase included the dry-in stage for thermal/moisture protection of the interior work, electrical systems, interior finishes, drywall, flooring, fixtures, lighting and mechanical equipment. This was a multi-phase project to construct the Gateway Center for the Arts in DeBary. This phase included final finishes (interior and exterior) including drywall, paint and moisture protection. In addition, restroom amenities, fire protection and a sprinkler system were installed. This was part of a multi-phased project that created the Gateway Center for the Arts. Midtown Cultural and Educational Center consisted of a two phased project for the construction of a new 14,000 square foot facility with a lobby, stage, dance studio, art gallery, photo lab, classrooms, and recreation courts. Midtown Cultural and Educational Center consisted of a two phased project for the construction of a new 14,000 square foot facility with a lobby, stage, dance studio, art gallery, photo lab, classrooms, and recreation courts.