Cultural Arts Alliance Announces Bradley Copeland as 2024 ArtsQuest Featured Artist

ArtsQuest, the 36th Annual Fine Arts Festival produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), is pleased to announce Bradley Copeland as the 2024 Festival’s featured artist. Her custom artwork, “Matapalo,” will be the featured image on all ArtsQuest marketing materials. Copeland’s work will be featured at ArtsQuest, a beloved May tradition taking place May 4th and 5th in Grand Boulevard Town Center’s North Park.

Bradley Copeland is a prolific 26-year-old artist living in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Bradley’s passion for art has existed for as long as she can remember. After moving to Florida’s panhandle in 2020, her passion transformed into a career. She has since participated in numerous solo and group shows, festivals and events. Her story and artwork have been featured in many different publications, including the cover story of Emerald Coast Magazine. Last year, she was awarded South Walton’s Artist of the Year by Visit South Walton.

“Matapalo” by Bradley Copeland

Bradley considers art to be her religion, compass, and greatest love. Her passion for creativity evolved into a need to share its healing abilities with others, and with the help of the CAA, a brand new prison art program was born. Above everything previously described, her most rewarding accomplishment is teaching this type of creativity every week to the residents of Walton Correctional Institution. When asked where she draws her inspiration from, Copeland shares, “Really from everything in and around me. I am constantly trying to better understand myself and the universe and my place in it, and making art helps me make sense of all of these things.”

ArtsQuest will feature over 100 other artists exhibiting and selling their work in Grand Boulevard’s North Park. Mediums include ceramics, sculpture, glass, oils, acrylics, mixed media, photography, sculpture, metal and wood, jewelry, works on paper and more. These exhibiting artists from around the United States will compete for awards and cash prizes totaling $10,000 that will be decided by distinguished guest judges, including Olga Guy, watercolor artist; Allison Galloway-Gonzalez of Galloway-Gonzalez Consulting; and Katie Kehoe, assistant professor of sculpture and expanded media in the Department of Art (FSU).

The Festival will also feature a variety of activities and attractions for art enthusiasts of all ages. Attendees can look forward to art demonstrations, a CAA member gallery featuring many artists from The Foster Gallery, a Walton County student exhibit, a special exhibit from the CAA’s Prison Art program, an interactive public art installation, a silent auction, continuous live music and entertainment and ImagiNation (where kids rule). Continuing this year is the popular Art on Demand live series featuring educational sessions throughout the weekend. Interested participants may register on the Cultural Arts Alliance website before the event. A full cash bar will be available throughout the weekend in Grand Park.

ArtsQuest is part of Art Month Walton County, a collaboration of visual, performing and literary arts events presented in diverse formats and venues throughout Walton County in May. Art Month Walton also includes “Dine + Dive,” a fundraiser for the Underwater Museum of Art, digital graffiti at Alys Beach, the Longleaf Writers Conference, an open mic night with Emerald Coast Storytellers, Sinfonia Goes Pop at Alys Beach, Mary Poppins – a production from Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Gallery events, concerts and more.

Presented by Grand Boulevard Town Center, with additional support from Visit South Walton, Florida Arts & Culture and Emerald Coast Magazine, volunteers are needed throughout ArtsQuest weekend to work on all aspects of the festival. Those willing to help can sign up at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/volunteer. Sponsorships are still available, and interested businesses can contact Gabby@culturalartsalliance.com for more information.

ArtsQuest is a rain or shine event. The festival is open to the public, and a $5 admission donation is requested. Visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com for more information about ArtsQuest and other Art Month events, which are supported in part by Visit South Walton.

About ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival:

ArtsQuest began as a small community gathering in Grayton Beach in 1989. It now features over 120 exhibiting national, regional and local artists competing for $10,000 in cash awards, art workshops, live art demonstrations, music, food, wine, ImagiNation (where kids rule) and more.

About Cultural Arts Alliance:

As the creative core of Walton County for three decades, the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County offers support, connection and access opportunities for all forms of art, every variety of maker, all levels of learners and especially art lovers. Since its founding in 1993, the CAA has granted over $750,000 to the Walton County creative community through its Art For All program. Through sponsorship, performance and educational programs, the 501(c)(3) organization directly connects the people of Walton County with the broader view, critical exploration and answers only the arts have the power to provide. For more information, visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com.

About Grand Boulevard:

Grand Boulevard is the shop, dine, play and stay Town Center located on Northwest Florida’s beaches. Based on the prominent mixed-use architectural model, Grand Boulevard offers a dynamic lifestyle experience with convenient access to a multitude of exclusive shopping and dining options, entertainment, professional services, corporate offices and lodging. Grand Boulevard is a Howard Group and Merchants Retail Partners property. For more information, please call (850) 837-3099 or visit GrandBoulevard.com.