Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Nash.
Hi Leah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
On September 19, 2000, the Glazer family opened up their home to musicians to perform. As musicians themselves, Benoit and Elaine fully understand the grind of being working musicians and also the passion and desire to create freely. That is why they decided to start hosting free performances in their home. Over the years, the endeavor grew and grew. They decided to build a 100 seat performance venue in their living room and built the venue now known as the white house in the SoDo area of Orlando, across the street from Boone High School. 25 years later, the Glazers are still hosting performances regularly – 150+ per year! – and Benoit is the artistic director for the Timucua Arts Foundation. Timucua brings performances to community regularly and provides artistic excellence consistently and affordably. Performances range in different disciplines, primarily music but also theatre, wellness and visual art.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is it ever a smooth road? Of course not! But the Glazers endeavored and have succeeded. Some struggles have included working with the City of Orlando on an agreement to utilize one of the City community center’s parking lot after hours, creating a non-profit organization and Board of Directors and finding funding to continue providing artistic excellence to the Orlando (and beyond!) community affordable and consistently. We are proud to be providing this for 25 years now! Timucua Arts Foundation is now an operating non-profit organization with staff, administrative and event volunteers and a Board of Directors.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My name is Leah Nash. I am the executive director for Timucua Arts Foundation and have been working in non-profits and membership associations for 25 years. My belief is that my job is the cog in between staff, the community and our Board of Directors. I also have fiscal and operational responsibilities. I love being part of the Orlando arts community. When I am not working in the arts community, I enjoy supporting other arts organizations. I am most proud of being able to support the arts in different facets of my life. I am passionate about the arts AND Orlando!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Please visit Timucua.com to see all of our offerings. We have six different festivals, an art and wellness program, an educational program and more. Our festivals are: International Chamber Music Festival (January): Timucua Amplifies Black Voices (February); Opera Festival (March – New!); Month of Jazz (April); World Music Month (May); and Internal Guitar Festival (August). We hosted our first Indigenous People Cultural Festival last year. Our art and wellness program runs every Wednesday and we offer a sound bath, meditation, listening sessions and body work. We offer educational programming through our monthly Jazz Jam where students are invited to play with our house band, 12 week training sessions for artists (we teach all aspects of being a working artist) through our Artists in Resonance program and a monthly free rehearsal of the Rejuvenation Orchestra, where people are exposed to working artists work together to come up with their sets, as well as offering instrument lesson scholarships.
Pricing:
- Tickets: $30 or less
- Some shows are “Pay What You Like”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://timucua.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timucuaarts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timucuaartsfoundation/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Timucua
Image Credits
Jim Leatherman
