We had the good fortune of connecting with Marjorie Waldo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marjorie, how does your business help the community?
Arts Garage is all about our community. In fact, our Vision Statement is “Connecting our community to the world through the Arts.” This goal remains the most important one for us right now in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. We want to help mitigate the anxiety and fear of people’s lives always, and we believe that the Arts do just that. Music and theatre and comedy and poetry have transformative powers. They can lift us up and beyond where we are and provide beauty that renews our spirits. Our programming calendar works to make the best in the Arts accessible to everyone, but the last few weeks have made that difficult. So, thanks to some of the most generous artists in the region who all donated their time to be a part of our new series, From Our HeARTs to Your Homes, we are able to release live recordings, three times a week, to the world. Our hope and gratitude for our community continues as we show everyone as much beauty as we possibly can throughout these weeks. Our desire is that we give our viewers a little extra joy, and a little less isolation, to help them as they navigate all of the challenges they face.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Squarely located in the center of the beautifully diverse Delray Beach, Arts Garage reflects the rich medley of the local citizenry in everything it does. Respectful of the need for diversity of perspective and experience, our staff represents a myriad of cultures and life experiences. Our music programming makes room for everyone with a variety of musical genres and a diversity of culture among our performers. Emerging art programs, in music and the visual arts, provide a platform for local budding artists and musicians from which to launch. Our Arts Education programs engage people from six to eighty-six years old. Our vision, connecting our community to the world through the arts drives our work. Providing access to everyone who wants to attend ensures that everyone can be a part of the magic that is Arts Garage. Arts Garage is a popular cultural center in downtown Delray Beach offering: Music: From Grammy Award winning musicians to emerging, local artists, Arts Garage hosts performers on our main stage, the Stuart & Shelby Theatre, that represent a broad diversity of cultures. While our venue is perhaps best known for our Jazz and Blues programming, we also have a vibrant calendar full of other genres including Rock, Soul, World, Alternative, Hip Hop and Country. We also provide a platform for emerging musicians during our monthly Art Meets Music event where new bands perform in a concert setting often for the first time. Visual Arts: The Grassroots Gallery at Arts Garage exhibits emerging visual artists from the Delray Beach area. All artists have a reception, aligned with Delray Beach’s monthly Art Walk, drawing people to their exhibit; Arts Garage provides the artists with 70% of revenues earned from the sale of their work. Artist’s Ladder, found in the Stuart & Shelby theatre, provides an opportunity for artist’s further along in their career to showcase their work for thousands of patrons. Arts Education: With both adult and children’s arts education programming, Arts Garage provides a variety of opportunities for locals to grow their talents and knowledge of the Visual & Performing Arts. From theatre, drumline, and chorus to art and dance, Arts Garage provides meaningful instruction for all ages. Theatre: Arts Garage stages theatre that represents new work, socially relevant content and community driven performances. While we do not host a traditional theatre season, we continue to provide opportunities for thought-provoking and innovative work. Volunteers: Our volunteer programs not only provide extra hands to help us fulfill our mission, they also enable even more members of our community to engage with the arts. Our Teen Guild provides young people who are passionate about the visual and performing arts an opportunity to earn community service hours doing what they love. Adult Guild Members enjoy opportunities to earn hours that can be used for Arts Garage performance tickets.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
From the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum and the Delray Beach Historical Society, and from Pineapple Grove Arts District to the beach, Delray Beach is home to amazing people, incredible restuarants, beautiful arts and culture experiences, and incredible beauty.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Arts Garage supporters are many. We boast an incredible staff who make everything we do possible, a committed and passionate volunteer board of directors who work tirelessly to keep our vision alive, nearly 200 volunteers who are dedicated to our success, a city that provides impressive financial and vocal support of our work in Delray Beach, and the most generous donors imaginable who back our diverse programming. Arts Garage is proud and grateful to be part of such an incredible community.

Website: https://artsgarage.org/
Instagram: arts_garage_delray
Twitter: @ArtsGarageFL
Facebook: @DelrayArtsGarage
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6liiSt5igbxBDJYJwCbKRg

Image Credits
Dangerwing Photography and Studio B Squared