Orange County

Mayor Demings on hand for grand opening of safe space for development of multi-cultural artists

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Community leaders, elected officials, minority business owners and diverse cultural groups celebrated the grand opening of CASA CULTURE at Orlando’s Fashion Square Mall.

CASA CULTURE is a safe space for creativity and collaboration to promote equity for under-funded artists, creators and entrepreneurs.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings was on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

“This is an opportunity for this facility to share the cultural experience through the arts, making sure that we have the ability to create, connect and collaborate,” Demings said.

Read: Kissimmee police and firefighter come together to “Rock the Bald 2022″

The grand opening featured performances from various cultural organizations and an art exhibit titled “The Divine Feminine,” which showcases ethnically diverse artists who identify as women.

Read: Universal Orlando announces dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2022

According to the Florida Cultural Alliance, arts and culture are critical to the state’s recovery from the pandemic, representing 227,000 jobs in Florida and 59,000 (mostly small) businesses.

Read: Broadway in Orlando: See which shows are coming to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.