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With the newly renovated Polk State College Winter Haven Fine Arts (WFA) Building fully reopened, student and faculty performances and exhibits in Theatre, Music, and Visual Arts have returned for the Spring 2025 Semester.
The Jan. 21 ribbon cutting included the introduction of the inaugural exhibit in the Winter Haven Fine Arts Gallery. Through February 21, members of the College and greater community can experience “Canvas of Community: Celebrating Visual Artists” with work displayed by locals including Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Gustavo Ortiz, Dr. Juan Rivera, Dr. Michele McClendon, Yovanis Gonzalez, and Alison LaMons. The exhibit also features the works of Polk State faculty members, including Sarah Brewington Baarns, Andrew Coombs, and Holly Scoggins.
Later this semester, the gallery will be used to remember the late Polk State Professor of Photography David Woods by displaying a collection of his work. A renowned photographer and a 35-year employee of the College, Woods previously worked as a staff photographer and photography manager for Kings Dominion, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus World, and Anheuser Busch Theme Parks, specifically Cypress Gardens, with photography sold in more than 30 countries around the world.
The first musical performance by Polk State students takes place at 7 p.m. on March 13 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. The Spring Music Concert will feature the Polk State Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and String Ensemble. General admission for the program is $8, but all students along with Polk State faculty and staff will be admitted for free.
For two long weekends in April, Professor Mark Hartfield will direct the student theatrical performance, You Can’t Take It With You. Written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1930s comedy tells the story of the zany Sycamore family, who live on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Shows are set for April 4 through 6 and April 10 through 13. Free for Polk State students, staff, and faculty, general admission is $10. Showtimes are slated for 7:30 p.m. from Thursdays through Saturdays with 2:30 p.m. matinees held on Sundays.
First opened in 1978, the 65,000-square-foot WFA Building was reconstructed through a collaborative effort between Polk State faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as engineers, architects, and construction crews. The renovation project was led by Rowe Architects, with AD Morgan Corporation and DuCon serving as the construction managers. Enhancements include a new roof and bricks to the exterior, a new heating and air conditioning system, as well as upgrades to the band and music rooms, practice rooms, dressing areas, gallery, theatre, and many of the classrooms for Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts students.
Construction began in May 2023, with the building closing in phases to lessen potential impacts on classes, students, and employees. The building officially reopened on schedule for the Spring 2025 Semester. The newly renovated facility will enhance and grow the College’s arts programs by providing cutting-edge spaces for performance, production, and studio work.
“To have a state-of-the-art space where our students and faculty can perform and pursue their passions is really a dream come true,” said Nancy Lozell, Polk State Program Manager for The Arts. “These renovations are an asset to not only our students and staff, but the community as a whole. I’m proud to have been part of the collaborative effort and am very excited about all that’s to come at this facility.”