January 12, 2026 – (KEY WEST, FL).  In celebration of the 115th birthday of Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Tennessee Williams, the Tennessee Williams Museum in Key West invites poets and prose writers to submit original work for its 2026 Poetry and Short Story Contests.  The contests are held in conjunction with the annual Tennessee Williams Key West Festival, which takes place each March honoring the literary icon who made Key West his home in 1949 and lived and worked on the island for nearly four decades.

Drawing inspiration from the 2026 Festival theme, all contest submissions must reference Williams’s seminal work “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” in some manner.  Writers are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly.  References may include the play itself, Williams during the writing process, one or more of its characters, or actors and actresses associated with the stage or film adaptations.

The entry fee is $20 per submission, and each entrant may submit one poem and/or one short story.  First-place winners in each category will receive a $500 cash award, with second-place winners receiving $250.  Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on March 1, 2026.  Contest winners will be announced on March 26, 2026, during a special Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration at the Tennessee Williams Museum and will be published online on the Tennessee Williams Key West Festival website www.twfest.org/contests.

The contest is open to U.S. residents only.  Poetry submissions may be no longer than 30 lines, while short stories must be between 1,500 and 4,000 words.  All entries must be original, unpublished work written in English and submitted online via the official entry form.  Full contest guidelines, eligibility requirements, judge information, and submission links are available at twfest.org/contests or kwahs.org/tennessee-williams-festival.
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The Tennessee Williams Museum, located at 513 Truman Avenue, is open daily for self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about the contests, the museum, or the Tennessee Williams Key West Festival, contact the Key West Art & Historical Society at 305-295-6616 or visit www.kwahs.org.
Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

December 29, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  Budding poets ages 7 to 12 are invited to explore the power of words and imagination at a free Youth Poetry Workshop, hosted by the Seawall Society of Young Poets in partnership with the Key West Art & Historical Society.  The workshop will take place on Saturday, January 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the historic Fort East Martello Museum.

Led by Key West Poet Laureate Emily Schulten Weekley and experienced facilitators, this interactive two-hour session will inspire young writers to discover big ideas hidden in small things.  Participants will explore Key West’s rich literary legacy through the children’s poems of John Ciardi and other playful, thought-provoking works.

The workshop will begin with reading and discussion of poems that celebrate imagination, curiosity, and observation.  Participants will then head outdoors to notice the tiny details in their surroundings, whether a seashell, a leaf, or a fleeting moment, and use them as inspiration to create their own poems.  The session encourages students to experiment with new poetic forms, develop their own voice, and share their work in a supportive, no-pressure environment.

As part of the Seawall Society’s mission to elevate youth voices, each participant will record their original work for inclusion in a video anthology, which will be featured on the Seawall Society website.

This event is free and open to all youth in the Key West area, regardless of background or writing experience.  All materials will be provided.  Space is limited and advance registration is required. Families can register at kwahs.org/whats-on.
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

December 29, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  On Thursday, January 15, join meteorologist Jonathan Rizzo for an engaging exploration of the evolution of weather forecasting in the Florida Keys.  His lecture, titled “A History of Weather Forecasting in the Florida Keys,” is part of the Key West Art & Historical Society’s Distinguished Speaker Series.  The talk will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton Street.

The history of formal weather observing and forecasting in the Florida Keys began with the U.S. Lighthouse Board and the later establishment of Key West as one of the original 24 U.S. Signal Corps weather offices.  During this informative presentation, Rizzo will highlight critical milestones in the development of the nation’s operational weather services, from its early days as the U.S. Signal Corps to its modern role as the National Weather Service, and how these advancements specifically impacted the Florida Keys.

Using historical photographs and firsthand anecdotes from early U.S. Weather Bureau officials, the lecture will provide insight into the experiences of early forecasters and the methods they used to observe and predict weather in a region long shaped by extreme and rapidly changing conditions.

Jonathan Rizzo has served as the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NOAA’s National Weather Service office in Key West since May 2002.  In this role, he is responsible for planning, coordinating, and carrying out impact-based decision support services designed to protect life and property during severe weather events.  Rizzo has supported Monroe County, its municipalities, and the U.S. Navy during tropical cyclone emergency operations and major public events.  His professional background also includes winter and fire weather forecasting in eastern Washington State.  Originally from Lower Southern Maryland, Rizzo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Florida State University.

“Weather has shaped nearly every aspect of life in the Florida Keys, from how we prepare for storms to the way our homes are built and our community functions,” says Cori Convertito, curator for the Society.  “Jonathan Rizzo’s presentation offers a fascinating look at how forecasting evolved alongside our island history, helping us better understand the challenges, resilience, and ingenuity that define life in this unique environment.”

To reserve your spot at the lecture; visit kwahs.org/whats-on.  Tickets are $13 for KWAHS members, $17 for non-members.  Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the event.  For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.
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November 21, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  Key West, Fla. — The Key West Museum of Art & History is pleased to invite the community to the opening of its newest juried exhibition, “Shadow & Light: Island Contrast,” on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, with a free public reception from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The celebration will take place in the museum’s Bryan Gallery and will feature the work of more than 40 Florida Keys artists, including Karen Beauprie of Key West, John David Hawver of Islamorada, Michael Palmer of Key West, and Kitty Rose of Key West, among many others.

Guests are encouraged to explore the exhibition, meet participating artists, and enjoy beverages available for purchase at the museum bar while taking in one of Key West’s most storied historic spaces. The evening marks the debut of an evocative collection that examines the profound relationship between illumination and darkness in the artistic process.  The exhibition features works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, fabric, pencil, sculpture, and mixed media, each one reflecting the artists’ individual interpretations of how light and shadow influence form, mood, and meaning.

“Shadow & Light” delves into the expressive possibilities of natural light, its ability to shape form, reveal texture, cast shadows, and transform everyday scenes into moments of striking beauty.  The resulting body of work is both visually dynamic and deeply introspective, offering viewers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and rediscover the world through the interplay of contrast.

“We wanted to create a space where artists could respond to the extraordinary quality of light that defines life in the Florida Keys,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, curator for the Key West Museum of Art & History.  “Light shapes our experiences in ways we often overlook, and this exhibition invites visitors to slow down, observe, and appreciate the beauty in even the simplest moments.”
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“Shadow & Light: Island Contrast” will remain on view through February 15, 2026, at the Key West Museum of Art & History, 281 Front Street, Key West.  For more information, please contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected] or visit the museum’s website at kwahs.org/event/shadow-light.

November 3, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society invites the community to savor Florida’s rich culinary heritage with Emmy Award–winning multimedia journalist Dalia Colón.  On Thursday, November 20, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. at Williams Hall, Colón will present “Telling Florida’s Food Stories,” an engaging exploration of the state’s past, present, and future told through its foodways.  This Distinguished Speaker Series lecture is a partnership between Florida Humanities and as part of the organization’s “Florida Talks” program.

Dalia Colón is host and executive producer of The Zest podcast for WUSF, and associate producer and co-host of WEDU Arts Plus on Tampa Bay PBS.  Her first cookbook, “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook,” was published in March 2024.  Colón’s work explores the intersection of food, culture, and community across Florida.

Colón has traveled the state, sampling the diverse flavors and uncovering why Florida is celebrated as the birthplace of fusion cuisine.  Her presentation examines how food reflects Florida’s culture, traditions, and history, from indigenous foodways and the rise and fall of the citrus industry to contemporary sustainability and plant-based innovations.

“Florida’s history is on the plate,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, Curator & Historian for the Society.  “Through food, we discover who we are, where we come from, and the stories that connect our communities. We’re thrilled to welcome Dalia Colón to Key West to share these delicious histories and invite audiences to taste, explore, and reflect on our shared cultural identity.”

Tickets for the Distinguished Speaker Series start at $13 per person, with advance purchase strongly recommended.  Guests can enhance their experience with VIP Balcony Seating, which includes exclusive balcony access during the lecture and entry to a private reception with Colón afterward.  The reception features a tasting of select recipes from her “Florida Vegetarian Cookbook,” prepared by Chef Martha Hubbard of Unity Table.
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Tickets and additional information are available at kwahs.org/dss-food-stories.  For more information, contact Dr. Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].

October 31, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art and Historical Society (KWAHS) has received a $100,000 challenge grant from heirs of George and Adela Kantor and Arthur and Gladys Mulberg, honoring their families’ long history in Key West.  Funds raised through the end of 2025 will support the ongoing elevator replacement project and future building preservation efforts at the Key West Museum of Art and History at the Custom House.

The museum’s original elevator, installed in the mid-1990s during landmark restoration efforts overseen by architect Bert Bender of Bender & Associates Architects, P.A., served visitors for nearly three decades before ceasing operation in March 2023.  Demolition and structural work, led by Marino Construction, began in August and is nearing completion.  Elevator installation by TK Elevator is scheduled to begin in November.

Due to an expanding scope of work and increased material costs driven by tariffs, the total project budget rose to over $545,000.  To date, $525,829 has been raised through generous support from the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the Dogwood Foundation, Mr. Thomas Kenan III, the Edward B. Knight and Joan T. Knight Foundation, the Fran Sessa and Norman Hunt Charitable Fund, and numerous individual donors.

“The Society is truly grateful for the Kantor and Mulberg heirs’ generosity and for the community support in raising the much-needed funding to replace the Custom House’s elevator,” said Michael F. Gieda, Executive Director.  “Our highest priority is ensuring the museum is fully ADA accessible, so visitors of all abilities can enjoy the museum.  Without an operating elevator, access has been limited to the first floor.”
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Tax-deductible donations toward the elevator and ongoing preservation projects can be made online at kwahs.org/donate-elevator, by check, or via stock transfer.  Contributions may also be made through the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ Custom House Preservation Fund.

September 29, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society is proud to announce the acquisition of a culturally and historically significant woodcarving, along with its original preparatory drawing, by celebrated Cuban American folk artist Mario Sanchez.  The newly acquired piece, titled “The Train That Went to Sea: Cayo Paloma (Pigeon Key),” depicts a Henry Flagler Oversea Railway train crossing the original Seven Mile Bridge above Pigeon Key.  This acquisition further strengthens the Society’s position as the steward of the largest public collection of Sanchez’s work, which now includes over 200 pieces ranging from preparatory paper bag sketches and handcrafted paper kites to intricately detailed bas-relief woodcarvings.

The woodcarving and its companion drawing were acquired from a private collector who had originally purchased them directly from the artist and displayed them prominently in their home for decades.  Funding for the purchase came from the Society’s Acquisition Fund, established through a 2010 bequest from the Margo Golan Charitable Remainder Trust.  Golan, a longtime supporter of Sanchez, created the fund to ensure the continued growth of the Society’s permanent collection, with a special focus on acquiring notable works by the artist.

Sanchez, a Key West native, is among this country’s most important folk artists.  A self-taught carver, he began creating his signature painted reliefs in the 1940s, chronicling everyday life in Key West of his youth.  Sanchez described his humble approached with the phrase, “Se que mi modesto arte no es bueno, pero gusta,” or “I know my modest art isn’t good, but it pleases.”  Today, his works are held in major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.

“The carving spoke to me the moment I saw it,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, curator and historian for the Society. “It’s an exceptional example of Sanchez’s ability to turn everyday memories into deeply meaningful works of art.  Not only does it showcase his technical mastery, but it also captures a pivotal moment in Florida Keys’ history with incredible detail.  The addition of the preparatory drawing makes it even more remarkable.  It’s like holding the blueprint to Sanchez’s creative process.  Both will be featured in a new permanent gallery devoted to Sanchez, opening later this year at the Key West Museum of Art & History.”
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The newly acquired work has been digitized and is now available to view online at www.kwahs.org/collections.  To learn more about the acquisition or to contribute to the Society’s Acquisition Fund, please contact Dr. Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected].

September 3, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  Budding poets ages 7 to 12 are invited to explore the power of words and self-expression at a free Youth Poetry Workshop, hosted by the Seawall Society of Young Poets in partnership with the Key West Art & Historical Society.  The workshop will take place on Saturday, September 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the historic Fort East Martello Museum.

Led by experienced facilitators and guided by Key West Poet Laureate Emily Schulten Weekley, this interactive two-hour session is designed to inspire creativity and build confidence in young writers of all experience levels.  Participants will learn new poetic techniques and explore a variety of forms while developing their own voice and writing style.  They’ll have the opportunity to share their work in a supportive, no-pressure environment and connect with fellow young writers who share a passion for poetry.

The workshop will begin with reading and discussing published poems, including works centered on the natural world.  Participants will then head outdoors to explore their surroundings and draw inspiration for their own writing.  As part of the Seawall Society’s ongoing efforts to elevate youth voices, each young poet will record their original work for inclusion in a video anthology to be featured on the Seawall Society website.

This event is free and open to all youth in the Key West area, regardless of background or writing experience.  All supplies will be provided.  Space is limited and advance registration is required. Families can register at kwahs.org/whats-on
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

September 3, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society is pleased to announce the latest installment of its popular lecture series, Happy Hour with the Historian, featuring a captivating presentation by historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D.  Titled “Building the American Riviera: The Hotels of Henry Flagler,” the talk will take place on Thursday, September 11 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Comedy Key West.

This engaging lecture explores the legacy of Henry Flagler, the American industrialist and co-founder of Standard Oil who transformed Florida’s East Coast into a luxurious winter haven during the Gilded Age.  Through the development of the Florida East Coast Railway and a chain of grand hotels from St. Augustine to Palm Beach and Miami, Flagler helped create what became known as the “American Riviera.”

Dr. Convertito will take attendees on a journey through time, detailing the opulence of Flagler’s resorts and the lifestyles of the leisure class that frequented them.  From architectural marvels to tales of high society, the lecture offers a fascinating glimpse into the social, economic, and cultural transformations that shaped modern Florida.

“Flagler’s influence on Florida’s development cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Cori Convertito, curator and historian for the Key West Art & Historical Society.  “He was a visionary who didn’t simply build railroads and hotels.  He reimagined an entire region as a luxurious destination for the wealthy elite.  His hotels were not just places to stay; they were statements of opulence, innovation, and social aspiration.  This talk will delve into how these grand establishments reflected the extravagance of the Gilded Age, and it offers a fascinating look at how tourism, architecture, and ambition collided to reshape Florida’s identity forever.”

Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the lecture beginning promptly at 5:00 p.m.  Tickets are highly recommended in advance and can be purchased online at kwahs.org/whats-on.  Admission is $13 for Society members and $17 for non-members, and each ticket includes a complimentary beverage.  Early purchase is encouraged as seating is limited.
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

August 26, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Key West Art & Historical Society is now accepting submissions for its upcoming juried exhibition, “Shadow & Light: Island Contrast,” opening December 3, 2025, at the Key West Museum of Art & History.  The exhibit invites artists living and working in the Florida Keys to explore the transformative relationship between natural light and the everyday world through visual art.

Opening December 3, 2025, and running through February 15, 2026, “Shadow & Light” encourages artists to step outdoors and observe how light transforms their surroundings.  Whether literal or abstract, the works should evoke wonder, introspection, and a sense of connection to nature’s elemental forces.

Submissions are now open and will be accepted through October 27, 2025, at www.kwahs.org/shadow-light.  All mediums are welcome, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, encaustic, pencil, sculpture, and mixed media.  Work must be original, created within the last three years, and not previously exhibited at the museum.  Each artist may submit one piece. A $25 submission fee helps offset exhibition costs.

The exhibition will be juried by a panel of local arts professionals: Dr. Cori Convertito, Curator for the Key West Art & Historical Society; Elena Devers, Deputy Director of The Studios of Key West; Jane Grannis, Vice President of Anne McKee Artists Fund; and Carole Garcia, Chairperson of the annual Anne McKee Art Auction.

Artists will be notified of acceptance by November 14.  Accepted works must be delivered between November 24–26.  The opening reception will take place on December 3, and the exhibition runs through February 15, 2026.  Please note that artwork will not be available for sale during the exhibition.

For full guidelines and to submit work, visit www.kwahs.org/shadow-light
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Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.