 KEY WEST, FL — The Studios of Key West recently recognized eight outstanding young writers during the 2026 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for Kids & Teens, celebrating creativity, imagination, and literary achievement among students throughout Monroe County.
This year's contest received more than 240 submissions from young poets across the Florida Keys, including 151 entries in the Kids Division and 95 entries in the Teen Division. From those submissions, twelve poets were selected for awards by judges Flower Conroy, former Key West Poet Laureate, and artist and writer Kalo Clarke. The contest is administered annually by The Studios of Key West through the generosity of the Jeane and Jessie Porter Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. The program encourages young writers to explore poetry while honoring the legacy of longtime supporters of education, literature, and youth throughout the island chain. 2026 award recipients included: Kids Division
"The creativity, vulnerability, humor, and imagination found in these poems was truly inspiring," said Michelle Boscamp, Associate Director of Marketing & Advancement at The Studios of Key West. "Every student who submitted work demonstrated courage by sharing their voice, and we're proud to celebrate the next generation of writers in our community." The awards ceremony was held at The Studios of Key West and included readings by several of the winning poets, followed by a reception for students, families, teachers, and supporters. Photo Caption: Winners and honorees of the 2026 Robert Frost Poetry Contest for Kids & Teens gather at Hugh's View rooftop following the awards ceremony at The Studios of Key West. By Mark Hedden. For more information about youth programs at The Studios of Key West, visit The Studios or contact Michelle Boscamp at [email protected] or 305-509-7903.
0 Comments
 In honor of National Poetry Month, The Studios of Key West is proud to present the Robert Frost Poetry Contest for Kids & Teens, celebrating the literary legacy of Robert Frost (1874-1963).
Open to Monroe County students aged 6-18, the contest nurtures young poets and fosters creativity within the Keys' vibrant arts community. Submissions are open April 1-30, 2026. PRIZES:
SUBMISSION DETAILS: Students may submit up to three poems, any style or subject, in English or Spanish. Entries should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed/dropped off at The Studios of Key West. Each submission must include the student's name, age, and parent/guardian contact information. Teachers may also submit the work of their students. Open to Monroe County, FL only. Winners will be announced online and honored at a special reception and reading on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 1 PM at The Studios of Key West. The contest is supported by the Jeane and Jessie Porter Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys and judged by notable poets and artists, including Flower Conroy (former Key West Poet Laureate, NEA Fellow), Kalo Clarke (writer, artist), Erika Hawks (Key West Yoga Sanctuary founder, Studios board member, native Spanish-speaker). For more information, contact: 📧 Michelle Boscamp – [email protected] 📍 The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton St 📞 305-296-0458 Key West, FL – On Saturday, February 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Studios of Key West’s annual Artist Studio Tour comes to the Midtown West section of the island, inviting art lovers to explore a remarkable collection of working studios set beneath sweeping banyan canopies, inside airy Conch houses, and within thoughtfully designed live/work spaces. This self-guided experience offers a rare opportunity to step beyond gallery walls and into the inspiring environments where art is created.
All studios are located within an easy-to-navigate Midtown stretch of just over a mile, making the tour easy to explore by car or bike. Guests may move at their own pace, linger where something catches their eye, and experience the diversity of Key West’s creative community firsthand. The tour begins at the studio of Tom Pope at Stop #1 – 1610 Von Phister Street, where visitors may purchase day-of tickets and pick up maps. Pope moved to Key West in 1974 and built a fifty-year career here as an architect before turning his creative focus to watercolor painting. He now brings that practiced eye to his watercolors, capturing light, structure, and atmosphere in his backyard studio. Photographer Jill Benado will welcome guests at the former studio of her late husband, Bill Hartman, where his work — reflecting a deep connection to life on the water and the natural world — remains on view. At the home and studio of Jean Carper — New York Times best-selling author, visual artist, and noted art collector — visitors will encounter not only her vibrant artwork but also an impressive private collection featuring pieces by John Martini, Jack Baron, Anja Marais, and other acclaimed artists. Her stop offers an intimate glimpse into both the creative process and the art of collecting. Sculptor Sally Wernicoff works from an outdoor studio where clay, stone, and plaster take shape in the open air. Senegal-born painter Michel Delgado presents richly layered canvases blending memory, legend, and everyday life. Mixed media artist Dan Bar rounds out the tour with bold, pop-inspired compositions, including a series of deconstructed bird paintings influenced by Audubon. “This tour has become one of our most anticipated events each year. It gives people the rare opportunity to step inside working studios, speak directly with artists, and experience the creative energy of a neighborhood they may not have explored before,” said Elena Devers, deputy director. From historic cottages to garden courtyards to purpose-built art spaces, the tour reflects the range and diversity of artists who call Midtown home. Tickets: $35 advance at www.tskw.org / $40 day of at Stop 1: 1610 Von Phister. Advance ticket purchase is encouraged.  Roxana Saber Key West, FL — Few journalists can speak as personally about the cost of truth as Roxana Saberi. An award-winning reporter, author, and former CBS News correspondent, Saberi will join The Studios of Key West for Between Two Palms on Tuesday, February 24, sharing insights from a career spent covering global conflict—and from her own imprisonment in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.
Led by Stephen Kitsakos, Artistic Associate and Executive Producer of the series, Between Two Palms offers audiences intimate, in-depth conversations with acclaimed artists and thinkers. In this special evening, Saberi will speak about the courage, clarity, and ethical responsibility required in modern journalism. Saberi’s reporting has taken her across the globe, covering major human rights stories and international crises. In 2009, she was imprisoned on false charges of espionage while reporting in Iran, an experience that profoundly shaped her understanding of power, truth, and freedom. Her memoir, Between Two Worlds, offers a rare and deeply human account of incarceration, resilience, and the cost of bearing witness. Saberi is currently also a Peyton Evans Artist Resident (PEAR) at The Studios of Key West — part of the organization’s residency program, which provides time, space, and community for writers, composers, musicians, artists, and interdisciplinary creators to develop new work while engaging with Key West’s rich cultural landscape. America’s Finest Folk and Americana Artists Shine Indoors and Under the Stars [Key West, FL] — The Studios of Key West is turning up the volume this winter with Old Town New Folk, a live music series built for people who love a great night out — even if “folk” isn’t usually their thing.
This contemporary folk series is smart, lively, and full of personality: music with sharp turns, great stories, and artists who know how to take an audience along for the ride. Each performer plays twice — once in the Helmerich Theater and once under the stars at Hugh’s View Rooftop — turning winter nights in Key West into something electric, with close-up performances and the kind of shared experience that makes live music memorable. John McCutcheon (February 3–4) brings the kind of show that feels like you’ve been invited into a long, lively conversation — funny, generous, and full of heart. With more than 45 albums and a legendary command of the hammered dulcimer, his songs draw from real people and real lives. Rachael Sage (February 17–18) brings her bold, genre-hopping sound to the series. An early pioneer of independent music-making, Sage blends folk, pop, rock, and jazz with theatrical flair. Her performances are intimate and surprising, often shifting gears mid-song and keeping audiences happily guessing. Jon Langford (March 3–4) follows with shows shaped by a career that has zigzagged through punk, alternative country, and indie rock. A founding member of the Mekons and a longtime fixture of Chicago’s music scene, Langford delivers performances that are sharp, funny, story-driven, and refreshingly unpolished. Jake Shimabukuro (March 10–11) brings his jaw-dropping artistry to Key West. Best known for sparking a global ukulele revival after a viral performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” Shimabukuro moves effortlessly from classical to rock to jazz, often leaving first-time listeners grinning in disbelief at what a ukulele can do. The season concludes with Ricky Skaggs with Sharon White (March 24–25). A Grammy Award-winning legend who first appeared on national television as a child, Skaggs brings decades of mastery to bluegrass and country music. Joined by White’s luminous harmonies, the performances promise warmth, virtuosity, and deep roots — played with joy rather than nostalgia. Hugh’s View Rooftop offers sweeping island views and open-air nights under the sky, while the Helmerich Theater delivers an up-close indoor experience where every note lands. Whether indoors or under the stars, Old Town New Folk is designed for listening, laughing, and leaning in. Old Town New Folk tickets are available now at tskw.org or by calling 305-296-0458. Front-Row Seat to New American Theater: First Look Begins with The Starters January 30 & 311/12/2026  Professional actors Ally Farzetta and Britt Michael Gordon starred in last year’s kickoff production of The Studios of Key West’s First Look series. This year’s season kicks off with The Starters January 30 & 31. Photo by Mark Hedden. KEY WEST, FL — This season, The Studios of Key West proudly presents First Look, a season of four new plays that invites audiences into the creative process as it unfolds. Produced by Jeff Johnson, past Chair of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and past President of Waterfront Playhouse, the series brings playwrights, directors, and professional actors together for an intensive week of rehearsal, culminating in staged readings for a live audience that offer a rare view of contemporary theater in motion.
First Look occupies a distinctive space between a table read and a full production. The plays are deeply rehearsed and thoughtfully staged, allowing audiences to engage closely with the writing, the performances, and the choices being explored in the room. Each production brings together New York– and Los Angeles–based actors alongside accomplished Key West performers, guided by nationally recognized directors, reflecting a commitment to both new voices and the evolving craft of playwriting. “First Look is about proximity—to the work, to the artists, and to the moment when a play is still revealing itself,” says producer Jeff Johnson. “The selection process is highly competitive, and we’re looking for plays with urgency and clarity—writing that asks big questions and holds up under sustained focus. A full week of rehearsal gives those plays the space they need to fully emerge.” The 2026 season opens January 30–31 with The Starters by Laura Winters, a contemporary drama about a professional football player and his wife navigating ambition, risk, and the limits of the body. February’s The Patrons by Nick Gandiello is set in a small-town library in 1963, where budget cuts and a single controversial book force staff members to confront censorship and community pressure. In March, Mom’s Best Friend by Dan McCabe examines the sudden rupture of a close mother-daughter relationship and the emotional fallout that follows. The series concludes in April with My Maria by Andrew Russell, set in a fictional southern Midwest town, where a sixty-year-old school resource officer's developing romance collides with public scrutiny after a mass shooting. Together, the plays share a focus on people at moments of decision—when private lives intersect with public consequence, and certainty gives way to change. Intimate, urgent, and distinctly contemporary, First Look offers audiences a front-row seat to the future of American theater. All performances take place at The Studios of Key West at 8:00 PM: The Starters — January 30 & 31 The Patrons — February 13 & 14 Mom’s Best Friend — March 20 & 21 My Maria — April 3 & 4 For tickets and additional information, visit tskw.org.
KEY WEST, FL — The Studios of Key West is proud to present WORM: A Cuban American Odyssey, an exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist and illustrator Edel Rodriguez, opening Thursday, January 8, with a public reception from 6–8pm in the Sanger Gallery. Please note that due to the New Year’s holiday, The Studios’ First Thursday Open House has been moved to the second Thursday of the month.
Best known for his bold, provocative covers for TIME and Der Spiegel, Rodriguez brings together original drawings from his acclaimed graphic memoir Worm, along with new paintings, silkscreened posters, and political illustrations that have made him one of the most influential visual voices of our time. The exhibition also features personal artifacts, family photographs, and source materials that shaped the book, offering an intimate and layered look at a life lived between cultures. WORM: A Cuban American Odyssey traces Rodriguez’s extraordinary journey from his childhood in Cold War Cuba to his family’s escape during the 1980 Mariel boatlift. Labeled gusanos—“worms”—by the Castro regime, Rodriguez and his family fled by shrimping boat, arriving in Key West, the first American soil he ever knew. That moment would become foundational to an artistic practice rooted in migration, displacement, and the pursuit of freedom. Today, Rodriguez is widely recognized for artwork that confronts authoritarianism, champions democratic values, and gives visual form to the immigrant experience. As he has said, “My main responsibility as a visual artist is to communicate and inform — to get people to pay attention to the things that affect their lives, and to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.” His work is deeply personal yet globally resonant, shaped by lived experience and an unwavering commitment to truth. The exhibition is complemented by the PBS documentary Edel Rodriguez: Freedom Is a Verb, part of In the Making, an American Masters and Firelight Media series spotlighting emerging cultural icons. The 17-minute film is free to stream on PBS.org and via the PBS app. → Watch the film: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/edel-rodriguez-freedom-is-a-verb/36594/ WORM: A Cuban American Odyssey will be on view January 8–29, 2026, in the Sanger Gallery at The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton Street. The exhibition is sponsored by Historic Hideaways. For more information, visit tskw.org.  Flamy Grant, courtesy the artist. Key West, FL — The Studios of Key West is proud to welcome Flamy Grant, the award-winning drag artist and singer-songwriter whose bold vocals, heartfelt storytelling, and barrier-breaking career have captured national attention. Hailing from the creative haven of Asheville, North Carolina, Flamy brings the spirit of the Blue Ridge Mountains to Key West for two unforgettable performances. She will appear on January 6 at 7pm in the Helmerich Theater and on January 7 at 6pm at Hugh’s View, both located at The Studios of Key West, as part of The Playlist, a new concert series showcasing outstanding, genre-defying artists.
Each evening offers a different setting and experience: the intimate Helmerich Theater for those who love a traditional performance environment, and the open-air rooftop of Hugh’s View for audiences who prefer an outdoor, sunset-lit atmosphere. Concert tickets range from $70–$100 and Studios members receive a 15% discount on programs. Flamy Grant made history in 2023 when her debut album Bible Belt Baby reached #1 on the iTunes Christian music charts, marking the first time a drag performer topped the genre. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, People, and other major outlets. She later received a 2026 International Folk Music Award nomination for Best Album for her acclaimed follow-up Church, which also debuted at #8 on the iTunes Country charts. Celebrated for her mix of blistering vocals, sharp wit, and deeply human storytelling, Flamy creates performances that resonate across communities—from progressive faith spaces to LGBTQ+ audiences to lovers of folk, narrative-driven music, and bold original artistry. Event Details Flamy Grant — Live in Concert January 6 · 7pm · Helmerich Theater January 7 · 6pm · Hugh’s View Rooftop The Studios of Key West 533 Eaton Street, Key West, FL The Studios of Key West thrives on creativity, community, and connection. From immersive workshops and thought-provoking exhibitions to dynamic performances and special events, The Studios serves as a vibrant hub for artistic inspiration across the Florida Keys. Learn more at www.tskw.org.  Montessori Children’s School teachers Dawn Anderson, Kalei Hanna, and Carole Faye (left to right) enjoy “Toast to Teachers,” a twice-annual rooftop celebration honoring Monroe County educators at The Studios of Key West. Photo by Mark Hedden. Key West, FL – December 2025 — For the third year in a row, The Studios of Key West is celebrating Monroe County teachers with a special gift: a complimentary one-year membership for all educators in the county. It’s a way to say thank you to those who dedicate themselves to inspiring the next generation.
“Teachers give so much to our community, and we want to give something back,” said Michael Ross, Director of Exhibitions and Education at The Studios. “A membership at The Studios provides a chance to connect with art, recharge creatively, and perhaps discover something new.” Membership includes full access to exhibitions, performances, and cultural events throughout the year, plus discounts on workshops. Teachers can browse the website to find workshops that spark their interest and sign up using their membership discount. Monroe County teachers also receive an additional 20% off one workshop of their choice in 2026 — combined with the member discount, this makes many workshops practically half price. This season, The Studios offers a vibrant mix of hands-on workshops for every creative curiosity. Paint outdoors in plein air classes, craft mala jewelry, baskets, or wood carvings, experiment with watercolor, acrylics, collage, or encaustic art, and explore the written word through poetry, personal essay, or short story workshops. Performers can join improv, comedy scene study, or musical theater classes. With the membership plus the extra teacher discount, many of these experiences are available at nearly half price, making it easy to create, play, and learn all year long. Classes can be found online at https://tskw.org/all-classes-and-workshops/ Teachers can claim their free membership by visiting The Studios at 533 Eaton Street during regular hours, Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm, or calling 305-296-0458 to sign up before December 31. The Studios of Key West thrives on creativity, community, and connection. From immersive workshops and thought-provoking exhibitions to dynamic performances and special events, The Studios serves as a vibrant hub for artistic inspiration across the Florida Keys. Learn more at www.tskw.org. Key West, FL — September 2025 — Fall in Key West means the arts come alive, and The Studios of Key West is ready to welcome the community back with its 2025–26 preseason. The festivities begin with First Thursday on Thursday, October 2 from 6–8pm, the monthly open house that brings neighbors, artists, and visitors together in celebration of creativity. Guests can explore new exhibitions—including bold fashion and drag artistry from Mitchell “Qmitch” Jones, sculptural textile works by Jennifer Printz, a vibrant take on Florida’s traditions by Emma Mykowski, plus the Summer Bookmark Contest from Books & Books. Add in rooftop wine and the warm glow of friends gathering—it’s a community night not to miss.
The preseason lineup also includes an inspiring range of workshops, featuring two highlights from the Peyton Evans Artist Residencies (PEAR) program. On October 10, Obie Award–winning playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn leads Writing From the Inside Out, a workshop designed to help writers tap into the unconscious mind and discover surprising, personal stories. Then on November 18, celebrated novelist and memoirist Jami Attenberg—author of The Middlesteins and I Came All This Way to Meet You—shares her wisdom on sustaining a creative life in Put Your Creativity First. Other fall offerings range from Sumi-e ink painting on November 7 to rooftop stargazing on November 24–25, and the playful Theatrical Clown & Puppetry workshop December 20–21. December also brings Painting Bootcamp, embroidery, iPhone photography, and more—ensuring there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned artist or simply curious to try something new. Preseason for Kids & Families Preseason is an especially welcoming time for kids and families, with a slate of hands-on, affordable workshops designed just for young artists. Children can create framed fall masterpieces in Autumn Art for Kids on November 15, design and print their own holiday cards on December 6, and even ring in the new year at Camp MicroPARTY, December 29–31 & January 2—a joyful multi-day camp blending art, music, storytelling, and science. These offerings make it easy for families to jump into the season and give kids the chance to explore creativity in a fun, supportive environment. “Preseason is one of our favorite times of year,” said Michael Ross, Director of Exhibitions and Education. “It’s when the community comes back together, artists bring new energy to their studios, and we set the stage for the season ahead.” For more information about exhibitions and to register for classes, visit www.tskw.org. |
Submit Your StoriesChamber members send us your press releases on your organizations accomplishments, staff awards and/or major happenings. We will post them for free. Archives
July 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.
510 Greene St., First Floor | Key West, FL 33040 [email protected] | sitemap |
|