ROWITA Awards Celebration Ceremony

Pictured above: 2015 ROWITA Honorees

On Sunday, March 13th, 2016, at 5 p.m., the St. Johns Cultural Council will hold the eighth annual Dr. Gail Pflaster ROWITA (Recognizing Outstanding Women in the Arts) Celebration Ceremony in the Limelight Theatre. Named for the late Dr. Gail Pflaster, a committed supporter of the arts, the ROWITA Awards celebrate women in St. Johns County for their outstanding contributions to the arts.

This year's honorees are Elyse Brady, Manila Clough, Caren Goldman, Jan Tomlinson Master, JoAnn Nance, Rosamond Parrish, and Shirley Williams-Collins.

Elyse Brady has been the Administrator for the St. Augustine Art Association for seven years. Brady holds three art degrees, performed as a professional singer for nearly a decade, and continues her work in the arts with oversight of musical performances, exhibitions, and children's Art Camp programs.

Manila Clough has devoted the past six years to her mosaics work, examples of which can be seen around St. Augustine at Flagler Hospital and Anastasia Library, among others. Clough has a rich background in the arts, working as a professor and gallery-owner prior to her focus on mosaics.

Caren Goldman is the executive director and co-founder of Compassionate St. Augustine, and devoted her efforts to the nationally and internationally recognized Obelisk Art 450 project. Goldman is an award-winning journalist, and has worked as an author and freelance writer for national and metropolitan publications.

Jan Tomlinson Master represented the City of St. Augustine in Aviles, Spain to create an obelisk for Compassionate St. Augustine's Obelisk Art 450 project. With an extensive and varied background in the arts, Master is a partner at both Amiro galleries on Aviles Street, and her mosaic historic map welcomes guests at the St. Augustine Visitor's Information Center.

JoAnn Nance is an active participant in community theatre arts, performing, directing, and singing at the St. Anastasia Catholic Church. Nance holds a Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Flagler College, and bolstered the talents of her students in her award-winning drama department. 

Rosamond Parrish is an accomplished artist and community servant, working with EMMA, the St. Augustine Art Association, St. Augustine Historical Society, St. Augustine Archeological Association, and other community organizations. Parrish recently wrote and illustrated her book, "Lincolnville - A Sketchbook Journal of St. Augustine's Historic Neighborhood."

Shirley Williams-Collins is an accomplished poet and photographer, working to preserve the history of her native St. Augustine. Williams-Collins recently located important records from the Civil Rights Movement while photographing a building set to be demolished.

The winners of the Jr. ROWITA Fellowships will also be recognized at the ceremony.

The event will be free and open to the public. For more information about the ceremony and honorees, click here.

Admission: FREE

When: Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 5 p.m.

Where: The Limelight Theatre is located at 11 Old Mission Avenue in St. Augustine, FL 32084.