Okaloosa Public Arts is an organization of Okaloosa County artists and other citizens who are committed to providing exceptional and meaningful art in our public spaces through private donations.
Okaloosa Public Arts (OPA) started as a group of ladies who enjoyed meeting together and discussing art. Early meetings were at individual homes or local restaurants for lunch. Although the setting was casual, the meetings became more formal and more business-like. In early 2011 this group of friends decided to create a “committee” to put art in public places in Okaloosa County. Thus, OPA was born.
The first OPA members were Bernadette Sims (Chair), Thalia Newton, Anne Johnston (Secretary), Barbara Lord (webmaster), Linda Carr (Treasurer), Linda Kernick, Fran Gerstman (Vice-Chair), and Dinah Remington (Special exhibits).
Click on the links below to learn more about OPA!
About Okaloosa Public Arts
OPA continues to strive to raise arts awareness in Okaloosa County. Okaloosa Public Arts has donated funds to local school art programs in support of rising artists. In recent years OPA has sponsored the banners along Eglin Parkway in Cinco Bayou, featuring high school artists currently.
OPA welcomes any local artists to contact us about becoming a part of our growing organization!
Timeline of OPA History
2011 – First Courthouse Annex Art Show, FWB
2012 - Invitational Art Show at NWF State College Student Services Building
2012 - UWF Library Art Show, Invitational Folk Art Show
2012 – Destin Library Board Member Show
2012 – Photography show at UWF Library
2012 – Courthouse Annex Art Show
2013 – NWF Ballet art show at NWF Regional Airport
2014 – Art in the Park, FWB Landing
2015 – First OPA Show at Okaloosa County Admin Building
2016 – Annual OPA show at Okaloosa County Admin Building
2017 – Annual OPA show at Okaloosa County Admin Building
2018 – Annual OPA show at Okaloosa County Admin Building
2019 – Annual OPA show at Okaloosa County Admin Building
2019 – NWF Ballet Art Show
2019 – OPA Board Member Banner Project, Cinco Bayou
2020 – Annual OPA show at Okaloosa County Admin Building
2021 – Annual OPA show at Okaloosa County Admin Building
2022 – High School Banner Art Project, Cinco Bayou
2022 – Annual OPA show at Okaloosa County Admin Building
2022 – Middle School Art Show (7-8 grade), Liza Jackson School
2022 – Middle School Art Show (6th grade), FWB Library
2022-2023 – Heron Project
2023 – High School Banner Art Project, Cinco Bayou
