Underwater Museum of Art Fundraiser At Grand Boulevard May 11

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) welcomes the one-of-a-kind comedy/music group, The Cleverlys, as headliner for the 5th Annual Under The Sea fundraiser for the Underwater Museum of Art.

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Under the Sea will take place on Thursday, May 11th, 6:00 - 9:00 PM, in Grand Boulevard’s Town Center and is the official kick-off party for Art Month Walton County, a month-long celebration of the Arts that includes many diverse cultural events throughout the month of May.

Funds raised from Under The Sea ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit the fifth deployment of sculptures into the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA), a collaborative project with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) and the nation’s first permanent dedicated sculpture museum, recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 2018 100 World’s Greatest Places as well as one of National Geographic’s Best Trips 2019.

Event headliners The Cleverlys are a faux-family band of accomplished musicians from a remote part of the Ozark Mountains putting their unique bluegrass spin on cover songs from any genre. The Cleverlys’ set list includes genius arrangements of tunes like Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” a medley of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity,” and Flo Rida’s “Low” that recently went viral on Facebook, with over 11 million views. They have traveled the globe, if the globe only consisted of the United States, performing at music venues and some of the nation’s largest festivals like Stagecoach, Telluride, CMA Music Fest and even the Grand Ole Opry. The band has also headlined the 30A Wine Festival’s Bourbon, Beer & Butts event in Alys Beach.

Opening the event stage will be Stormfolk, an alternative folk band with siblings Mick Grocholl and Kaylyn Hastings, alongside Preston Czygan. Based in Pensacola, Florida, the band combines a singer/songwriter-feel with folk, bluegrass, rock, and pop, crafting their unique sound.

In addition to continuous live music, “Under The Sea” party-goers will have an exclusive chance to meet the 2023 UMA artists and see several of the original works they have created before the sculptures are deployed to the UMA site over the summer. Special food menu items from some of South Walton’s most popular restaurants and celebrated Chefs will be available, along with a cash bar featuring signature cocktails, wine, and beer. Tickets are $60 per person in advance and $75 per person day of the event and are on sale now at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/upcoming-events.

The “Under The Sea '' event is produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County with support from Visit South Walton, Grand Boulevard Town Center, First National Bank, Latitude Margaritaville, Seaside Yacht Club and Word of Mouth Restaurant Group. A few event and sculpture sponsorships are still available, and those interested can contact Gabby Callaway at Gabby@culturalartsalliance.com for more details.

The UMA is a project of the CAA’s 'Art in Public Spaces' program created in partnership with SWARA with the purpose to create marine habitat and expand fishery populations while providing enhanced creative, cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education and enjoyment of residents, students and visitors in South Walton.

The 2023 UMA installation will include the following pieces of sculpture: Quantum Reef by Chris Chubb (Tallahassee, FL), Space Nest by Frank Henderson (Evanston, IL),  Welcome Home by Zachery Long (Oklahoma City, OK), Madam Nature by Andrew Luy (Huntsville, AL), Cetacean Remains by Pat Mclain (Stone Mountain, GA), One Tree by Ann Moeller Steverson (Huntsville, AL) Opus by Allison Wickey (Santa Rosa Beach, FL).  
Select sculptures will be on display at the fundraiser and throughout the weekend during the 35th annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival in Grand Boulevard’s Town Center May 13th and 14th and will then be transferred to Orange Beach, AL to be prepared for their deployment into the Gulf this summer to expand the museum as they join the previously deployed 34 sculptures. The UMA site is located less than one mile off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park in a one-acre permit patch of seabed.

The project is produced with support from Visit South Walton, Florida Arts and Culture, Merrill Lynch, Morning Star Foundation, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, and the Ellis Family. For more information and tickets, visit www.UMAFL.org or www.CulturalArtsAlliance.com.

About Cultural Arts Alliance:
As the creative core of Walton County for three decades, the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County offers support, connection and access opportunities for all forms of art, every variety of maker, all levels of learners, and especially, art lovers. Since its founding in 1993, the CAA has granted over $750,000 to the Walton County creative community through its Art For All program. Through sponsorship, performance, and educational programs, the 501(c)(3) organization directly connects the people of Walton County with the broader view, the critical exploration, and the answers only the Arts have the power to provide. For more information, visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com.

About South Walton Artificial Reef Association:
The South Walton Artificial Reef Association is a grassroots, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to deploying and monitoring publicly permitted living reefs in Walton County's near shore coastal waters for the benefit, education, and enrichment of residents, visitors, and marine habitat for present and future generations. Learn more at SwaraReefs.org.