Mount Dora Center for the Arts Information

The Mount Dora Center for the Arts is a charitable, non-profit collaborative leader, which plays an integral role in the community, by demonstrating the passion and commitment to the development of the arts through progressive and diverse educational programs, dynamic exhibits and an annual arts festival which is the foundation of artistic expression within the community. In 1975, a group of art-loving citizens held the first Mount Dora Arts Festival. It was a small event, but it was a big success. They decided to have an Arts Festival every year. In 1984, many of these same citizens of Mount Dora banded together to form the Mount Dora Cultural Council. It was their goal to celebrate the arts in Mount Dora, as well as further promote and improve the quality of the Arts Festival. Staffed by volunteers and funded through membership dues and private contributions, the Cultural Council began to grow. In 1985, The Cultural Council moved into 138 East 5th Avenue. More people joined the Cultural Council, and in 1986, the Board of Trustees resolved to change the name to Mount Dora Center for the Arts. The Mount Dora Center for the Arts has provided quality art experiences in the Lake County region of Central Florida ever since. The Center maintains a year-round calendar of arts-related events and activities and serves the community by providing changing exhibits of original art, arts education programs, classes, seminars and lectures. In 1989, the Board of Trustees hired the first full-time, degree director to oversee operations and expand the Arts Festival. In 1995, with a 30% down payment and owner financed mortgage, the MDCA Board of Trustees purchased the building 20 years ago, where the Art Center is still located today. The Arts Festival, MDCA's signature event, hosts 285 artists and draws in 285,000 people from all over. The historical downtown, Mount Dora is only 35 mins Northwest of Orlando, surrounded by boutiques and along Lake Dora.