When the Norton Museum closed its art school in 1986, a dedicated group of artists, art teachers, and community activists formed the Armory Art Center to ensure the continuation of practical art instruction in Palm Beach County. In seeking a new home for the art school, they looked to the neglected Armory building constructed in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in an Art Deco style and designed by William Manley King. The building was a National Guard Armory from 1939 to 1982. By the late 1980s, after a period of multiple community uses, including high school dances, the building was scheduled for demolition when the art activists and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council came together to convince the City of West Palm Beach to spare the building from demolition and allow it to be transformed into an art center.
The Armory Art Center was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization on November 21, 1986, after the art group renovated the abandoned Art Deco structure into a vibrant space for art classes and art exhibitions. The center opened its doors to the public in July 1987 as a result of generous contributions from its many supporters, most notably Robert and Mary Montgomery and the Historic Preservation and Cultural Facilities Grants of the State of Florida. In 1992 the Armory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the past three decades, the Armory has taught art classes to thousands of emerging artists of all ages and cultures, exhibited art in hundreds of shows, given workshops taught by national and international visiting master artists, provided summer art camp for thousands of young people, and since the year 2000 has yearly given new artists-in-residence from around the United States and abroad the opportunity to hone their craft while teaching classes. The Armory looks to a long future of enhancing artistic life in the Palm Beaches.
**Join My Team and Make a Difference in Art and Charity!**
Are you passionate about art and helping people? If so, I have an incredible opportunity for you!
**About:**
I’m Michael Israel, a renowned artist dedicated to charitable works through my art. You can learn more about me on my website, [michaelisrael.com](https://michaelisrael.com), or through a quick Google search.
**Positions Available:**
Depending on your skills and available time, you might be a fit in more than one area.
1. **Social Media Manager:**
– Oversee all our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube).
– Create engaging content that connects with our audience.
2. **Social Media Contributors:**
– Contribute creatively to our social media accounts.
– Craft captivating captions and stories and engage with our followers.
– Creativity and enthusiasm are your greatest assets.
3. **Google Ads Expert:**
– Manage Google Ads campaigns to boost our online presence.
– Optimize ad strategies for maximum impact.
– Previous experience in Google Ads is required.
4. **Photographers and Videographers:**
– Capture stunning photos and videos of our artwork, events, and projects.
– Proficiency in photography and/or videography is essential.
4.1. **Live Stream Pros:**
We’re cooking up a sizzling live stream show featuring live model fashion painting, celebrity chats, charity spotlights, gripping documentaries, art giveaways, live auctions, and much more! Help us dazzle the world – We are renovating the control room and cyclorama now; your expertise in equipment and lighting will be the secret sauce. Be part of our creative adventure! Our studio will also provide recorded and live feeds for news channels worldwide when a live art performance can portray a message when something sensational happens in the world.
5. **Photo and Video Editors:**
– Edit photos and videos of our artwork, events, and projects.
– Expertise with editing software (Premiere, After Effects, 3-D apps) is required.
6. **Clients, Fans, and Collectors Correspondence Liaison:**
– Correspond with clients, fans, and collectors via email, phone, and social media.
– Excellent communication skills are a must.
7. **Event Logistics Manager:**
– Manage event logistics, including planning and organizing travel and shipping materials to events.
– Travel management experience is required.
**Location and Flexibility:**
We offer opportunities for full-time, part-time, on-site, remote, and even travel positions. No experience? No worries! Join as an intern or volunteer, and we provide training.
**Join Our Team and Make an Impact:**
If you’re excited about any of these positions and want to contribute to our mission, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We welcome your passion and dedication!
Wherever I’m doing a benefit show, I make myself available to do media interviews to help promote the charity and the event.
This was a great interview with Keenan Sanders on Goodmorning Wyoming KTWO for United Way of Natrona County’s Cinco De Michael at the fairgrounds Industrial building. It SOLD OUT and was a super fun night and a successful fundraiser.
I was pretty self-conscious when they wanted to call the event Cinco De “Michael.” But, I am proud that my artwork had raised over a quarter million dollars at two previous events, and helped them gain new sponsors.
Was there ever a time when you attended a fundraiser so extraordinary that you would remember it for the rest of your life?
$250,000! Going twice!
So exhilarating that the entire room jumped from their seats, shouted, and gasped out loud? Then you found yourself emotionally charged and in a bidding war with others offering insane money for an artwork painted right in front of your eyes?
Sold for $250,000!
Charities must attract, engage, and energize the top 2% of their communities to survive. Michael Israel, America’s original live-action artist, makes it easy.
Described as ‘Cirque du Soleil meets Picasso”, Michael Israel paints larger-than-life canvasses with iconic images in rhythm to high-energy music live on-stage.
He has a worldwide fan base of 100 million people. His Hero video has garnered over 14 million views on YouTube. Michael has performed for Presidential and Olympic events, fortune 500 companies, and was the featured artist for a $158.2 million renovation celebration for the DIA, which is America’s sixth-largest museum. He has shared stages with such luminaries as Warren Buffett, Garth Brooks, Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen, Jay Leno, Tony Robbins, Brooks and Dunn, the Temptations, Kevin Costner, Kevin Bacon, and more. More importantly, he has helped over 100 charities. His portrait of Warren Buffett sold for $100,000 to benefit Girls Inc of Omaha.
Companies and casinos pay large fees for Michael’s performances, but when he does a benefit show for a charity, he does not charge a performance fee. His shows and art have raised millions of dollars. His philanthropic vision spills over into a bottom-line driven focus to help charities. His team also helps charities secure sponsorships, positive media, and ticket sales in addition to proceeds from his show and art sales.
Guests of Beaux-Arts were awestruck by Michael during their signature fundraiser, Up on the Rooftop at the Museum of Art Ft. Lauderdale. Sponsorship and ticket sales for an encore the following year reached record levels.
For a gala for the United Way of Chester County, Pennsylvania, they had planned an admission fee of $250 per couple, but with Michael as the featured artist, the seats sold out at $1,000 a couple. Michael’s paintings also sold out; the first one sold for $55,000.
Executive VP Chris Saello said, “Best event ever! Michael is a game-changer for us, he’s energized our organization!” Before leaving that evening, sponsors promised large donations if they could get Michael back for a repeat performance.
Sherrye McBryde, Director, The Susan G. Komen, Arkansas – “His ability to translate the true meaning of our organization onto canvas was amazing. He made the crowd go crazy. He drove fundraising dollars higher than ever before!”
Michael has appointed a charity committee to award a limited number of benefit performances each year.
Howie Mandel auctions his portrait!
