Highlands Art League – 2014  Sebring Chamber Business of the Year

The Highlands Art League (HAL) was incorporated in 1967 as a 501 c3 by a visionary
group that identified the need for an art and cultural entity in Highlands County, Florida.
Their goal brought about awareness of the visual arts and support for the endeavors of
local and regional artists.

The Highlands Art League’s ‘Village Where Art Lives’ is located at the Allen Altvater
Cultural Center in Downtown Sebring, Florida on the shores of Lake Jackson. The Village
consists of four buildings: the Visual Arts Center  which houses art classes for children and
adults;  MoTA  which features curated exhibits, art competitions and receptions, as well as
our offices; the Clovelly House which is where the members art gallery/gift shop and
Artist-in-Residency are located; and The Yellow House which is rented out to
Grateful Hearts, a DIY crafts business.

In 1966, HAL started their annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival, which is one of the longest
consecutive art festivals in the state of Florida. HAL has brought thousands of artists,
tourists, art lovers and shoppers to the County, as well as continually provides educational
opportunities and art exhibitions for the local community. Four annual events today are
designed to support the operations of HAL’s village which in turn allow us to provide
opportunities for Arts education, appreciation, and practice. In 2019, HAL has more than
75 working artists as part of its membership, with opportunities for creating not only their
own work but for sharing their talents with others, making the ‘Village Where Art Lives’, a
village comprised of business members who support the Arts, artists who are the heart of
our organization, and community members who find value in growing and maintaining
strong Arts programs in their community.

Come visit us! Celebrate the Arts!