COCA has been serving the area since 1985. More than thirty years ago, the community created COCA as their designated local arts agency. The capital area’s only umbrella agency for arts and culture, COCA works with and for those who produce, invest in, and experience the arts and culture in our area. COCA is not a government entity, but works hand-in-hand with the city, county, state, and local school district as their cultural industry partner. The City and County contract with COCA to access their expertise and provide specific services that benefit the community at large. COCA’s board of directors is not made up primarily of artists nor do they represent any one cultural institution. That’s because the Florida statute by which COCA was founded expressly prohibits members from representing any one arts faction. Instead, two practicing artists are members, and the remaining board members are outstanding private citizens with expertise in tourism, finance, business, economic development, marketing, and volunteering. The city and county commissions make appointments to the COCA Board from a list of three nominees sent to them by the COCA Board for consideration. These nominations have been vetted to fill the needs on the Board and assure that it is a broad representation of the community demographic. COCA’s staff is where the professional arts expertise is found. This group of talented multi-taskers have titles that may not give you enough information about the many hats they wear. You will find, in addition to their titles, a list of things that they each handle. We hope it will help you know who to call to get the information you need. COCA is proud of our cultural community, and we look forward to sharing all the ways that “The Arts Live Here!”