The link partners with Cultural Center to bring art, classes, programming to community

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A unique co-working space and innovation incubator set to open in June is expanding its focus to include the arts.

The link, a 22,500-square-foot facility at Nocatee Town Center, is a place for tech entrepreneurs to launch their companies and then flourish. But it also places a significant emphasis on lifestyle, energy conservation and the health and safety of its occupants and their families.

Toward that end, link founder and innovator Raghu Misra has announced that his team is working with The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach to form a partnership to incorporate arts and culture into the mix.

According to Misra, activities associated with science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics – often identified as STEAM – are at the core of what the link will represent.

“The link is very excited to partner with (the Cultural Center) to bring the arts and culture to our member community,” he said.

Summer and winter camps will be offered for children, but the partnership will include much more.

“We’re going to be doing a lot of programming for people of all age groups,” Misra said.

That means exhibitions of work by local, regional, national and international artists, events, art classes, lectures, workshops, after-school programs and adult programming.

“The link is paving the way for a partnership that is visionary,” said Donna Guzzo, Cultural Center president and executive director. “The Cultural Center believes in connecting the community while engaging the link members and others in a remarkable and rewarding cultural experience.”

Guzzo said the center’s mission – to bring the arts into the life of the community – dovetails with that of the link. In announcing the creation of the link last summer, Misra said he wanted it to provide “everything a family needs to learn, play, think and do.”

“We look forward to working with the link in our local market to uplift our nonprofit during the pandemic and to help the community have access and engage in the arts in a pioneering way,” Guzzo said.

According to Misra, some people neglect art as a field of study, even though it plays an integral role in innovation, product design being one example.

“What we wanted to do was to see how we can bring that back into the mix,” he said. “And also support a lot of local art and artists – you know, showcasing their talent.”

He pointed out another area that technology meets art – in the creation of digital art, which has been gaining popularity.

“We are confident that Donna and her team will inspire thought, imagination, productivity and human development across all age groups of our members and help them to thrive holistically,” he said.

The link is under construction now at 425 Town Plaza Ave.