Mayor spotlights volunteer-run Art Studio at Old City Hall, promotes First Friday

Mayor Dylan Rumrell spoke with Paul Slala, director of the Art Studio housed in Old City Hall, to highlight the volunteer-run, oceanfront gallery and its community events.

Slala said the Art Studio represents more than 50 local artists and operates as a nonprofit gallery run almost entirely by volunteers. "It's all the artists run this and keep it open daily from 12 to 5," he said, adding that the studio charges a $60 annual membership fee and lets members show and sell their work.

The studio displays a wide range of media, Slala said, including painting, jewelry, stained glass, ceramics, sculpture and embroidery. He noted the building’s history: "It's from '19, I think, '39," and described its former use as the city hall. Mayor Rumrell emphasized the gallery's waterfront location, calling it "the only oceanfront art gallery here in the City of St. Augustine Beach."

Slala invited residents and visitors to the city's First Friday event, which he said the studio participates in most months. "Coming up this Friday, everyone, from 5 to 8, usually, it runs 5 to 9," he said, describing an artist-of-the-month feature, live entertainment and light refreshments.

The interview framed the studio as a local amenity that supports artists and community arts programming. No formal decisions or city actions were taken during the segment.

The Art Studio is open daily from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to Slala, and charges an annual membership fee of $60; Slala described the membership as intentionally low-cost to encourage broad participation.