Key West The Newspaper

Magaritaville Key West Resort & Marina recently joined Key West Art & Historical Society’s “Papio’s Pals” with a $3500 donation towards their Kinetic Coaches in the schools’ education program for the second annual Papio Kinetic Sculpture Bike Parade. Six groups of students will be assisted by the Kinetic Coaches over the course of six weeks in the creation of their kinetic sculpture float for the May 6 parade.

The parade is the centerpiece of a full weekend of kinetic revelry running May 5-7, inspired by and named for the late Keys artist Stanley Papio, a humorous rebel metal-artist who explored the value of recycled materials long before it was hip to be rusty. Margaritaville—a business modeled firmly in the roots of the famed Jimmy Buffet— is no stranger to rebel artists.

“They are certainly both unconventional artists with a unique approach to their respective talents and have made a tremendous impact on our community doing what they love,” says says Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina General Manager Diane Schmidt.

To date, The Society—stewards to Papio’s collection of more than 100 sculptures on display at Fort East Martello Museum— is offering over $7,000 in support to artists and schools participating in this year’s parade. The school scholarships and artists sponsorships will help propel select registrants forward as they proudly propel their kinetic sculpture floats down Duval Street Saturday, May 6 at noon with other registered kinetic sculpture float and art bike entrants.

“Students are the future of any community, and art makes every community better,” says Schmidt. “Margaritaville is proud to support our community and especially the youth within Key West and have long been proponents of the local arts.”

Participating artists and schools can apply for a limited number of sponsorships and scholarships to help move their vision forward by visiting papiokineticparade.com for proposal submission information and guidelines. Selection will be made on concepts of kinetics, creativity, and recycling, with wit, wheels, welding, and wire weighing in. A float that is human powered the only necessary requirement.

Businesses interested in becoming a Papio Pal by sponsoring individual artists, artist teams and/or school groups, can contact Michael Geida at 305-295-6616 x 103 for more information.

“I think both youth and arts programs are priority investments in every community,” says Schmidt. “When you can support youth and arts together, it’s a win-win.”

The Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of the Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida. Additional support provided by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Historic Tours of America, Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina and Southernmost Beach Café. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.