CAP has announced Stephanie and Tim Cost as the 2022 Guardians of the Arts for their efforts to safeguard and advance the arts along the First Coast.
The Costs will be recognized at the 17th annual Spring for the Arts on Friday, April 15, 2022, at Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club. Spring for the Arts is the signature fundraising event for CAP and one of the most well-attended events supporting arts education for children in Duval County.
“The Costs join a long line of Guardian of the Arts award recipients whose names are synonymous with arts and culture along the First Coast,” said CAP President & CEO Kimberly Hyatt. “As an organization devoted to educating students in the arts, CAP is honored to have such strong partners at the helm of Jacksonville University who share our vision for Northeast Florida to lead the nation in providing essential and accessible arts education by making our community a better place to live, learn and work.”
Stephanie & Tim Cost, 2022 Guardians of the Arts Recipients
Stephanie and Tim Cost moved to Jacksonville in 2012, when Tim became Jacksonville University’s 12th president. Over the past decade, the couple has made a tremendous impact on the arts in the Northeast Florida community, primarily through their work at Jacksonville University. They partnered with faculty, staff and administration to expand and extend the University’s fine arts program with advancements in all aspects of arts education. Their work has been transformational for both Jacksonville University and the entire Northeast Florida community through the following initiatives:
- Securing a multi-year, multi-million-dollar gift to name the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts, one of the largest investments in the University’s 88-year history.
- Naming beloved faculty member, Dr. Tim Snyder, Dean of the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts.
- Establishing the Cost Scholars Program, which provides opportunities for scholars to create meaningful relationships with their donors during their college experience.
- Establishing the Cost Fine Arts Reception Series, inviting community members to join the President & First Lady at on-campus fine arts performances and exhibitions throughout the year.
- Developing the University’s broad-based STEAM Initiative with dedicated faculty and facilities, integrating arts curriculum into the study of science, technology, engineering and math.
- Launching a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts.
- Commissioning student art in glass, ceramics, photography and the performing arts to showcase their talent and educate student artists on the process of creating art for a living.
- Commissioning and funding the first bronze statue on campus, which honors founding dean of the College of Fine Arts and former University president, Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne.
- Commissioning and funding the University’s iconic campus dolphin statues, created by JU Art in Public Spaces students, which are now the preferred photo backdrop for student and family pictures at matriculation, graduation and most student campus photos.
- Funding Creative Current, a 2,500-piece glass work displayed in the entrance of Terry Concert Hall, which was a collaboration of student, faculty and community talent resulting in a 56-foot-long masterpiece.
- Renovating Terry Concert Hall, creating one of the finest acoustic facilities in Jacksonville.
- Securing international artist Shan Shan Sheng of San Francisco to create a large-scale art installation of unique public art in the new roundabout at the University’s main entrance.
- Refurbishing the Phillips Fine Arts Building, home to a recital hall, recording studio and digital piano/computer laboratory.
- Completing renovations to the Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery.
- Upgrading the Arts Research Complex which houses the University’s two-dimensional and three-dimensional arts studios and glassblowing studio.
“Tim and Stephanie are a dynamic duo and have become such a valued asset to our community,” said Linda Berry Stein, Jacksonville University alumna and previous Guardian of the Arts award winner. “Tim’s expert leadership as President of the University and Stephanie’s exemplary work as First Lady have energized our campus and elevated the University to great heights. We are indeed fortunate to have in our community such passionate, giving and caring people.”
Before joining Jacksonville University, Tim served as executive vice president of global corporate affairs for PepsiCo Inc. and chairman of global health care and executive vice president of APCO Worldwide Inc. He also held senior-level positions at Kodak, Wyeth/Pfizer, Aramark, Pharmacia, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Centocor/Johnson & Johnson.
Both Tim and Stephanie are active members of the Jacksonville community, currently and formerly serving on boards and committees across the city, including the Jacksonville Civic Council, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce (JAX Chamber), JAXUSA Partnership, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Education Advisory Board of the Northeast Florida STEAM – Hub Initiative, GuideWell/Florida Blue, Web.com, Stein Mart, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, WJCT Public Broadcasting, Ronald McDonald House, Women’s Giving Alliance and the Cathedral Arts Project.
“At Jacksonville University, we take seriously our responsibility to be a catalyst for exploration, experimentation, conversation and positive action. Our dedicated students are working on campus, in their communities and around the globe using art to foster civil discourse, and to highlight the things that bring us together rather than those that drive us apart.” – Tim Cost
Their love and appreciation of the arts run deep. Stephanie played both the piano and bassoon as a child and has recently resumed her piano studies. In 2014, she participated and placed in Jacksonville’s Dancing with Stars to raise money for the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus. Tim and Stephanie are also donors and patrons of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
“At Jacksonville University, we take seriously our responsibility to be a catalyst for exploration, experimentation, conversation and positive action,” said Tim Cost. “Nowhere is that more evident than in the classrooms and performance halls of our Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts. Our faculty, students and alumni are world-class. Our dedicated students are working on campus, in their communities and around the globe using art to foster civil discourse, and to highlight the things that bring us together rather than those that drive us apart.”
