2022-23 Live! at Dowling Park Artist Series

Live! at Dowling Park has been bringing cultural arts events to the Suwannee River Valley for 34 years. We are excited to unveil the details of the 2022-23 season which includes eight events on the ACV campus in western Suwannee County. What better way to kick off the season, than taking the opportunity to recognize the smiling face that began the program over 30 years ago.

After postponing a retirement reception honoring Dick Grillo when he retired on June 30, 2020, we were pleased to be able to celebrate his time at ACV this past month. Even though much time has passed since Dick officially retired from full-time ministry at Advent Christian Village, this event was still bittersweet. It reminds us of Dick’s wonderful ministry here in this special place as he has faithfully been the hands and feet of Christ in serving the membership as well as others in the community. We miss Dick’s smiling face but we do celebrate and rejoice with him as he has been now been enjoying his retirement for a couple of years.It was a privilege to recognize Dick specifically for creating and leading our Artist Series LIVE! at Dowling Park for more than 30 years. Each year he would secure the artists, plan the season, host the performers and promote the series. He would even many years write grants to help underwrite the effort. The series remains one of the highlights each year for ACV.

Therefore, in honor of Dick’s hard work establishing and coordinating Live! at Dowling Park, we are pleased to rename ACV’s undesignated endowment for the arts The Dick Grillo Endowment for the Arts. The annual proceeds of this fund will be used to promote the arts among local students and other underserved groups, as this effort has been so important to Dick.

Once again, thank you Dick for your faithfulness in serving our Lord and Savior for 37 plus years through your important work at Advent Christian Village.