Top honors for the prestigious 2022 America in Bloom National Awards Program were announced during the 2022 America In Bloom Symposium & Awards Celebration held September 29 – October 1 in St Louis and Washington, Missouri.

The City of Venice was awarded: 

• Recognition for Our Community Flowers
• Alive with Flowers – Sunbeam Social Media Award
• Catching Community Spirit – Digital & Social Media Communications  (presented to Lorraine Anderson, Public Information Officer)
• Winner of Best City in the Country (in our population category 18-23k)

The AIB Awards were presented to the City of Venice City Council on Tuesday, October 26th by Bob Vedder, VABI Board Member and Team Leader of VABI’s Bloom Team.  

Two judges from America in Bloom spent three days back in February touring Venice with Bob Vedder. Dozens of community members met with the judges going over every aspect of the Venice community, from the arts to historic preservation, Urban Forest, and the environment. They were very impressed with our community. The judges last day were celebrated with a VABI Volunteer Recognition BBQ! The Village on the Isle, Finns, Cafe Venice, and VABI sponsored the Judges visit.

Awards were presented that reflect excellence in the areas of community vitality, floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, celebration of heritage, overall impression, and community involvement.

The 2022 Venice awards were the direct result of VABI volunteers and the Venice Public Works Department that make Venice a beautiful place to work, live and play on a daily basis. The Public Works department helps keep our beautiful landscaping and flower baskets in great shape. 

Venice Area Beautification, Inc (VABI) is a non-profit organization focusing on projects that enhance our community for every resident.  VABI embraces a vision of Venice that retains its small-town flavor and history.  VABI’s vision is to help “build community” in the Greater Venice area. Planning is focused on timeless projects that offer all residents and visitors safe places to walk, discover the enchantment of nature, connect to neighborhoods and parks, and experience outdoor art and sculpture. VABI’s collaborative efforts are a hallmark for what can happen when individual donors, volunteers, foundations, organizations, governmental agencies, and environmental groups are willing to work together.  

For more information about America in Bloom, visit www.americainbloom.org.

Celebrating the Historical Venice Area and Keeping it Recorded in the Arts

Venice Plein Air (VPA), is an organization started in 2003 to serve outdoor painters in Venice and their mission is to celebrate the historical Venice area and keep it recorded in the arts.  Once annually, on the 3rd Saturday in January, VPA organizes an outdoor painting event at our beautiful Venice Urban Forest.

The Invitation

Want to be a part of recording history in the making and painting outdoors with others? Our annual 3rd Saturday in January at Venice’s Urban Forest is this coming Saturday! Artists recording its growth in paint as we support our community in the process! Venice Area Beautification, Inc. does so much around our beautiful town and the Venice Urban Forest is one of our areas greatest gifts for generations to come!

All are invited – Urban Sketchers, Watercolor, Acrylic, Oil… first timers or seasoned professionals. The volunteers that make the Forest beautiful for us all will be working, and painters are welcomed to spread out too. No sign ups or fees, just outdoor painting camaraderie!

Look for painters starting around 8:30ish… it’s as simple as that!

Visit our website: VenicePleinAir.com