The Homestead/Florida City area offers a diverse arts and culture scene that is complemented by the sophisticated repertoire of nearby Miami. The Homestead Center for the Arts (246-4414) features professional theater groups and artists while involving the community by encouraging students and adults to pursue careers in the arts. TheareworksUSA, in conjunction with the Homestead Center for the Arts, produces shows of imagination and sophistication which entertain, educate and convey thought provoking messages to their audiences.

The Homestead Community Concert Association sponsors a popular concert series bringing a variety of musical troupes to the area. Some of the featured performers for the 1997-98 season include Khenany, who specialize in Latin American music, including the native songs of the Andes Mountains, and Side Street Strutters Jazz Band, which plays traditional Dixie, swing and blues along with other types of jazz. Call 230-0119 for more information.

Besides top performing arts, Homestead’s numerous museums preserve area history. The Old Town Hall Museum (247-2332), an early 20^th century building, houses a museum, an antique fire truck, antiques and a chronicle of 1992’s devastating Hurricane Andrew. The Florida Pioneer Museum (246-9531), housed in the Old Homestead Florida East Coast Railway Depot and station agent’s house, features exhibits on pioneer life and the area’s agricultural heritage as well as paying tribute to the role of the railroad in South Florida’s development. Cauley Square’s Center for African Studies features a unique African folklore village in which visitors are exposed to the achievements of African culture.