As told to Shaun Ryan
The Rev. Kimberly Hyatt is president and CEO of Cathedral Arts Project in Jacksonville. The organization introduces children to the arts and supports them as they discover their own creativity.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I grew up on a little farm in South Carolina, where I learned the value of hard work and making the most of every opportunity. My career took me to Washington, D.C., where I was a business lobbyist, and eventually to parish ministry here in Jacksonville before taking the helm at CAP. Those may seem very different, but the common thread has always been a desire to help people and strengthen communities.
I’ve called Northeast Florida home for over 30 years and have spent much of that time working alongside educators, nonprofit leaders, donors and volunteers who care deeply about creating opportunities for children and families.
Tell us about the Cathedral Arts Project, what it is and what kinds of things it does.
Cathedral Arts Project (CAP) was founded by a small group of individuals from St. John’s Cathedral who believed every child should have the opportunity to experience the arts. What began with a single dance class for 10 students has grown into a nationally recognized organization that now reaches over 46,000 children and young adults across Northeast Florida and beyond. More than 30 years later, that same belief continues to guide everything we do.
Today, CAP provides programs that introduce children and young adults to the arts, help them grow as artists and support them at every stage of their creative journey. Our core programs include:
· Arts Ignite, our signature after-school and enrichment program, where students explore dance, music, theatre and visual arts through partnerships with schools and community organizations.
· Art Smarts, which integrates the arts into core classroom instruction to make learning more engaging while strengthening academic outcomes.
· CAPabilities, providing art counseling, music therapy and sensory arts experiences that help children and young adults with disabilities build confidence, communication skills and independence.
· Emerging Artist Programs, including our Dance Ensemble, String Orchestra, Studio Artists and Theatre Company, for students who want to further develop their artistic talents and perform at a higher level.
At its heart, CAP exists to empower every child’s creative spirit, support the arts educators who inspire them and advocate for greater access to arts education. That’s a mission our team has the privilege of bringing to life every day.
How did you become involved in CAP and what do you like most about it?
After serving as a pastor in Jacksonville, I was looking for a new way to invest in children and families. Music had always been part of my life. I started playing the piano as a child and still love playing jazz today. I knew what the arts had given me, so when I learned about CAP, I was drawn to its belief that every child has a creative spirit worth nurturing.
Almost 24 years later, the organization has grown in remarkable ways, but what I love most hasn’t changed.
I’ll never forget one of our student showcases, where I overheard a father say his daughter was so shy he never imagined she’d perform on stage. A few minutes later, he watched her perform in front of a packed audience with tears in his eyes. I think that’s because he was seeing his daughter differently and forming new expectations of what she was capable of achieving.
That’s what I love most about this work. The arts have a way of revealing strengths children didn’t know they had, and every now and then, they reveal them to the people who love those children most.
Can you give us a sense of CAP’s impact on the surrounding community?
The arts have a remarkable ripple effect. When a young person discovers confidence and possibility, it strengthens not just that individual, but the family, school and community around them. We see that reflected in both the data and the stories.
Schools participating in our arts integration programs have outperformed district averages academically, while students demonstrate stronger attendance, greater classroom engagement and improved communication and problem-solving skills. Through CAPabilities, children and young adults with disabilities are building confidence, independence and workplace readiness. As education continues to evolve, we’ve also expanded into charter schools, homeschool communities and military families so more students have access to these opportunities.
None of this happens without an incredibly generous community of donors, volunteers, educators and partners who believe in investing in children. Every success is a reflection of what can happen when a community comes together around that belief.
How can people learn more about CAP and perhaps get involved?
The best place to start is our website, capkids.org, where you can learn more about our programs and ways to get involved.
Have you been involved in any other community projects or nonprofits? If so, what attracted you to them?
I’ve had the privilege of serving organizations including Hubbard House, Community Connections, the Heritage Singers, the Jacksonville Women’s Network, the Presbytery of St. Augustine and the Nonprofit Center’s Coaches Program. I’ve always believed change happens when people invest in one another, and I’m grateful to have been part of that work.
How long have you lived here in Ponte Vedra?
We moved to the Plantation in 2005 and haven’t looked back.
What do you like most about this area?
There’s nothing that compares to the feeling of driving over the Intracoastal on the way home any given day.