OCEAN Arts is dedicated to providing and encouraging opportunities in art, music and theater for people of all ages and abilities on Long Island’s South Shore through close relationships with other organizations including schools, libraries and civic groups and by creating connections between active artists/musicians and young people in a collaborative environment.

Tough budget cuts during the 2010/2011 school year led to the removal of the theater and dance classes at William Floyd High School, and along with them, the various plays and musicals that had been produced throughout the district since the 1980s.

Our founders, April Franzino and Cathy Meinhold, at first set out with the intention to help the students at the high school continue to perform their yearly spring musical, working through the Cultural Arts Committee of the William Floyd Community Summit.

As the needs of the community and the capabilities of their team grew, it was clear that something bigger needed to exist to be able to house all of the work being done. Thus, OCEAN Arts was created.

OCEAN Arts is a nonprofit organization that continues to work closely with the William Floyd School District and the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library to produce exemplary theatrical and educational programs for students of all ages in our community.

With the generous support of local businesses and committed volunteers, OCEAN Arts can now safely support the production of five student theatrical works per year, and a number of other smaller fundraisers and benefit events.