Within the community town of DeLand, there is an abundance of museums and theatres. There exist three museums of the arts and one museum of minerals for visitors and residents. The African American Museum of Arts is devoted to the arts of the African American and Caribbean cultures. This museum holds six exhibitions annually. The DeLand collection includes over 150 fascinating artifacts that reflect the cultural richness within Africa. The African American Museum of Arts also offers visitors lectures, theatrical performances, and educational programs.

Also in DeLand, there is the nationally recognized Gillespie Museum of Minerals, located at Stetson University. The Duncan Gallery of Art is a short walk from the Gillespie Museum, and if you are already on the college campus, it is worth viewing. The Gallery offers visitors four exhibitions annually and displays students' artwork.

Another art museum in West Volusia County is the DeLand Museum of Art. The museum offers visitors visual artwork for all ages and diverse tastes.

In regard to theatres, there are two within DeLand that work closely with the community. Stover Theatre, which is sponsored by Stetson University, has served the community for over thirty years. The Communication and Theatre Arts department has produced close to 700 productions and is approaching its 100th season.

The Sands Theatre Center, which is located next to Stover, offers two productions per session on the main stage. The Theatre Center also offers four separate programs. The first is called Storybook Theatre Company for youth theatre. They work closely with area schools. The Stage II is a smaller stage setting of the black box theatre. There is also a touring company that places productions within retirement and healthcare centers. The final program offered by the Sands Theatre Center is DeLand Little Symphony, which is a community orchestra that places two annual performances.

Regarding other performances, Stetson University offers Howard Thurman Lectures, as well as visiting comedians. Civil rights leader, Howard Thurman, a native from Daytona Beach, established the Thurman lecture program. The program is an effort to expose the work of scholars and community leaders in order to solve social, religious, and ethnic problems.

Deland.org - City of Deland
Deland Chamber.org - City of Deland Chamber of Commerce
PlanetDeland.com - Local Business Directory and information
MainStreet Deland.com - The home of the MainStreet Deland Association
Deland Beacon.com - The Deland Newspaper

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