Looking for something different to do this weekend? How about a unique collaboration between the Florida West Coast Symphony and a woman who invented her own electric harp? Composer-performer Deborah Henson-Conant will take to the stage Saturday night at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for what she calls a mixture of old vaudeville, classical theater and rock-n-roll. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry has more...

It was a tense affair Saturday at BIG Arts on Sanibel when for the first time in memory there was a three-way tie in the 75th duck stamp contest. Wendy Humphrey reports on the oldest and most prestigious wildlife art contest in the country.

Ten years after his death, James Michener has a new novel on bookstore shelves... “Matecumbe” is set in the Florida Keys. In his prime Michener was one of the country’s best selling authors of popular fiction – known for fat books with plots spanning generations. “Matecumbe is just 158 pages. Its main setting is Islamarada. His publisher rejected it, so Michener gave the manuscript to his friend - researcher and writer Joe Avenick who lives in the Keys. This year Avenick got Matecumbe published. WGCU's Valerie Alker caught up with Avenick...

Gulf shore Playhouse opens its first play of the season Thursday at the Foulds Theater in Fort Myers. “Life Times Three” shows how the tiniest change in word or action can cause an avalanche of effects. Kathleen Moye has the story.

The City Pier Building in Downtown Fort Myers is a bit closer to the two million dollar fundraising goal for a project that will transform it into a first class art museum. The Lee County Tourist Development Council granted 450,000 dollars to the Art of the Olympians. Kathleen Moye reports.

A group of classic rock stars are in Fort Myers this weekend hoping to raise money for their cause. As WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports, they hope their efforts will get more kids involved in music.

By some accounts Florida is now the third largest feature film destination in the country. Since the silent days hundreds of movies have been shot here in the Sunshine State. Bill Dudley talks to the authors of two recent books about Florida...both as a theme, and a location, for American motion pictures.

There is an ancient art form that until the last fifty years or so remained hidden from the world. It is the sand Mandala. Created by Tibetan Buddhist monks, the Mandala was never seen by outsiders. There is not one left from ancient times. But as WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports, a group of Tibetan monks are in southwest Florida this week creating a Mandala to share important lessons from their unique art form.

For years, big museums have been using high dollar audio tours as a way to guide visitors through their collections. Meanwhile, smaller museums often couldn't afford such novelties, and in some ways couldn't compete. Now museums in Florida and around the country are turning to I-Pods and other portable digital audio technologies to give the big museums a run for their money. Dan Zematowicz has the story.

Two state lawmakers will introduce a bill in next year’s legislative session to create a new state song. Governor Charlie Crist set a precedent by excluding the current one from his inauguration.

The Florida Legislature made Steven Foster’s “Old Folks at Home” the state song in 1935. In recent years the song’s references to “darkies” and “plantations” have come under fire. Now some say it’s time for a change. The Florida Music Educators Association is heading up the project to find a new state song - and spokeswoman Katherine Mason says all state residents can participate.

“Florida citizens can engage either by submitting a song if they are a songwriter or they can vote on-line once we have the final three. we’re really looking for a song that’s inclusive and is reflective of the environment and values of our state today…”

If an existing song is submitted it must include the copywriter’s permission. It’s asked that the song be about three minutes in length – and easy for just about anyone to sing. Contest rules are available at Just Sing Florida.org. The winning entry will be most likely be adopted by lawmakers as the new state song next spring.

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The Florida Music Educators Association has kicked off a search for a new state song. Lyrics in the present song, “Old Folks at Home”
reference “darkies” and “plantations”. Governor Charley Crist excluded it from his inaugural. Spokeswoman for the music educators, Katherine Mason says the new song needs to be inclusive and singable.

“the national anthem is something that a lot of people can’t sing and that’s because it’s a wide interval range and there is a requirement for this song which is a vocal range that should not exceed a ninth – so that pretty much means something that’s pretty much singable by most people”

All Florida citizens are invited to submit songs. Applications and submission guidelines are on-line at justsingflorida.org. A committee will narrow the songs down to a top three – and those will posted at the website where the public can then vote. The top pick goes to state lawmakers for approval in the 2008 legislative session.