At its June 16 meeting, the Fort Myers City Council voted unanimously to award $150,000 in grants to arts organizations, groups and individuals who are working to advance art and culture within the city. Last fiscal year, the city awarded $110,000 in grants.
According to a study conducted by the Americans for the Arts in 2022 with the assistance of the Alliance for the Arts, the nonprofit arts organizations contribute in excess of $100 million annually to the city’s economy and $135 million countywide. The city’s grant program fosters the vitality of the arts organizations and individual artists who are contributing to the cultural, educational and economic wellbeing of the city’s diverse resident base.
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The press release announcing the award stated that grants underscore Fort Myers’ commitment to grow the arts and culture sector for citizens and visitors by enhancing access to a full range of cultural experiences and beautification projects.
Grants were awarded to 17 organizations, 8 individuals and two groups.
“This year, 28 organizations, groups and individual artists submitted applications totaling $172,400 in funding requests,” Grants and Special Projects Director Jessica McElwee informed the Council during her presentation. “The scoring committee was thrilled by the array of applicant submission ideas and made their recommendation to fund the highest scoring entities that met the grant requirements and evaluation criteria.”
Recipient organizations include Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers Mural Society, ArtFest Fort Myers, River District Alliance, Theater Conspiracy, Arts for ACT Gallery, Florida Repertory Theater, Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers, Artsemble Underground, Americana Community Music Association, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, The Laboratory Theater of Florida, Quality Life Center, Choral Artistry, Collaboratory, United Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of SWFL and Polos Pet Closet.
Individual artist awardees include Stacey Brown, Ceasar Aguilera, Christar Damiano, Juliana Versari, Kira Sonin Dworkin, Amanda Collins, Patricia Collins and Jenna Algeo.
The group recipient awardees are Conni Bottinelli and Devon Crumpacker.
“We’re appreciative of the City’s support to help us enhance downtown Fort Myers as a hub of economic, social and cultural activity,” said Lisa Sbuttoni, President and CEO of the River District Alliance. “It’s more important than ever to sustain our local arts programming and provide enriching activities for residents and those traveling to the area."
To learn more and get involved, visit fortmyers.gov or contact Public Information Officer Noelle Casagrande, Office of Communications & Public Affairs, at 239-321-7175.
Support for WGCU’s arts & culture reporting comes from the Estate of Myra Janco Daniels, the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation, and Naomi Bloom in loving memory of her husband, Ron Wallace.