Lee County Alliance for the Arts

“Passage of Time: A Themed Members Show” considers everything from shifting seasons and aging to physical journeys and symbolic crossings from where we have been to where we are going. Artist Dahye Kim uses video, photography, light, sound and reflective screens to create an environment where past, present and future converge. Marian Fuller employs reclaimed materials and found objects to uncover unexpected meanings in ordinary things. These exhibitions are on view Oct. 2-31.

The Alliance for the Arts 10-acre campus is home to a number of permanent outdoor sculpture installations, including Michael Singer’s “Caloosahatchee Water Wall” and James DiGiorgio’s “You Are Here.” Hurricane Ian severely damaged “You Are Here,” but local artist and fabricator Jason “Sandman” Sanders has repainted, welded and returned the sculpture to its original angle.

Filled with quick wit and Neil Simon's signature comedic style, “The Odd Couple (Female Version)” is a lighthearted look at friendship, compatibility and finding common ground. The play runs Aug. 14-23 in the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance for the Arts.

The Alliance for the Arts is holding a new Arts & Culture Town Hall on January 29. This one will take place at the FGCU Bower School of Music & the Arts.

The Alliance for the Arts’ upcoming theater season will feature a dynamic mix of heartfelt comedies, thought-provoking dramas, and original works that spotlight the depth and diversity of Southwest Florida’s theatre community.

Ramon Chirinos is considered one of the most influential Latin American masters of the 20th century. He continues to exercise a big influence on contemporary artists, collectors and investors worldwide. Alliance for the Arts Gallery and Artists Relations Manager Julio Gonzalez Batista says Chirinos also has a Southwest Florida connection.

The $115.5 billion budget signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis includes more than $18 million for 184 arts organizations. Most Southwest Florida arts and culture organizations remain on the outside looking in.

From Sarasota to Marco Island and Venice and Sanibel to Arcadia and LaBelle, Southwest Florida is home to more than a dozen art centers. Most host visual art exhibitions showcasing member, regional and nationally renowned artists that change every month. In July, there are 24 shows at these venues, underscoring the importance of the arts in our part of the country.

The Alliance Youth Theatre is producing “In the Heights” this weekend. To a person, the cast was familiar with Lin-Manuel Miranda before being cast in the show because of “Hamilton.” But they had no idea just how good he is until they began rehearsing “In the Heights.” Now, they’re now lifelong admirers.

The Alliance for the Arts has appointed Michael Hebler as its new Events and Programming Director. One of his duties includes continuing the theater program once run by Theatre Conspiracy's Bill Taylor.