Marco island Center for the Arts

In January, there are 35 shows at Southwest Florida art centers, underscoring the importance of the arts in our part of the country.

Every December, the Marco Island Center for the Arts hosts an exhibition of work by members of its Clay Guild. Executive Director Hyla Crane provides context. “It is a collective group of artists working out of the clay studio that we have here. This year they've themed their exhibition. It's called ‘Glazed and Amazed.’”

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 December, there are 23 shows at these venues, underscoring the importance of the arts in our part of the country.

WGCU details the 19 Christmas shows onstage this holiday season at Southwest Florida community and equity theaters from Marco Island to Sarasota.

The Marco Island Center for the Arts is tackling the controversial role of AI in art head on. Its current exhibition, “Words as Art,” explores the intersection of visual storytelling and artificial intelligence.

This week, three shows open, eight close, seven continue their runs and there are two limited engagements at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters.

Sam Bobrick is known as a comedy writer for shows such as Captain Kangaroo, The Flintstones, Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart, Bewitched, Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour and Saved by the Bell. But he also wrote "Baggage," onstage now at Arts Center Theatre on Marco Island.

In November, there are 31 shows at art centers throughout Southwest Florida, underscoring the importance of the arts in our part of the country.

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 October, there are 32 shows at these venues, underscoring the importance of the arts in our part of the country.

Snapshots of Caribbean life. For the better part of 60 years, Sir Roland Richardson has been painting slices of island life on locations from St. Martin to the Naples Botanical Garden. The Marco Island Center for the Arts is exhibiting a sampling of his bold, colorful paintings during September.