Arts & Culture Town Hall at FGCU to Explore Arts Advocacy in Southwest Florida

Community leaders, artists, and students plan to gather later this month to examine how arts advocacy shapes the cultural and economic landscape of Southwest Florida.

The Alliance for the Arts will host its third Arts & Culture Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 29, at Florida Gulf Coast University‘s Bower School of Music & the Arts. The event begins at 10 a.m., with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. for informal networking.

This installment of the Town Hall series represents the first partnership between the Alliance for the Arts and FGCU, expanding the reach of previous discussions held at the Alliance’s Fort Myers campus and The Collaboratory. Organizers say the goal is to move beyond conversation and focus on actionable strategies that support artists and arts organizations across the region.

The program will explore five major themes affecting the local arts scene: public access to the arts, cross-sector collaboration, arts education, artist support, and special initiatives aimed at long-term sustainability.

Before the main panel, attendees will hear a discussion titled “What Is Advocacy?” featuring Alliance for the Arts Executive Director Neil Volz, FGCU Senior Director of Experiential Learning and Career Development Jessica Rhea, and FGCU student Macy Noll. The conversation will highlight personal experiences with arts advocacy and why engagement matters at every level of the community.

The panel discussion will be moderated by WGCU arts and culture reporter Tom Hall and will feature regional arts leaders, including United Arts Council Executive Director Elysia Dawn; Dr. Skip Pardee, coordinator of fine arts for Collier County Public Schools; Arts Bonita Executive Director Alyona Ushe; and Caleb Neff of Juniper Recording Studio.

Following the panel, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and connect during a community networking session.

The event will continue with a Creative Career Showcase, designed to connect FGCU students studying art, music, theater, and related fields with local arts organizations. Lunch will be provided, and organizations will be able to share information about career paths, internships, and professional opportunities in the arts.

“When artists, educators, and advocates come together, it creates momentum that benefits the entire community,” said Volz.

The Arts & Culture Town Hall is free and open to the public. Additional information and RSVP details are available at ArtInLee.org.