Who is The Alliance for the Arts?
The Alliance for the Arts is the officially designated Arts organization for Lee County charged with the mission to “facilitate and nurture the creation, development, promotion and education of arts and culture in Lee County”.
Founded in 1975 by community leaders such as David Robinson and Barbara B. Mann, the Alliance for the Arts mission was created to foster the growth of local arts. The Alliance’s membership includes 50 related arts and cultural organizations and supports over 16 local organizations by providing meeting and classroom space in the 12,000 square foot William R. Frizzell Cultural Centre on a 10.3-acre campus opened in 1992.
It's features include:
- Home to the 180 seat Claiborne and Ned Foulds Theater presenting over 100 theatrical performances a year
- 1500 seat Margaret Morrow Frizzell Amphitheatre stage to our popular Jazz Concert Series and other musical and theatrical performances • Three art galleries displaying 16 exhibit openings and 325 exhibition days
- Youth education programs servicing over 2,400 children with After School Arts, Summer Arts Camp, and exhibitions
- Adult education classes offer a full range of studio classes to over 500 participants annually.
- Offering rental space for area businesses as well as additional conference space and classrooms for local organizations is the Charles Edwards Building positioned on the north end of the campus
Achievements and Highlights
- Recently named by the Lee County Port Authority as the organization that will facilitate, and primary responsibility for, both permanent art and interim art exhibits in the new SWFL International Airport
- Established grant funding totaling $150,000 with the Arts and Attractions Fund in partnership with the City of Fort Myers, Lee County Tourist Development Council, Bireley Foundation, and the Southwest Florida Community Foundation
- Produces and distributes the Lee County Arts and Attractions brochure and map along with managing a centralized, web-based, calendar of events for all of Lee County
- Hosts the annual “Walk Thru the Arts” in the fall to promote area arts organizations
- Presents the annual Angels of the Arts awards ceremony each spring recognizing “angels” in ALL arts and culture in Lee County.
- Provides free exhibition space for the annual Lee Art Educator’s Association for high, mid and elementary schools student’s exhibits
- Provides free audition space for the annual Young Artists Awards
- Collects data and publishes an Arts and Cultural Directory annually which includes existing artists, arts and cultural organizations and regional/state resources for the community
- Partners with the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide arts programming for prevention strategies
- Works with Lee County School District to promote art for at-risk students and identify scholarship recipients
Building for the Future with Your Help
- Create outreach programs to bring the arts to business and special needs communities throughout Lee County
- Promote the arts as an integral component of the quality of life in Lee County, to enhance recruitment of new businesses, employers and professionals to the area
- Partnering with the Lee County Port Authority to secure and oversee both permanent art and interim art exhibits in the new SWFL International Airport
- Collaboration with the downtown redevelopment council to infuse arts and culture in the downtown area
- Much needed improved security system to draw more nationally known art exhibits
- Upgrade and expansion of the theater and amphitheater
- Grounds and Landscaping improvements
