Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center

On Tuesday, the director of grants, Jessica McElwee, told the Fort Myers Public Art Committee that the city is preparing to open the application window for this year’s arts & culture grants. If all goes well, that window will open April 1 and close on May 16, 2025.

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 March, there are 24 shows at these venues. Each will stimulate your imagination and underscore the importance of the arts in our part of the country.

A person’s body language, gestures and facial expressions provide important clues about how they’re feeling and what’s on their mind. For as long as he can remember, local artist Daniel Venditti has tried to capture these nuances in his portraits and figurative work. But the 32 paintings in his solo show this November at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center are truly an enigma.

Southwest Florida-based artist Susie Krichbaum’s first solo exhibition titled “Whispers of the Bayou: Voodoo and Forest Magic” opens Oct. 4 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. We talk with Krichbaum about her art, her creative process, and embracing the peculiar.

Jim Griffith is stepping down effective October, 2024 from his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. He will be assuming the position of Executive Director of the Sante Fe Chamber Music Festival, marking a new chapter in his distinguished career in the arts.

The Artful 8 group exhibition at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center will appeal to anyone who’s ever wondered about the significance of the number eight.

The 14th annual Fort Myers Film Festival runs May 22-26, 2024. Over the course of the five-day festival, more than 90 films in a broad spectrum of genres will be screened, including the unconventional love story film “In Fidelity,” starring “Saturday Night Live” alum Chris Parnell. We’ll talk with Parnell about the film and get a broader preview of this year’s festival offerings from Fort Myers Film Festival founder Eric Raddatz.

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center hosts an inclusive group exhibition of works by STARability Foundation participants titled “Divergent Inspiration.” The Foundation also recently received a game-changing $5 million donation from philanthropist and entrepreneur Tom Golisano. STARability CEO Karen Govern talks about the exhibit, plans for expansion, and the foundation’s work, mission, and history.

Southwest Florida-based artist Brian Weaver now has a solo exhibition titled “A New Beginning” in the Grand Atrium at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers. We’ll talk with Weaver about the inspirations behind his vibrant and intricate works, his work with Artsemble Underground, and his ongoing mission of making art accessible to all.

Southwest Florida-based singer/songwriter Sheena Brook and Nashville-based Cajun country artist Sara Douga will perform at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers, July 21, through the center’s Sounds of Summer concert series. Ahead of their performances, we feature music and conversation with both of these dynamic musicians.