Arts & Activities
Over the past decade, the arts have transformed Southwest Florida into one of the state’s most cosmopolitan areas…
The Southwest Florida community has made art a focus to inspire, challenge and captive. There is an abundance of live theater performances, award-winning symphonies, gallery exhibits and annual festivals that date back to 1938. Community playhouses are dedicated to bringing you challenging Broadway classics to refreshing modern plays. There are art galleries every type from local photography to exclusive foreign sculptures.
The Philharmonic Center of Arts (Artis-Naples) is a Southwest Florida performing arts favorite for over 200 years. They host events featuring series such as masterworks, Broadway, dance, and pop. Artis-Naples is also known for The Baker Museum as it features four art galleries and if you need some fresh air there are two sculpture gardens on site. The Collector’s Corner offers a variety of art and keepsakes to remember your visit.
Southwest Florida is also home to Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. For over 20 years they have featured nationally recognized touring productions, Broadway shows, musicals, plays, dance and ballet programs, and concerts. They are always bringing something fun and exciting to Southwest Florida from Broadway to rock bands.
Southwest Florida Arts & Activity Resources
Artis - Naples (Formerly The Phil)
Call (239) 597-1111 - View Map
Home to the Naples Philharmonic, an 85-piece chamber orchestra and The Philharmonic Center Choral presents 410 events in two auditoriums, four art galleries and two sculpture gardens.
Call (239) 597-1900 or toll free 800-597-1900 - View Map
The Naples Museum of art is a reflection of the unique spirit and generosity of Southwest Florida. The visual arts center includes a three-story, 30,000-square-foot museum with 15 galleries, a glass dome conservatory, entrance gates by renowned metal artist Albert Paley, spectacular chandeliers and a Persian ceiling by acclaimed glass artist Dale Chihuly, a resource room and the Museum Store. Located at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Pelican Bay.
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
Call (239) 481-4849 - View Map
Home of Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. A variety of quality touring productions including Broadway shows, musicals, plays, dance and ballet programs, as well as concerts and other performances by national touring groups.
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Call (239) 275-3435 - View Map
A trip to the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium offers visitors keen insight on Southwest Florida's natural history. Daily educational programs allow visitors an up-close-and-personal view of some of the area’s wildlife, including alligators, crocodiles and snakes. The stars are always in line for an adventure to the only planetarium south of Bradenton and west of Miami.
Caribbean Gardens: The Zoo in Naples
Call the Zoo Line at (239) 262-5409 - View Map
Gulfshore Life recently named Caribbean Gardens "Best Place to Take Kids" in the annual Best of the Gulfshore Awards. A natural path almost one mile in length winds past rare and beautiful animals residing within a 52-acre jungle of exotic plants first planted in 1919 with a fascinating history.
Call (239) 774-8476 - View Map
Learn about mastodons and fierce saber cats, Calusa and Seminole Indians, and the rugged pioneers who settled one of America’s last frontiers at the Collier County Museum. Visitors will enjoy five acres of native gardens, two early Naples cottages, swamp buggies and a logging locomotive.
Call (239) 348-9151 - View Map
The Corkscrew Swamp is a magnificent natural attraction with cathedral-like cypress forest and abundant resident wildlife. The swamp offers some of the best wildlife and nature viewing and photographic experiences in the world.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Call (239) 334-7419 - View Map
Edison and Ford Winter Estates was the winter home of world-renowned inventor Thomas Edison. The estate is one of the greatest historic treasures in Lee County. Completed in 1886, the home served this as a winter retreat and work place for the prolific inventor until his death in 1931. Edison’s friend Henry Ford followed shortly thereafter, purchasing the neighboring property in 1915. The inventive genius of Edison and Ford are evident throughout the 17 acres of riverfront estates.
Call (239) 263-0835 - View Map
Contemporary art with mixed mediums of paintings, sculptures, art class, jewelry, ceramics and crafts by local and internationally recognized artists.
Call (239) 403-7787 - View Map
Gardner Colby Galleries are located in the heart Old Naples on "Gallery Row". Featured many times in prestigious publications such as Arts & Antiques ("Traveling Collector" series), American Art Collector and Fine Art Connossieur magazines, Gardner Colby has also been prominently featured in the travel sections of the Palm Beach Post and the Atlantic Constitution as "tops" for gallery hopping in Naples. They represent an exceptional group of living American and International artists and sculptors, among the most renowned working in the country today. Offering full Art Consulting services to the beginning collector as well as the seasoned buyer, Gardner Colby Galleries are dedicated to giving you a quality art experience in person or on the web.
Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples
Call (239) 514-0084 - View Map
A fun, interactive experience for children of all ages. Special programs, camps, workshops and events designed to celebrate the natural curiosity of children in a safe and wonderful place. Developed by experts in child psychology, using state-of-the-art technology, their mission is: “To provide an exciting, inspiring environment where children and their families play, learn and dream together”.
Call (239)261-7529 - View Map
Gulfshore Playhouse is passionately devoted to creating high-quality professional theatre at affordable prices and diverse educational opportunities for our region. Producing a full season of plays ranging from venerated classics and Broadway hits to contemporary plays and world premieres, Gulfshore Playhouse is committed to surpassing the standards of every valued patron while continuing to contribute to the vibrant arts and culture scene in Southwest Florida.
Call (239) 261-2637 - View Map
Opened in 1964, Florida's oldest active, privately owned sales gallery. American art from 1920 to present represents 50 major artists ranging in style from abstractionism to realism.
Marco Island Historical Museum
Call (239) 642-1440 - View Map
The Marco Island Historical Museum offers temporary and traveling exhibits that explore Southwest Florida’s Calusa Indians and trace the settlement of the subtropical island paradise we know today. Vanished civilizations are brought to life with informative displays and recreated village scenes. Come discover the early pioneer roots of this once sparse fishing village, pineapple plantation, and clam cannery and then revel in the explosive growth and development that began in the 1960s.
Naples Players at Sugden Community Theatre
Call (239) 263-7990 - View Map
Long running community theatre troupe presents an average of eight productions a year in one of the finest community theatre facilities.
Call (239) 252-2961 - View Map
Located on Marco Island, Otter Mound Preserve is a man-made shell mound created by Calusa natives that resulted in a tropical hardwood hammock community and home site for early settlers in the Caxambas Village who worked in the Marco Island clamming industry. Over 57 species of birds and 127 plant species have been recorded along with opossums, armadillo, raccoons, grey squirrels and bobcats.
Palm Cottage/Naples Historical Society
Call (239) 261-8164 - View Map
Palm Cottage is a prime example of a 19th-century south Florida home, built of a cement-like material made of sand and seashells. The historically accurate interior contains the simple furnishings of the period.
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Call (239) 530-5940 - View Map
The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a 110,000 acre mangrove forest, upland, and protected water space located at the northern end of the Ten Thousand Islands on the gulf coast of Florida. It is one of the few remaining and undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America and is home to 150 species of birds, many of which are threatened or endangered.
Call (239) 261-7828 - View Map
Showcases a wide array of local, national and international artists. Contemporary to traditional; special exhibits.
Sydney & Berne Davis Art Center
Call (239) 333-1933 - View Map
Located in historic downtown Ft. Myers the center offers an array of cultural and artistic opportunities in the visual and performing arts through dance, theater, musical performances, and film and art exhibitions.
Call (239) 262-6517 - View Map
American art from the 1950's forward. Various exhibitions. Classes, lectures, special exhibits. Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm.