We are grateful for people like you who empower our arts community to embrace self-expression, imagination and individuality. This September, connect to the arts and to each other with host of diverse online, onsite and outdoors programs and events.

Plays Well With Others Exhibit and Online Events

Exhibits September 11 - October 17 • Virtual opening reception: September 11

This exhibition features artists who create work that engages with play and toys in interactive, mischievous and subversive ways. The show entertains while disrupting the status quo; one could easily enjoy it as a collection of nostalgia and delight, but the artists have skillfully transformed the lighthearted theme of “play” into a dialogue of contemporary issues.

This vibrant and immersive exhibit will engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds through (socially distant!) public programming including a free, virtual opening reception, online artists and curator talks and an online, needle felting workshop instructed by exhibiting artist.

Gallery and gift shop hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. or by appointment by contacting exhibitions@artinlee.org

Stay connected and inspired from your living room, kitchen table or studio with our online art classes! This month, we're offering:

Class size at the Alliance is limited to 10 students so register now to ensure your spot to create with us! This September, onsite classes include:

We're also offering outdoor youth classes on our amphitheater stage including ArtPlay: Dance for Artists with Autism, Hula Dance Class, Musical Theatre Dance for Teens, and Creative Movement and Dance for preschool/kindergarten aged students.

Membership gives you access to the benefits you know and love and ensures the sustainability of the Alliance and our mission to transform lives and improve our community through the arts.

Feel good about doing good while enjoying discounts on classes, events, gift shop purchases, and exhibit entry fees; members-only exhibits, field trips, museum reciprocals (NARM), member book club, as well as, a host of new offerings:

Support the arts with an Alliance for the Arts membership today.

Deadline: November 6 • This new exhibition opportunity, in partnership with The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, asks artists to dive into water - an essential component of life on our planet, environmentally, culturally and historically. Prizes will be awarded including $1,000 cash for Best In Show, $250 for 2nd place, $100 cash for 3rd place and Juror's Choice Award of $50.

Friends and Family Virtual Trivia

Saturday, September 19 • Join us for a night of virtual trivia fun for the whole family with a “Friends” twist! Questions will be a mixed bag this time around with about half of the questions about the king of 90s sitcoms “Friends” and the rest will be trivia for the whole family! Play and answer in real time with our live host, the Alliance for the Arts’ very own Technical Director, brewmaster and trivia guru, Adam Trummel. Plus there are prizes up for grabs!

Each and every Saturday • Fresh air and fresh produce make Saturday mornings worth rising for! Come shop your crop at our weekly, onsite GreenMarket on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sample and shop local goodness like fruits, veggies and herbs, salsas, chutneys, honeys and hot sauces and purchase unique gifts for friends and family or something one-of-a-kind for yourself. Plus, explore the pop-up installations on our campus while you're here! We will also continue our Wednesday drive-thru pick-up service.

Saturday, October 17 • Hike up your fishnets, put on your mask, unleash your inner Sweet Transvestite, and get ready to have as much fun as you can while social distancing. The mother of all cult classics returns to the big screen and, as always, our show includes all the audience partici-pation you can handle, and our very own local shadow cast pantomiming the film!

Saturday, October 24 • Head to the Big Apple and (virtually) experience the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art with your friends from the Alliance. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lets you spend intimate time with highlights from The Met’s permanent collection through a live, interactive and virtual tour. Let’s learn something new, get a look at how artists and art enthusiasts see the world and explore the museum together.

Each and every Wednesday • Support local businesses and let someone else do the cooking! It’s all made with love – whether you order a savory entrée to take home or a sweet and delicious dessert. Make us your Wednesday destination for dinner as food trucks rotate weekly. View the schedule by clicking the link below!

With your help, the Alliance has seen significant campus growth over the past few years. New sidewalks and pathways, enhanced landscaping, LED lighting and a new paint job for our building has all lead us up to this: installation of the Caloosahatchee Water Wall by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Singer! Our ArtsPark is free and open to the public and we can't wait to give you a warm welcome.

Tuesday and Thursday • Join Anna and Chip from Yoga Bird for an uplifting morning outdoor yoga session on the lawn at the Alliance! These sessions are each and every Tuesday and Thursday morning. This accessible, all levels class (beginners welcome) will be fun, energizing, and safely distanced (limited to 20 students).

Fridays • No studio? No problem! Join fellow Alliance members every Friday from 10 a.m. until noon for an open studio in our classroom. This is your chance to socialize and collaborate with fellow members while creating to your heart’s content. All mediums, techniques, and styles welcomed. While Open Studio is free for Alliance members, pre-registration is required.

The Alliance needs your help. Expense reductions and conservative budgeting only get us so far in making sure the Alliance remains a beacon of hope and connection for all in our community. If you're able to do so, please consider making a gift, of any amount, to support the future of the arts in southwest Florida.

Gallery and gift shop hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. or by appointment by contacting exhibitions@artinlee.org

If you have any questions regarding the status of our open hours, programs and events, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@artinlee.org. For more information about our programs and precautions, click here.