Big Arts

Community collaborations Big Arts concert band - Big Arts concert band consists of approximately 40 volunteer musicians who, under the direction of conductor august thoma, present multiple concerts throughout the year. Band members meet once a week for two hours for a period of 26 weeks. Big Arts community chorus - Big Arts community chorus consists of over 80 volunteer members who present multiple concerts throughout the season under the direction of ellen whitten. Chorus members meet once a week for two hours for a period of 26 weeks. the band and chorus also perform frequently throughout the community in collaboration with local organizations.

Fine Arts each year, Big Arts presents as many as seven art exhibits year-round in the dunham gallery. Exhibits range from juried shows to presentations from local, regional and international art leagues, such as san-cap art league and isea. Big Arts also showcases the works of individual artists such as "creative threads: sally dutko, bonnie langenfeld, & angela scozzari," "shadow play: the sculpture of ran adler,- and "urban layers: aida tejada." Big Arts partners with local nonprofits such as lee health, lee county alliance for the Arts and Florida southwestern state college to showcase works of patients, youth and adults with disabilities, college students and children. Each show includes an artists' reception, the featured artists, and an art talk conducted by the juror and/or curators. Each exhibit is also available virtually on Big Arts website--making the gallery accessible to all. Visitors to Big Arts also enjoy works by artists whose pieces on loan are displayed throughout the facility. Film series monday night film - on mondays, october through april, 26 award winning films are featured, followed by a moderated discussion. the season includes livestream discussions with directors and in-person visits from directors and producers when possible. Films from last season include the peanut butter falcon, portrait of a lady on fire, mr. jones, everybody knows, and the painter and the thief. This series presents international and independent films. Over 52 countries have been represented to date. Performing Arts series come experience some of the most gifted artists performing in the world today. Sit back and relax in the stunning christensen performance hall and let the power of these extraordinary performances fill your heart and renew your spirit. Big Arts presents a variety of performing Arts. These include an array of genres and artists such as mike super, pilobolus, piaf "no regrets"-christine andreas, the music of sam cooke, aquila theatre and ranky tanky; and classical artists such as ray chen and rodolfo leone.

Education workshops & seminars each year, Big Arts holds more than 60 unique workshops and seminars. Workshops include: painting - examples of past workshops include classes such as new techniques in pastel painting and preservation and palette knife painting in oil from landscape photography. Four to five master classes with nationally renowned artists are held for two or three days and run six hours per day. Several workshops are held once a week for four weeks and run 3 hours a day, october through may. Mediums include oils, pastels, acrylics, watercolor, and alcohol inks. Drawing - examples of past workshops include classes such as instructed life drawing and drawing basics. Drawing workshops are held once a week for a period of three weeks and run three hours a day, october through may. Mediums include charcoal and colored pencil on toned paper. Fine crafts - examples of past workshops include popular classes such as glass fusing and seed bead weaving. Fine art workshops, including stone sculpting, are typically held once a week over a period of three weeks and run three hours a day, october through april. Photography - examples of past workshops include an invitation to photographic storytelling and photography for beginners, intermediate and advanced. Classes, held once a week for a period of three to five weeks for each session, are offered january through may. Writing - examples of past workshops include the joy of writing and learn to write a beach style thriller novel. Classes are held once a week for a period of one to six weeks for each session, offered january through march. the forum offers stimulating lectures and engaging conversations with some of the most important thought leaders of our time. Talking points are lively and stimulating presentations by experts in a diverse range of topical issues.