New season for BIG ARTS will ‘Celebrate Community’
BIG ARTS recently unveiled the lineup for its new season, which offers something for everyone.
Packed with unique films, nationally recognized performing artists, rewarding workshops, stimulating lectures and a beautiful series of gallery exhibits, the theme for 2021-22 is “Celebrate Community.”
“We’re open again, with restrictions, but I think it’s a little bit different feeling than last year,” BIG ARTS Executive Director Lee Ellen Harder said. “So we’re moving ahead with a full season, and we’re celebrating being back together again as a community.”
Safety measures and protocols implemented at the start of the pandemic remain in place.
“Our HVAC system is state-of-the-art and we have a fully enhanced air filtration system. We are continuing to thoroughly sanitize before and after every event, and hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the facility,” she said. “We are still requiring masks when in the building at all times.”
Harder added that the safety standards are posted on the BIG ARTS website, and she encouraged the public to check them regularly because staff do revisit them and those standards could be revised.
“And we can assure all of our patrons we have a team of fully vaccinated staff and volunteers,” she noted. “That is a requirement to work at BIG ARTS this season — and they will be masked.”
As for what is in store for the “Celebrate Community” season, the public will discover a lineup of performances, lecture series, workshops and classes, film series, fine arts exhibitions and more.
For its Performing Arts program, BIG ARTS has 18 acts set for its 414-seat theater, the Christensen Performance Hall. Tickets will be sold at full capacity this season, versus 50 percent occupancy.
“We are just thrilled because it is a beautiful beautiful season,” Harder said, noting that a Broadway show with sets, costume changes and all will kick it off. “They will perform all of our favorite tunes.”
Other performances will include bluegrass, a New York City theater company, the music of Smokey Robinson, classical, family-friendly acts that include pet rescues, a dance troupe, jazz and more.
The season’s lineup features: The World of Musicals, WindSync, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Gryphon Trio, The Great Gatsby, Smokey & Me, Hadelich & Weiss, Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, Drew Petersen, Heart By Heart, American String Quartet with Nancy Allen, Hot Club of Cowtown, Adaskin Trio with Thomas Gallant, Naturally 7, Rhythm of the Dance, Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: Songs We Love, Late Nite Catechism Part 4 — Sister Rolls the Dice!, and Veronica Swift.
Under its Lecture Series program, BIG ARTS offers The BIG ARTS Forum and Talking Points.
“Our Forum lecture series we’ve had for many years. It’s basically geopolitical topics,” she said. “We bring in thought-provoking lectures to spark a conservation about important topics going on.”
This season’s speakers and subjects include: Carter G. Phillips on “On the Front Line at the Supreme Court,” Ret. Lt. General and Ambassador Douglas Edward Lute on “The State of U.S.-European Military Alliances,” Jennifer Kingson on “The Challenges and the Future of American Cities,” Dr. Donald Berwick on “The Moral Determinants of Health,” Dr. Michael Tanner on “The Inclusion Economy: How to Bring Wealth to America’s Poor,” Reed Galen on “Looking Under the Hood at the 2022 Elections,” Michael E. O’Hanlon on “Making War in an Age of Peace: U.S. Grand Strategy and Resolute Restraint,” Myron Brilliant on “America’s Evolving Role in Worldwide Business & Trade,” and Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr. on “Democracy in Black.”
“Our Talking Points was actually designed to stimulate a dialogue with the community, so it’s a little more informal,” Harder said, adding that it features local and national speakers. “The audience is encouraged to stand up and ask questions. They’ve got a super lineup, some really fascinating topics.”
This season’s speakers and subjects include: Annabelle Tometich on “Stories from a Local Food and Restaurant Critic,” a panel discussion on “Racial Bias in Southwest Florida,” Sarah Chayes on “Exploring the Fertile Ground Where Myth and Science Meet,” Jane Mayer on “Money, Power and Politics and the 2022 Election,” Rick Atkinson on “The American Revolution & Its Importance in the 21st Century,” and Ann Hagedorn on “The Spy Who Got Away.”
As for its Education program, BIG ARTS hosts workshops and classes, which will cover painting, drawing, fine crafts, photography, discussion, language and writing, music, master classes and more.
“We have wonderful workshops scheduled this year,” she said. “They run the gamut from creative arts to the humanities side, so a big range of topics — something for everybody.”
For its Film program, BIG ARTS will start off with Monday Night Films in November.
“They’re not first-run films. There’s a lot of foreign films, independent films,” Harder said. “They deal with a lot of serious topics. Afterward, we have a moderated discussion for those who want to stay.”
This season’s Monday Night Films feature: Ammonite (2020), Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time (2020), My Wonderful Wanda (2020), Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2019), The Father (2020), Never Gonna Snow Again (2020), The Audition (2020), My Rembrandt (2019), Two of Us (2019), In Balanchine’s Classroom (2021), Another Round (2020), The Truffle Hunters (2020), The Perfect Candidate (2019) and Hope (2021).
Later in the season, Ethics in Film will consist of four films that tackle some ethical question or topic, with the showings and discussion led by a professor. In addition, BIG ARTS will offer its Documentary series — again, highlighting four films — that will include a follow-up discussion led by a moderator.
“We have a very robust film program,” she said.
Under its Fine Arts program, BIG ARTS has planned six exhibits for the season in the Dunham Family Gallery. It also offers a virtual gallery, with tours and artist interviews, for those unable to swing by.
The exhibitions include: “Lost but Not Forgotten,” with Alberto Chailosky; “Awakening,” Sanibel-Captiva Art League’s 46th Annual Juried Art Council of SW Florida Exhibit; “Creative Ventures,” BIG ARTS Juried Show; “Wet Paint,” with Cheryl Fausel, Kathleen Conover and Shah Hadjebi; “Art by the disABLEd”; and Florida SouthWestern State College Fine Arts Student Exhibition.
“We have artist receptions for each show,” Harder said, noting that there are also local rotating artists featured throughout the facility for people to enjoy. “Our galleries are free and open to the public.”
As for its Community Creations program, BIG ARTS will feature the BIG ARTS Concert Band and BIG ARTS Chorus for this season, along with the Gulfshore Ballet and Southwest Florida Symphony.
“We’ve got several community events happening,” she said.
The public is invited to check out the programming and take part.
“We are so excited to welcome people back,” Harder said. “Celebrate community — come and experience the healing power of the arts because we all need to, especially right now.”
“We have wonderful support from our community, and we’re so grateful,” she added.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://bigarts.org, by calling 239-395-0900, or by visiting the box office. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office one hour before every show in the evening.
Virtual tickets will be available in some instances, like the Lecture Series.
“We do offer children’s and student tickets for most of our programs,” Harden added.
For more information, visit https://bigarts.org or contact 239-395-0900 or info@bigarts.org.
BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.