This is a challenge to the people of this community to help us keep the arts thriving. Nearly 30 years ago, we began a fund-raising drive to support a local chamber orchestra. We quickly found that this community was very interested in hearing quality live music. That encouraged us to begin planning a performing arts hall that would present world-class theater, dance, opera and popular entertainment. The Philharmonic Center opened debt-free in 1989 and is going strong today. Since then, there have been many milestones at the Philharmonic Center Cultural Complex, which have benefited all of us. We have built the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra into a nationally recognized ensemble, which has been applauded by such renowned artists as Renée Fleming, Ronan Tynan and numerous others. We created the 100-voice chorale and the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. We opened the Naples Museum of Art, the region’s only full-scale art museum. We added an education center that reaches 6,500 adults a year. And we have steadily expanded our programs for children – because children are the future of the arts in this region. Each season, we offer events that reach 45,000 schoolchildren. BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTS |
arts, performing as well as visual, in a single complex. The book 100 Best Art Towns in America ranked Naples No. 1, singling out the Phil as “the jewel in Naples’ arts crown.” Wrote author John Villani, “What sets this community’s arts scene above and beyond that of most other Art Towns is the Philharmonic Center Cultural Complex.” Our commitment is to the people of this region – to offer quality arts opportunities that entertain, educate and inspire citizens of all ages and backgrounds. Together, we have built a world-class cultural environment in this once-sleepy corner of Florida. Working together, we have created a blueprint showing how a small town can bring about big-city culture. And we have all benefited from this in many ways: in our quality of life, in our home values, in our economic climate and in our reputation. But we are faced now with challenges that did not exist when we started our project nearly 30 years ago. The economic downturn has greatly affected arts centers across the country. At the Phil, our individual and corporate donations are down. Our costs, meanwhile, have gone up. DID YOU KNOW? We cannot do this alone. Together, we built the arts opportunities that we all enjoy
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today. And together we must build arts opportunities for the future. This center wasn’t created on a hunch. It was created because people wanted it and needed it. This is a call for you to Meet the Challenge of keeping the arts thriving in our community. WHAT YOU CAN DO Many other arts organizations have come along in this region over the years. But the best investment in the arts is an investment in a proven product. If you and your family have enjoyed the arts and benefited from the cultural events presented at the Phil, please consider becoming a part of our future. Any amount you can give is important. There are many options for giving – for the orchestra, for the center, or for the museum – that can be tailored to your own individual circumstances. Let’s work together and Meet the Challenge. Together we can do it! Most sincerely, Myra Janco Daniels |
