Philharmonic Center for the Arts

Philharmonic Center for the Arts
Overview
The Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples is the premier performing arts hall in Southwest Florida, hosting more than 400 events a year including world-class dance, opera, classical and popular music and Broadway musicals.

The Philharmonic Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization established under the laws of the state of Florida. The mission of the Philharmonic Center is to enrich the cultural fiber of Southwest Florida by presenting a full schedule of international-caliber performing and visual arts, and offering outreach and education programs for the community. The Philharmonic Center opened 95-percent debt free in 1989 and has grown in net worth each season since, thanks to the generous support of the community.

The Philharmonic Center for the Arts is unique among arts centers in that it features both the performing and visual arts in a single complex and also hosts a resident orchestra. In addition to the 1,221-seat main hall and a 200-seat black box theater, the Phil has four museum-quality art galleries, which showcase traveling and exclusive exhibitions. Each season, the Phil is host to more than 400 individual events. Although the heaviest season is between October and April, the Center hosts events year-round, including summer children's presentations. The Center also provides programs for groups and schools.

The Phil has 250 full- and part-time employees, including a full-time administrative staff of 80, as well as several hundred volunteers. Our 42-person board of directors comes from a variety of business and professional backgrounds.

Philharmonic Center for the Arts
History
Together this community began to build a dream nearly 20 years ago. The dream started with the establishment of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. Soon, plans were on the drawing board for an arts center that would be a permanent home for that orchestra – but much more.

Today, the Philharmonic Center for the Arts is unlike any other arts center in the country, with a mission of presenting the best of the visual and performing arts in a single complex. This mission was expanded last season with the opening of the Naples Museum of Art.

As we look ahead to our 14th season, we also look back at how we got here: through vision, generosity, diversity and fiscal responsibility. Each season since first opening our doors in November 1989, we have brought more people into our cultural complex to see an increasingly diverse selection of events. And each season we have grown fiscally. Started without funds in 1983, the Philharmonic Center is now a $95 million corporation. As of December 31, 2001, our net assets totaled $82.5 million – an increase of $11.7 million over the prior year. We currently have an operating budget of $21 million. These numbers are a reflection of a community’s talents, ideas and faith.

Over the past two decades we have forged a successful partnership in the arts business – but we have also been, and continue to be, in the business of building for the future. Three years ago, we more than doubled the size of our administrative offices.

In November of 2000, we opened the region’s first full-scale art museum. We continue to build for the future by expanding our program for the young people of this community. Last season, more than 42,000 children participated in Philharmonic Center events – an increase of 5,000 over the previous year.

We now have the infrastructure in place for substantial additional expansion – of our programs and our commitment to excellence. At the Museum, we have a number of exciting exhibitions in store for the coming season, including exclusive showings of works by Helen Frankenthaler and Jasper Johns. And we have an exciting season ahead at the Center.

Yes, we have come a long way. But this is only the beginning. Although we have all been affected by recent world and economic events, your belief in the importance of the arts continues to offer hope. You understand that the arts can heal and enrich. By working together in a spirit of cautious optimism and fiscal responsibility, we have created a solid cultural foundation, for ourselves and for future generations. Thank you for sharing the vision.

Myra Janco Daniels Chairman
President and CEO

Philharmonic Center for the Arts
Directions
From I-75, take Exit 16 west toward the beaches and follow Pine Ridge Road for about five miles. Turn right at U.S. Highway 41 and then left at the first light onto Pelican Bay Boulevard. The Philharmonic Center for the Arts/Naples Museum of Art is one block ahead on the left.

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Information courtesy The Philharmonic Center for the Arts