Expanding Creative CAPAbilities

The Bayshore Cultural and Performing Arts Center (CAPA) mission is to provide a state-of-the-art cultural and performing arts center that showcases local visual and performing artists, thereby offering affordable and accessible educational, cultural and performance opportunities for the community.

With community support, a dedicated group of Collier County citizens plans to fulfill this mission to provide a gathering place where the arts will flourish, entertain, educate and enhance the quality of life for all Southwest Florida residents and visitors.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CAPA is led by a board of directors and leadership council that include representatives of many Collier County cultural and performing arts groups as well as leaders from the business community and government sector.

Originally formed as Bayshore Arts in 2005, CAPA grew under the guidance of Founding President Maestro Erich Kunzel — internationally acclaimed conductor and recording artist — to include a cultural and performing arts center. Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala, long-time supporter of the arts in Collier County, also has been instrumental in moving CAPA toward the fulfillment of its mission and in the creation of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Bayshore Arts District where the new center will be located. Plans call for the CAPA center to anchor the Arts District.

According to CAPA Board President Chick Heithaus, “Collier County has many outstanding cultural and performing arts organizations and talented visual and performing artists. However, the majority of them are in a constant search for adequate rehearsal, performance and studio space. The CAPA center will address this need, and will provide a home for these organizations and artists. This will supersede the need for individual arts organizations to launch capital campaign efforts to build their own singleuse facilities, thus conserving community resources.”

In November, the CAPA board’s offer to purchase a 37.25-acre property located in the Arts District as the site for the new CAPA center was formally approved by the property seller. The site is across from Naples Botanical Garden, at the northwest corner of Bayshore Drive and Thomasson Drive. Now CAPA is seeking lead donors to help raise the $8,000,000 required to secure the purchase.

BAYSHORE CULTURAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

CAPA currently provides a number of visual and performing arts programs including Jazz on the Green, November through April, and the Erich Kunzel Community Concert Series, December through May, at the Edison State College Collier County campus. Both feature nationally known, locally-based professional performers as well as emerging young stars of tomorrow.

Last November’s dynamic art happening fundraiser, CAPA ART FORMS — SCULPTURE, at The von Liebig Art Center was a major success with many of Southwest Florida’s most accomplished sculptors participating and donating a portion of their works sold that evening to support CAPA. CAPA also presents an annual gala. The 2014 gala, Swing Into Spring for the Arts, sponsored by Windstar on Naples Bay Lovers of the Arts, will be on March 22 at Windstar on Naples Bay. It will include a reception with music by the Stu Shelton Trio, dinner, live auction and dancing to the swing music of The Music Makers Big Show Band. Tickets are $145.00 per person. Proceeds support CAPA operations and services. For information, concert tickets, reservations, and to learn how you can support CAPA, call 239.775.2800, at bayshorecapa.org, or via email at bayshorecapacenter@centurylink.net.