Bright and funky murals on downtown buildings. A perfectly choreographed dance routine. Galleries overflowing with fine art from around the world. A theater performer troupe embodying the essence of their characters to tell a story. A local musician serenading the audience beneath twinkling string lights. Plein air painters capturing the beauty of flowing rivers and ancient cypress trees.
No matter which style of the visual, performing, or musical arts resonates most, it is thoroughly well represented in Greater Gainesville.
The arts are very strongly supported and embraced here, so much so that they are not just an addition to the cultural scene, they are an integral part of it. Although Gainesville and the surrounding areas are a relatively small metro area in both population and size, the local arts scene is rich enough that any city in America would be proud to call it their own.
The strong academic scene provides a solid foundation for the arts. The University of Florida and Santa Fe College host public art, galleries and live performances, and bring a population of creatives who live and work in the community.
Greater Gainesville is home to incredible venues such as the Hippodrome Theatre, Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall at Santa Fe College, Gainesville Community Playhouse, University of Florida Auditorium and the Florida Theatre, which stage both local and larger scale productions on a regular basis. Groups such as the Dance Alive National Ballet and the Gainesville Orchestra raise up the next generation of classical performers year after year.
Music has a long and loud history in Gainesville, with many artists and bands tracing their roots here — Tom Petty, Don Felder and Stephen Stills, to name a few. That legacy for excellent music carries on with annual music festivals, live shows at downtown bars and venues and lively concerts filling up the calendar almost every week.
Whether taking a seat in the Acrosstown Repertory, dancing along in the front row of the concert, browsing through an art museum or gallery or just enjoying the sights of public art while dining out, make sure to add “supporting the arts” to the Greater Gainesville bucket list — there are endless opportunities to do so.
By Jewell Tomazin