Courtesy of Florida Repertory Theatre
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Florida Repertory Theatre
Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in arts and culture grants that had been approved by the Florida Legislature. This year, the state’s $115.5 billion budget includes $18.3 million in arts and culture grants, but only a handful of Southwest Florida arts organizations qualified for a share of that money. For the second year in a row, 14 Lee county arts organizations were denied state funding, including the Alliance for the Arts and Florida Repertory Theatre. Each of Lee’s arts organizations is employing a medley of measures to make up for the loss of state grants.
Southwest Florida in Focus
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU News team for the latest episode of Southwest Florida In Focus.
Spotlight on WGCU Original Content
Watch the latest episodes covering regional and national topics of interest.
A gripping exploration of Hurricane Ian, the 2022 storm that forever changed Southwest Florida.
In the heart of Pine Island, Florida, mangoes reign supreme. Discover how mangoes thrive in Florida's climate.
WGCU Local Productions
All chapters of Reflections of a Colored Girl,” a series of essays from Martha R. Bireda, Ph.D.
Untold Stories - Mango: The King of Fruits Premiering December 19
Join WGCU hosts Sandra Viktorova and Bryant Monteilh, along with the WGCU news team...
High Lonesome Sound Songwriter Round is a recurring songwriter round that features artists from SWFL
Middle schoolers become marine biologists for a week: Dispatch from Kimberly's Reef
Rising: Surviving the Surge explores Hurricane Ian and the new reality of storm surge.
Join Sandra Viktorova and the WGCU Documentary Unit on this three episode special.
Six months after its deployment, the scientific studies have begun...
In the Gulf of Mexico, seven and a half miles due west of Bonita Beach...
Weather dictates much of what Southwest Floridians are able to do outside in Florida...
Radio Shows
A locally produced talk show that strives to connect listeners to the people, places, and things that make Southwest Florida unique.
Hosted by wildlife biologist Dr. Jerry Jackson. who explores Southwest Florida’s beaches, swamps and preserves
Three Song Stories is an exploration of the power music has to connect us to times, places, people, and emotions from our lives.
PBS TV Shows
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/29/25
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/29/25
ENCORE: Heights Center’s MOSAIC program provides free and low-cost music education for kids
The Heights Center’s MOSAIC program provides opportunities for children from low-income households to learn to play a musical instrument and to perform with ensembles of their peers. We learn about the program in an encore conversation with musician, educator, and Director of Arts and Community Programs at the Heights Center, Melissa Barlow, who founded the program.
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/22/25
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/22/25
Players Circle Theater performs “Oklahoma!” in Concert
Players Circle Theater is mounting a staged reading-style production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s iconic musical “Oklahoma!” featuring the company’s largest ensemble ever assembled. “Oklahoma!” is widely credited with ushering in the Golden Age of American musical theater. Ahead of the opening night performance, we explore this production and the musical’s enduring impact on the musical theater genre.
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/15/25
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/15/25
Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts empowers BIPOC artists in Southwest Florida
Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts is Southwest Florida’s newest arts and culture nonprofit. The new organization is committed to providing support, education, community, and performance opportunities for BIPOC artists. We’ll learn about the new organization in a conversation with founder and executive director Sonya McCarter, board of directors member Cotrenia Hood, and dance instructor Eden Collier.
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/8/25
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/8/25
ENCORE: Blues musician James “Super Chikan” Johnson
Multi-award-winning Blues musician, songwriter, painter, and craftsman James “Super Chikan” Johnson visited Florida Gulf Coast University this past spring to speak to students and make a couple of performances at Artis-Naples. During his visit he stopped by the WGCU studios for conversation about his life’s journey through music, his handcrafted instruments made from recycled parts, and how he got his stage name.
Washington Week with the Atlantic full episode, 8/1/25
Washington Week with the Atlantic full episode, 8/1/25
Heights Center’s MOSAIC program provides free and low-cost music education for kids
The Heights Center’s MOSAIC program provides opportunities for children from low-income households to learn to play a musical instrument and to perform with ensembles of their peers. We learn about the program in a conversation with musician, educator, and Director of Arts and Community Programs at the Heights Center, Melissa Barlow, who founded the program.
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