Our Anna Maria Island community proudly supports over seven art galleries and studios, a nationally
recognized historical society, a renowned orchestra and chorus, and a published writers' group.
Cultural Connections of Anna Maria Island was established in 2008 for the purpose of promoting and
supporting our island culture. "Cultural Connections' mission is to promote Anna Maria Island as a cultural destination."
Our signature event, ArtsHOP is held annually in November with the goal of bringing attention to the
island arts. Held from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, events include: Gallery Walk with galleries, studios and businesses featuring local artists and musicians; performance by the Island Players; Arts and Crafts Festival; Display and classes
at the Historical Society; and a concert by the AMI Chorus and Orchestra.
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Please see individual organizations below for specific information and come enjoy the cultural side of Anna Maria Island.
The Anna Maria Island Art League was founded in 1989 by a
group of artists and art lovers with a desire to bring art to
the island community. In June 1993, the Art League opened
the island's first art center at 5312 Holmes Boulevard,
Holmes Beach. The art center includes a large exhibit/
classroom, membership gallery/conference room, photo lab,
art library and picnic grounds. The Art League also offers a
broad range of classes at the center, and a scholarship
program for children and adults.
New exhibits are hung every month, starting in October.
Some exhibits feature members, faculty, students or regional
artists. Exhibit artwork is original and most is available for
sale by the artists. Opening receptions are on Friday, the first
evening of the exhibit, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; these events
are always open and free to the public.
This year the Island Art League's two annual juried fine art
festivals, Springfest (March 13-14, 2010) and Winterfest
(December 11-12, 2010), mark 22 years of award-winning
artists gathering to display and sell their work on Anna Maria
Island. Over 100 local, regional and national artists are
selected to participate in each of these highly regarded
shows. Art lovers can browse and purchase paintings, glass,
jewelry, pottery, sculpture, fiber arts, photography, wood
and more at these two-day events. Winterfest, held in
December, provides the perfect opportunity to find that
one-of-a kind holiday gift for someone special. Both festivals
are held at Holmes Beach City Hall Park, located at 5801
Marina Drive. Admission and parking are free. Springfest
and Winterfest provide support for Anna Maria Island Art
League, a not-for-profit arts organization that offers diverse
arts programming to the island community and beyond.
Come celebrate 20 years of fine arts and crafts festivals on
Anna Maria Island. See more at www.islandartleague.org.
The Studio at Gulf and Pine, offers an eclectic array of
exhibits, instructional classes, USF lectures and discussion
groups (by reservation only), and serves as a salon where
artists and art aficionados interact.
 Operated by Rhea Chiles, former First Lady of Florida, The
Studio at Gulf and Pine is Anna Maria Island's premier
cultural facility. Equipped with a theater film projection room,
and spanning nearly 4,000 square feet, The Studio welcomes artists,
poets, musicians, performers and writers to exhibit their talents and
exchange ideas. The Studio hosts fine art exhibitions, drama
workshops, meetings, lectures, music and literary events,
and is available for catered events. The Studio also offers
classes, seminars, and group discussions on topics as varied
as art, science, politics, and spirituality.
The Studio is a
sponsor of the Lifelong Learning Academy of the University
of South Florida, and hosts its Einstein Circle discussion
groups. The Studio is located at 10101 Gulf Dr, Anna Maria
Island, FL. For information on exhibits, events, and classes
see our website at www.studioatgulfandpine.com, or call us
at 941-778-1906.
 Founded in 1992, the Anna Maria Island Community Chorus
& Orchestra (AMICCO) recently celebrated its 16th
anniversary year. Known informally as "the gem of the
Island," AMICCO is unique in its organizational structure,
combining both a chorus and orchestra under one umbrella;
a feature not commonly found among performing groups.
Both orchestral and choral works are offered at every
performance.
Maestro Alfred Gershfeld has
been Artistic Director and
principal conductor since 1993.
Because of this continuity of
leadership, and the Maestro's
outstanding talent and
reputation in the field of
conducting, more and more
professional artists have been
drawn to AMICCO, enhancing
the high quality of
performances and the size of
audiences. Equally significant,
retired musicians residing in the community provide a
valuable, additional source of continuity and excellence.
Concerts are given four times a year, November through
March, and take place at the CrossPointe Fellowship Church,
8605 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Hear more at www.amicco.org.
Here you can experience a trip back in history. TThe Anna Maria Island Historical Society's [AMIHS]
beautifully restored complex interprets the Island's history through its museum, City Jail, Belle
Haven Cottage and the Mangrove Walk's indigenous garden.
Presently housed in the museum are rare, old photographs, maps, records from the early 1900s,
clippings from newspapers and videos of times past. Recently, a library was created where people can
peruse archival records as well as beautifully bound copies of the original "Islander" newspapers
dating from 1954 to 1990. Displays change frequently and encourage visitors old and new.
 The Anna Maria City Jail was built in 1926. A night in the jail, with its open-air, metal-bar windows cured most troublemakers as they were nearly eaten alive by the notorious Island mosquitoes.
The landmark is still a favorite spot for photographers. And with a donation to the museum, visitors can have their picture taken in county prison uniforms when the museum complex is open. Hundreds of printed postcards through the years featuring the jail have been mailed across the country for years. Stop by the museum shop and buy one today!
Historic Belle Haven Cottage originally sat at the end of the City Pier from the early 1920s until
1926. In 2000, the cottage was offered to the Island's Historical Society for free and a donation
drive began to save it. The community rallied and the cottage has since been restored to a real
slice-of-life home where visitors can experience turn of the century island home life. Come to the
museum's complex to learn more about Belle Haven Cottage's tale of two centuries.
Don't miss touring their "Mangrove
Walk" which contains flora indigenous to the Island. For
more, see www.amihs.org
In 1989 the idea of an art center on Anna Maria Island was
just a dream of one man, James Pay. That dream evolved to
become Island Gallery West which opened in Holmes
Beach the following year. In 2009 Island Gallery West
celebrated 19 years in the same location.
 It has hosted a flow
of of talented awardwinning
artists,
offering original
work in oils, acrylics,
watercolors,
photography,
ceramics, stained
glass, jewelry,
basketry, and
sculpture. The Gallery maintains an average of 25 to 30
members. The Island Gallery West continues as an artists'
cooperative with no paid employees, and the requirement
that each member sit gallery duty once a month.
Island Gallery West shows very high quality work at very
affordable prices. Monthly public receptions, held
simultaneously with our sister galleries - AMI Art League,
and the Artists' Guild, are offered throughout the season
honoring the Featured Artist of the month. Even if you don't
want to purchase any art work, you are invited to visit with
the artist on duty and enjoy the beauty and talent of these
artists or attend the free demonstrations on Saturday
mornings during season. See, www.islandgallerywest.com for more.
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The Artists' Guild Gallery is a unique art gallery featuring the
work of local artists who are members of the Artists' Guild of
Anna Maria Island, the gallery host. These artists collectively
show, sell and run the non-profit gallery. One of these
artists will welcome you while you are shopping and be
happy to help answer any questions about art work or
artists.
Original paintings in a variety of media including watercolor,
oils, pastels, acrylic, photography, mixed media, pottery,
jewelry and wood carvings delight the eyes. In contrast,
other popular purchases when you are looking for that "right
piece of art, that special gift or vacation souvenir" may
include our artist's special cards, available only here, as well
as prints of local landscapes and landmarks and Florida's
unique flora and fauna.
The Artists' Guild Gallery has been a shopping destination on
the island for twenty years and is one of the first galleries on
the Island. During season, free monthly demonstrations by
a local artist are presented in a variety of media and topics.
Every second Friday during season, the public is invited to a
free reception to view the works of the featured artist from
5:30 - 7:30 PM. If you are interested in the social or
educational aspect of the Guild you may attend a monthly
meeting held the first Monday of the month all year.
In addition, the Guild, with over 100 members, supports arts
education with educational grants, scholarships and monthly
displays of high school students' artwork. Each year a
scholarship is given by the Guild to a graduating Manatee
County senior. The Guild funds these activities by donations
from members and visiting friends of the arts. The
education committee works with local schools in supporting
arts education and provides a field trip for a local elementary
grade to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. These activities
help promote the organization's primary objective: "to
educate, promote and encourage artistic endeavors of its
members and the community."
The Artists Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach,
FL 34217; Island Shopping Center; 941.778.6694;
www.amiartistsguildgallery.com
Celebrating its 61st anniversary season in 2009-2010, Island
Players is the oldest community theater in Manatee County.
The playhouse, a building of great historical Island
significance, was originally the home of the William H. Gillett
family of Parrish and was floated down the Manatee River by
barge in the early 1900's to Anna Maria Island.
 The
structure was first known as the Anna Maria Tourist Center;
which greeted day-trippers who came from Tampa and St.
Petersburg on excursion steamboats while heading west on
Pine Avenue to the Gulf of Mexico waters. In 1923 when
the City of Anna Maria incorporated, it soon became a
center of activity as all city business was conducted from
there. It also functioned as a community hall and was used
for social gatherings, club meetings, church services, a
schoolroom and eventually an Island community theater.
In the early 1970s the playhouse underwent major renovations. The
stage was raised, 137 seats were installed in seven tiered rows and it
was carpeted. The ticket sales operation moved
to the theater from volunteer's homes when a small booth
was constructed on the west side of the auditorium with a
swing-up window opening to the porch where customers
could purchase tickets. Preservation of the theater has been
maintained throughout the years by the Island Players. In
April of 2009, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society
awarded the theater with a preservation plaque of
distinction and thanked the Island Players for maintaining
such an important Island landmark.
Five live stage shows are presented each year, October
through May. Tickets can be purchased for individual plays
or for the whole season. The box office is open from 9 AM
until 1 PM during their season. For more information, please
visit our website: www.theislandplayers.org
While seated in our wonderful historic theater perusing
the program before the play begins, you might notice the
many people listed in connection with the production of
the play. These are the people we'd like to tell you
about.
The nice person who took your reservation was an Off
Stage Lady. An Off Stage Lady showed you to your seat.
Off Stage Ladies worked on the costumes, in the makeup
room, painted the set, ran the light board or sound
system, found the props, and fed the hungry cast and
crew during the all-day rehearsal before the play opened.
If you're very lucky, some of the actresses on stage will
be Off Stage Ladies. Some helped put together the
program. Others worked on projects that provided such
things as the curtain before you, the computerized light
board, the new makeup and dressing rooms and the new
stage floor. The list goes on and on!
Some Off Stage
Ladies lend moral support to the group just so they can
enjoy the social activities and meet new friends at the
monthly Off Stage Ladies' luncheons (the second
Wednesday of each month, October through
May). 2009-2010 Dates: October 14 Bradenton Country
Club, November 11 SunHouse Restaurant, December 9
Bradenton Country Club, January 13 Bradenton Country
Club, February 10 SunHouse Restaurant, March 10
SunHouse Restaurant, April 14 SunHouse
Restaurant. Meetings are at 11:30 am and guests are
always welcome.
If you love community theater, and like to meet
interesting people, consider joining the Off Stage Ladies
and open the door to an exciting new adventure! It's
easy . . . just call Nancy Ambrose 941-518-4431.
 The Gulf Coast Writers was formed in
1993 by four women who met at a
writing class and resolved to form a
writers' association on the Island of Anna
Maria. They set as their primary purpose
the encouragement of sharing their writings
within the group.
Gulf Coast Writers has published a
book entitled As It Is Written, a
collection of articles by their
members.
The group meets monthly at the Island Branch Library in
Holmes Beach. During season they sponsor guest speakers
whose topics are of interest to writers. For information,
please call 941-778-7631.
AMI ART LEAGUE
5312 Holmes Blvd, HB, FL, 941-778-2099
www.islandartleague.org
AMICCO
CrossPointe Fellowship Church, AM, FL, 941-778-1880
www.amicco.org
AMI HISTORICAL SOCIETY
402 Pine Ave., AM, FL, 941-778-0492
www.amihs.org
ARTISTS' GUILD GALLERY
5414 Marina Drive, HB, FL, 941-778-6694
www.amiartistsguildgallery.com
GULF COAST WRITERS
Library, 5701 Marina Dr., HB, FL, 941-778-7631
ISLAND GALLERY WEST
5368 Gulf Dr., HB, FL, 941-778-6648
www.islandgallerywest.com
ISLAND PLAYERS
10009 Gulf Dr., AM, FL, 941-778-5755
www.theislandplayers.org
OFF STAGE LADIES
10009 Gulf Dr., AM, FL, 941-761-7374
THE STUDIO AT GULF AND PINE
10101 Gulf Dr., AM, FL, 941-778-1906
www.studioatgulfandpine.com
 Sponsored by Cultural Connections
of Anna Maria Island
General Information: 941-778-2099
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