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From the Editor, Kelly Oden   

                If arts and culture are the measure of a great community, then Pensacola’s cup is surely running over. We’ve always had a bit of the artsy and eclectic in us, but recent years have seen our cultural offerings really grow and come into their own. Gallery Nights have expanded and are attracting record numbers, new art fairs and markets are popping up all over town and big name musical acts from a variety of genres roll through town on a regular basis. Not to mention, we have a professional opera, ballet, art museum, symphony and a community theatre. I think Jonathon Fanton, former president of the MacArthur Foundation said it best:

"There is no better indicator of the spiritual health of our city, its neighborhoods, and the larger region than the state of the arts. The arts deepen our understanding of the human spirit, extend our capacity to comprehend the lives of others, allow us to imagine a more just and humane world. Through their diversity of feeling, their variety of form, their multiplicity of inspiration, the arts make our culture richer and more reflective."

    Beyond the cultural, educational and spiritual offerings of the arts, there are economic considerations as well. The arts contribute billions of dollars each year to the national economy, create millions of jobs, draw tourists and encourage investment.
    Each January, Pensacola Magazine focuses on the arts. In years past, we’ve profiled local artists, had a roundtable interview with the Pensacola’s big five and interviewed internationally acclaimed artist Christo in anticipation of his exhibit and lecture in Pensacola. This year, we were extremely fortunate in that we got to peruse the permanent collections of Pensacola’s major museums and galleries. I can’t tell you how fantastic it is to see the works of masters up close and personal. And it’s so great to know that we have these works in local collections in Pensacola. So, be sure to read my article, Permanent Collections, and take the opportunity to see these works whenever they are on exhibit.
    We’ve also highlighted artists and upcoming events in the areas of music, art, performing arts, design, food and literature. The great thing this year is that we had too much to choose from. The arts scene in Pensacola is so rich that we couldn’t fit everything we would have liked in the issue. As our publisher, Malcolm Ballinger would say, “That’s a high class problem.” So, we hope this issue will inspire you to get involved in the arts, whether it is as an artist, a spectator, a volunteer, a board member or a philanthropist, there are so many ways to be a part of the arts and culture of Pensacola.
    As always, I hope you enjoy this issue. Please send your thoughts and comments to kelly@ballingerpublishing.com.



 

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