CULTURAL ENDEAVORS

Center of Creativity

Take a ride downtown to the city’s cultural corridor, where an abundance of art awaits.

BY DENISE BATES ENOS

Orange County Regional
History Center Orlando is a city with art at its heart. Consider, for one, downtown’s CityArts Factory (www.cityarts.factory.com), the newest venue where visual and performing arts have come together. It houses a mix of community and independently owned art galleries, including the brand-new Roho Art & Coffee, Q Gallery and Kiene-Quigley Community Gallery.

For something a little less contemporary, the Orange County Regional History Museum (www.thehistorycenter.org) houses permanent collections and visiting exhibits that celebrate the region’s colorful past. This month, “Orlando A-Z”—an alphabetical retrospective of the city—tells the story of the city’s most memorable people, places and things before theme parks ever existed.

The Orlando Opera
Company Transport yourself even farther back in time at a performance by the Orlando Opera Company (www.orlandoopera.org), which begins its 51st season in November with Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore. All mainstage shows are at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, which hosts a variety of performing arts organizations, as well as traveling Broadway shows and comedy acts.

Just north of downtown, Loch Haven Park is home to several cultural destinations. The Orlando Science Center (www.osc.org) offers fun and educational exhibits for all ages, while Orlando Shakespeare Theater (www.orlandoshakes.org) sets its stage for year-round performances of not only works by the Bard, but also children’s plays, Broadway-style shows and original works by emerging playwrights. Crossing the boards Sept. 17 to Oct. 12 is Kiss Me Kate.

CityArts Factory The park is also the site of the Orlando Museum of Art (www.omart.org) and Mennello Museum of American Art (www.mennellomuseum.org), both home to signifi cant permanent collections and must-see visiting exhibits. From Sept. 20 to Nov. 2, OMART’s “Provocative Pairings” will put together disparate works of art to evoke a whole new way of viewing the pieces. And, through Oct. 12, works by American sculptor Donald DeLue join the Mennello’s permanent collection of folk art.

Whatever your taste in art—contemporary, theatrical, historical—it’s all waiting for you downtown.

Best Seat in the House

With so many cultural options available in Orlando (as well as the other nonart activities on your trip itinerary) you’ll welcome Red Chair Project (www.redchairproject.com)— a public service billed as “Central Florida’s Official Arts & Culture Guide”—with open arms. The helpful site includes an events calendar, cultural listings, quick links to area arts venues and other features that can help you make the most of your visit.