We’re asking thought leaders, business people and creatives to talk about the upcoming new year and give us catalyzing ideas for making St. Pete a better place to live. What should our city look like? What are their hopes, their plans, their problem-solving ideas? This is Catalyze 2026.
With 120 days on the job (she counted), the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s new executive director has no intention of re-inventing the wheel. The city’s umbrella arts support organization is an important contributor to the community, through its Arts Business Academy, SHINE Mural Festival, artist grants and other programs, and there’s no reason to fix what ain’t broke, as the saying goes.
French is, however, bubbling over with ideas on how to make things even better in 2026.
“I’m always going to say we need more performing arts, and we need more dance,” says the former full-time professional dancer. “Obviously that’s my personal passion – it’s what I do – but I do think what our city has is great. We have amazing dance here, and we need more of it, and more opportunities for performing artists to do what they do, and do it well, for our city to experience it.”
Ah, but talk is cheap, and French understands that any actionable idea needs proper vetting. “The big idea on the white board,” she says, “is, what does a performing arts festival look like in St. Pete? Is there a performing arts equivalent to SHINE? Who do we need to bring to the table to make something like that happen?
“I think it’s a very do-able, big, lofty goal. And I don’t think it’s one organization’s job.”
To that end, French is enthused by the increasing amount of collaborative efforts between arts groups and civic and business entities. “That’s something I would love to see more of: Different types of collaborations across our community. For example, American Stage, The Florida Orchestra and projectALCHEMY did The Good Peaches this year – that was an amazing three-organization collaboration.”
The key, she believes, is including multiple points of view in the conversation from the start. “All it takes is one or two to shift something, and then you have an a-ha moment. I’m interested in those type of collaborations.”
She recently met with representatives from five different organizations, including the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, on the relationship between the arts and community health.
French is keen on the idea of bringing fresh voices to the table “maybe without some pre-set agenda – but ‘Hey, here’s an idea – how do we make this happen without assuming there’s some pre-imposed structure already that’s not working?’ Because we kind of know what’s not working in some areas.”
She is enthused, she reports, by recent leadership changes in the arts community. “I actually think it’s an exciting moment for the Arts Alliance, because in so many ways we can invent something new to do. I’m not changing the mission of this organization – we are to advocate and educate, and we are an umbrella organization.
“The mission’s not changing, but on the horizon I am looking forward to what SHINE 2026 looks like, because we have an opportunity to make some changes and do some things different. Whether that be infusing it with more performing arts or not, that’s an idea on the table …”
Whichever way the wind blows, Helen French will be receptive – and excited about it – in the new year. “We’re in a space where ‘new’ going to happen,” she says. “What does it look like? I’m learning by listening to the community. What’s on the horizon for us is continuing to respond to the needs of the community.”