We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
With 120 days on the job (she counted), the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance\u2019s new executive director has no intention of re-inventing the wheel. The city\u2019s 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\u2019s no reason to fix what ain\u2019t broke, as the saying goes.<\/p>\n
French is, however, bubbling over with ideas on how to make things even better in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m always going to say we need more performing arts, and we need more dance,\u201d says the former full-time professional dancer. \u201cObviously that\u2019s my personal passion \u2013 it\u2019s what I do \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ah, but talk is cheap, and French understands that any actionable idea needs proper vetting. \u201cThe big idea on the white board,\u201d she says, \u201cis, 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?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a very do-able, big, lofty goal. And I don\u2019t think it\u2019s one organization\u2019s job.\u201d<\/p>\n
To that end, French is enthused by the increasing amount of collaborative efforts between arts groups and civic and business entities. \u201cThat\u2019s 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 \u2013 that was an amazing three-organization collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The key, she believes, is including multiple points of view in the conversation from the start. \u201cAll it takes is one or two to shift something, and then you have an a-ha moment. I\u2019m interested in those type of collaborations.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
French is keen on the idea of bringing fresh voices to the table \u201cmaybe without some pre-set agenda \u2013 but \u2018Hey, here\u2019s an idea \u2013 how do we make this happen without assuming there\u2019s some pre-imposed structure already that\u2019s not working?\u2019 Because we kind of know what\u2019s not working in some areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
She is enthused, she reports, by recent leadership changes in the arts community. \u201cI actually think it\u2019s an exciting moment for the Arts Alliance, because in so many ways we can invent something new to do. I\u2019m not changing the mission of this organization \u2013 we are to advocate and educate, and we are an umbrella organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mission\u2019s 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\u2019s an idea on the table \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Whichever way the wind blows, Helen French will be receptive \u2013 and excited about it \u2013 in the new year. \u201cWe\u2019re in a space where \u2018new\u2019 going to happen,\u201d she says. \u201cWhat does it look like? I\u2019m learning by listening to the community. What\u2019s on the horizon for us is continuing to respond to the needs of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
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