Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts

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Discover the Artist Within

Cultivating Artists and

Enhancing Voices

Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts brings performing and visual arts opportunities to neighborhoods and communities where they can make the greatest impact.

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From the Founder/Executive Director

The arts have the unique ability to entertain, challenge, enlighten, and bring people together. Over the past seven years, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible talent that exists throughout Southwest Florida and the barriers that often prevent people from fully participating in the arts. I founded Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts because I believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality arts education and creative experiences.

Partner with Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts to help expand access to theater, dance, visual arts, film, and playwriting for underserved communities throughout Southwest Florida. Together, we can create opportunities for artists and community members to share their stories, celebrate culture, express their creativity, and build meaningful connections through the arts.

Our Mission

Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts is committed to providing an imaginative and innovative space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) artists to learn, grow, and explore the creative arts through live performance, education, place making, storytelling and community connectivity.
Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts is dedicated to expanding access to high-quality performance and visual arts education and creative experiences by creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn, create, and connect throughout Southwest Florida.

Our Vision

To create a Southwest Florida where every individual, regardless of background, income, age, or zip code, has access to transformative arts experiences that inspire creativity, foster connection, and strengthen communities.

What We Do

BTG Arts brings theater, dance, visual arts, and creative learning experiences directly into schools, libraries, senior communities, neighborhood centers, and other community spaces, creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn, create, and connect.

Why It Matters

Every community benefits when people have opportunities to learn, create, and participate in the arts. Yet cost, transportation, and limited access to nearby programs can make participation difficult for many individuals and families.

BTG Arts removes those barriers by bringing high-quality arts experiences directly into the communities we serve. We believe the arts build confidence, strengthen communities, encourage self-expression, improve well-being, and enrich the cultural life of Southwest Florida.

Our Commitment to Access and Representation

BTG Arts was founded on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to experience the arts, develop their creativity, and share their unique perspective.

We create welcoming spaces where artistic talent can grow, meaningful stories can be shared, and communities can connect through creative experiences.

Our goal is simple: remove barriers, expand opportunity, and inspire creativity through the arts.

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A Space to Create. A Voice to Share.

Our Values

BTG Core Values:

Education

We believe the arts provide powerful opportunities for learning, growth, and self-expression.

Excellence

We strive to deliver high-quality programs, experiences, and services that enrich our community.

Opportunity

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to participate in the arts regardless of where they live or their life circumstances.

Empowerment

We encourage individuals to discover and share their creative voices with confidence and purpose.

Community

We believe the arts bring people together, strengthen relationships, and foster belonging.

Our Impact Goals

Expand Access

  • Bring arts programming directly into neighborhoods, schools, senior communities, libraries, and other community spaces.
  • Reduce barriers related to cost, transportation, and awareness.
  • Increase participation by expanding opportunities for individuals and families with limited access to arts education and creative experiences.

Develop Artists and Creative Learners

  • Provide high-quality arts education and creative skill-building opportunities.
  • Connect emerging artists with experienced professionals and mentors.
  • Create pathways for artistic growth and leadership.

Strengthen Community Through the Arts

  • Produce performances, exhibitions, workshops, and cultural experiences that bring people together.
  • Celebrate community stories, history, and culture.

Support Our Cause

Make a donation today to help bridge the gap.

Recurring Donations 70%
One-Time Donations 87%
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Who We Serve

BTG Arts serves children, teens, adults, seniors, artists, and community members throughout Southwest Florida, with a strong emphasis on communities that have historically faced barriers to arts participation.

Through arts education, creative aging programs, community theater, visual arts programming, exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events, we strive to ensure that every individual has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of the arts.
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Our Belief

We believe creativity belongs to everyone.

Regardless of age, income, background, or experience, every person deserves the opportunity to learn, create, express themselves, and see their stories reflected in the arts.

Access means ensuring everyone has the opportunity to engage in the arts by reducing barriers such as cost, location, awareness, and inclusion. Expanding access creates opportunities for creativity, learning, connection, and personal and community growth.

By improving access, we reduce these barriers and create opportunities for growth, connection, and enrichment for everyone.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 31st, 2025

Empowering and Educating Artists

Through Workshops and classes: Offering workshops on various aspects of the arts, such as acting, writing, directing, and production, led by experienced BIPOC artists and professionals.
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Saturday, January 31st, 2025

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MCCARTER, SONYA

Founder/Executive Director

In 2015, very few theaters in Southwest Florida produced plays featuring the stories and experiences of people of color. When Theatre Conspiracy decided to stage The Bluest Eye, she was tasked with finding an African American director with community connections to direct and cast the play. Finding no one, The Bluest Eye became her directorial debut. Additional credits include: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Seven Guitars, A Raisin in the Sun and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, King Hedley II, Race, The Color Purple Musical, The Colored Museum, and Sistas: The Musical. And most recently, Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu and her 7th August Wilson American Century Cycle play, Jitney.

Sonya holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communications, a Master of Arts Degree in Oral Interpretation of Speech, and a Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts. Her deepest commitment lies in creating a space that empowers marginalized voices to express their creativity, honor their cultural heritage, and discover the shared connections that bring us together.

BERNARD, LEMEC

Director/Treasurer

Lemec Bernard was born and raised in SWFL and attended college at the University of Central Florida. He is the Owner/Broker of Bernard Realty Group where he helps residents in SWFL buy and sell residential and commercial properties. Bernard is also the Owner and Lead photographer of Snapshot Listing where he specializes in digital content for realtors and interior designers.

CLEMONS, TIJUANNA

Director/Secretary

Tijuanna Clemons is the Senior Contract Manager with over 10 years of experience in Project Management. Having spent the previous 13 years on the implementation and review side of things, she was ready for a change. She obtained her master’s in public health degree from Florida A&M University and was fully prepared to take on the challenge. Her initial focus was on grant writing, an area quickly established as necessary to ‘close the funding gap’ for services to low-income children & families. A few years later, grant writing shifted to management where she found a niche to more inclusively apply her skills and passion for supporting underserved populations as a project manager within the Early Childhood Education industry.

Tijuanna played lead and supportive roles in numerous plays and a musical at the Alliance for the Arts Theatre Conspiracy and The Laboratory Theater in SWFL. A few of her favorite roles were “Bertha” in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars; “Doris, the Church Lady” in The Color Purple Musical, and “Mama” in Zora Howard’s Stew. Her hope is that you’ll join her in advancing theater and the arts, particularly for underserved children and families in SWFL through Bridging the Gap Center for the Arts.

HOOD, COTRENIA

Director

Cotrenia Hood is the CEO of Steel Bleu, a business coaching firm specializing in offering companies’ innovative ways to improve organizational productivity.

Cotrenia has over 20 years of proven business development experience. Her wealth of knowledge ranges from working with small businesses to major corporations and nonprofits.

Cotrenia serves on several boards and leadership councils as well as being honored as one of the 2013 Gulfshore Business Magazine’s “40 under 40”, Florida Weekly’s Annual List of Power Women and is a graduate of Leadership Collier. She lives in Naples, Florida where she and her husband, Richard, enjoy raising their two wonderful children.

LINDSEY, ANTWON

Director

Antwon is the Founder of A38 Films and is dedicated to changing lives through compassionate storytelling as a means for ending human suffering. Born and raised in Liberty City, Miami, Antwon Lindsey has always loved literature and film. A firm believer in the saying, "Don't allow your upbringing to dictate your future," Antwon truly believes that "The only person that can stop you from turning your dreams into a reality - is yourself." His mother encouraged him to write and read, with whom he'd often spend time writing stories and remixing the lyrics to their favorite songs. Many people sometimes refer to Antwon as an author, filmmaker, visionary, and even an inspiration. Still, Antwon sees his life as just someone seeking to experience the limitless expression of our collective conscious existence.

GALARZA, IVETTE

Director

Ivette is the Owner/Chief Executive Officer of Ferrer’s Custom Carpentry Services & Remodeling LLC. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY to parents of Puerto Rican descent. She moved to Florida at the age of 16 and eventually attained her Master of Social Work from FGCU. She dedicated 27 years of her life to advancing the interests of vulnerable populations across SW Florida. Her most rewarding work was serving at an agency where she was responsible for the oversight and programmatic planning of contracts in excess of $60 million, serving 7000 children across Florida. During this tenure Ivette’s work gained national recognition and she was nominated and elected as Board Chair of the National Head Start Association—one of the largest early education advocacy associations in the Nation.

In 2018 Ivette decided it was time to tap into her entrepreneurial spirit and set out to change the trajectory of how her family saw the concept of generational wealth! She got licensed as a General Contractor and joined her cousins in strengthening a family-owned and operated construction business that today has grown into a Multi-million dollar business.

DEL ROSARIO, WANER

Director

A highly motivated and multi-faceted professional with experience spanning the arts, technology, and aviation sectors, Waner Del Rosario brings a unique blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and a passion for community engagement. He has demonstrated an ability to excel in diverse environments, from captivating audiences on stage in theatrical productions such as "Clyde's" and “Noises Off” to leading and managing IT solutions as the founder of Dreniam Technology Solutions, and Technology Education Leader at Lee Health. His commitment to education and community is further evidenced by his role as a Public Speaking instructor at “Camp HSR!”, a homeschool day camp. Being a part of BTG, Waner hopes to leverage his diverse skill set to increase representation and access within the arts community, creating platforms for underrepresented voices and fostering a more inclusive artistic landscape.