Boom times for the arts.

In one of E.M. Forster's novels, two culture-loving English sisters live for their occasional trips to London to hear the symphony; and for months afterward, they blissfully recall every magical note and movement. Imagine how thrilled they would have been to know that in the years to come, people could enjoy almost any work of art whenever they wanted to, whether at home or one of the many live performances now staged even in small towns and cities.

I thought about those sisters this month, reading our feature about Southwest Florida's jam-packed arts and entertainment season. Arts editor Kay Kipling spearheaded the story, sifting through scores of shows, exhibitions and special events, talking to artistic directors and curators both here and out of town to pick the best of the coming season. Now that she's done the work, I'm already planning my own cultural calendar, and I hope you'll be inspired to do the same.

These are boom times for the arts; in the last decade, spending by nonprofit arts groups grew by about 45 percent, and event-related spending by audiences rose to $80 billion a year, according to a study by Washington D.C.'s Americans for the Arts. And despite 9/11 and recent economic uncertainty, philanthropic support keeps rising, too.

Once viewed as the first frill to trim from state and city budgets, the arts have gained respect among many officials, who have come to realize that a thriving cultural scene attracts tourists and well-heeled newcomers and can even rescue blighted areas. Witness Miami's new $411 million Performing Arts Center, which won't open until 2006 but has already boosted redevelopment and real estate values in what was a sometimes dangerous part of downtown. That's exactly what civic leaders and residents are hoping will happen in Naples' once-blighted Bayshore Drive neighborhood, where they're trying to create an arts district with lofts, studios and shops. And now that so many cities are courting the creative class, those hip, young high-tech workers and entrepreneurs who have ignited the economies of cities like Austin, even stodgy old business leaders are urging their communities to invest in the cutting-edge cultural offerings such bright young people want.

There's plenty of reason for optimism in Southwest Florida's arts world, where cultural offerings keep expanding along with the population. Both Collier's United Arts Council and Lee's Alliance for the Arts are celebrating that growth this month: the United Arts Council with a multitude of events capped by a gala at the Naples Beach Hotel on Nov. 20; and the Alliance with its second annual Walk Thru the Arts, featuring free live performances and more on Nov. 20. (For details, see Calendar, page 24.)

Still, the Gulfshore art scene is not without its challenges. Though officials here may recognize the importance of the arts, they've been slow to financially support them. In Lee, both the county and city are starting to get on board, but Collier remains one of only two Florida counties receiving no funding from local government. Commissioners may figure the region's private wealth can underwrite the arts; and to some degree, that's true. But while some groups get plenty, causes that aren't as fashionable lag behind. That can leave new and emerging arts groups out in the cold and create a lopsided cultural world, where the elite enjoy the arts and too many children, migrants and young workers can't. And though the arts are said to bring us together, they sure can stir up a good fight, too, as a bitter split on the board of the von Liebig recently proved. In "Art Wars" (page 100), Kay reports on that still-simmering controversy, and takes a hard look at just what kind of art town Naples can be.

We're proud to report that we recently won some artistic recognition ourselves. At the annual Florida Magazine Association conference, Gulfshore Life and our affiliated magazines won 15 awards. Gulfshore Life captured two writing awards, a bronze for Sean Ryan's "Lost in the Glades" in the March issue and a first-place Charlie for Ciel Nelson's "The Finest Kind," in January's food and wine annual. Art director Tessa Tilden-Smith won a silver for her use of photography, and the cover of the December visitors' annual received a Charlie. We also took home the gold for Best Special Issue for our March environmental issue. Thanks to all our gifted staff and contributors, and to you, our readers, whose interest and support allow us to practice this art that we love.

-Pam Daniel, Editorial Director