Reinforcing connections between creative disciplines
This new initiative, housed in the College of Arts & Sciences, seeks to reinforce connections between creative disciplines such as Art, Music, Theatre, and Writing with fields of study in the social and natural sciences, health, law, business, athletics, and more.
Such connections already exist. But we are making an active effort to make these connections visible via special events and branding so that more people at FGCU and in the wider community can better see how an art project might make a huge difference in environmental sustainability. Or the way a theatre production can reflect both historical and ethical concerns surrounding public health. The possibilities are endless.
Artist and ocean explorer, Rebecca Rutstein said, "I think it's incredibly important for people to get out of their individual silos and sit at the table together. This is the only way forward if we are to solve the greatest global challenges of our time, like our climate crisis. Artists can play a critical role in communicating with and moving the general public by creating the expressive and emotional drivers that scientific data lacks."
Have an idea? Tell us by filling out the brief form below. We invite faculty, staff, and students to submit proposals for cross-departmental or interdisciplinary events that reflect a spirit of collaboration here at FGCU. All submissions will be reviewed by our planning group, and we will follow up within 2-3 weeks to explore next steps or potential partnership opportunities. Thank you for your time and support. We look forward to collaborating with you!
2025-2026 Calendar of Events
| name | image | day | month | year | time | duration | color | location | description | image_alt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Mic Storytelling | 21 | 10 | 2025 | 5:00pm-7:00pm | 1 | 9 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community" |
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| Joel Ying - Folk Tales & Braided Stories | /cas/creativeconnections/images/joelying-hero.jpg | 22 | 10 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 3 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Folk Tales & Braided Stories - Dr. Joel Ying is a Physician-Educator-Storyteller, performing stories woven together into art at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). 5:30pm reception with light appetizers. 6pm performance 7pm Q&A Dr. Joel Ying is a Physician-Storyteller-Educator in Naples, Florida. Stories, he will tell you, are medicine. You might get a dose in performance (or in his office) filled with sweet personal moments, salty humor, sour sadness, spicy folk tales or even bitter truth. It goes down with ease when it comes with a story. Dr. Joel teaches "Storytelling as Healing" to undergrads at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and co-produces the FGCU Storytelling Series. He lives and practices medicine in Naples, Florida. |
Joel Ying |
| Student Showcase - Roots of Compassion and Kindness | 28 | 10 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 9 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex | FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community" | ||
| Joel Ying - Student Workshop: VOICES - Transform Your Story | 29 | 10 | 2025 | 1:30pm-3:00pm | 1 | 3 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Student workshop with Joel Ying - VOICES - Transform Your Story |
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| Beloved: Remembering Andy Owen | /cas/creativeconnections/images/beloved-hero.jpg | 03 | 11 | 2025 | 4:00pm-6:00pm | 1 | 9 | FGCU Printmaking Studio (Arts Complex room 148) & Courtyard - FGCU Arts Complex |
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Beloved - Andy Owen |
| Kuniko Yamamoto - Origami Tales: Merging Art and Story | /cas/creativeconnections/images/kunikoyamamoto-hero.jpg | 04 | 11 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 3 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Storytelling Performer and Teaching Artist comes to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) |
Kuniko Yamamoto |
| Kuniko Yamamoto - Family Stories from Japan | /cas/creativeconnections/images/kunikoyamamoto-hero.jpg | 05 | 11 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 9 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Kuniko Yamamoto performs personal and historical stories transporting you back to her life in Japan and connecting with the universal human spirit. A native of Japan, Kuniko Yamamoto received her Bachelor of Psychology from Otani University of Kyoto, Japan in 1983. She started performing professionally in her hometown of Osaka where she grew up studying traditional dance, music and theater. She now lives in Sarasota, Florida, where she is a performer and teaching artist of origami and storytelling. |
Kuniko Yamamoto |
| Student Showcase: Storytelling as Healing | /cas/creativeconnections/images/storytellinghealing-hero-desktop.jpg | 19 | 11 | 2025 | 5:00pm-7:00pm | 1 | 3 | Veterans Pavilion, Library Lawn, Florida Gulf Coast University |
Showcase of FGCU Student Stories. Join the outdoor storytelling event of Final Projects by "Storytelling as Healing" students. |
FGCU Storytelling as Healing |
| The Trees Know | /cas/creativeconnections/images/tyleryodizo-hero.jpg | 20 | 11 | 2025 | 3:30pm-4:30pm | 345 | 9 | Cohen Student Union and Sugden Hall Throughfare |
The Trees Know - Opening talk and reception, Thursday, November 20, 2025 3:30pm-4:30pm. |
Tyler Yodzio The Trees Know |
| Disaster Day | /cas/creativeconnections/images/disaster.day-2025-hero.jpg | 21 | 11 | 2025 | 7:30am-2:00pm | 1 | 3 | Cohen Student Union Room 201 and the athletic field |
Disaster Day: - An interprofessional education (IPE) simulation event to achieve readiness and preparedness requirements for emergency first responder training. |
2025 FGCU Disaster Day |
| Becoming Tomorrow's Dream: Onajide Shabaka | /cas/creativeconnections/images/20252026onajadeimage-hero.jpg | 22 | 01 | 2026 | 5:30pm-7:30pm | 29 | 9 | Wasmer Art Gallery |
Becoming Tomorrow's Dream: Onajide Shabaka |
Onajide Shabaka, He bathed in the river's floral scent, 2020, Archival ink photographic print (edition of 5), 13.25 x 20 in. Courtesy of the artist. |
| Tamiami Tale Tellers | /cas/creativeconnections/images/tamiami-tale-tellers-hero.jpg | 04 | 02 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 3 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Tamiami Tale Tellers - Storytelling Showcase "Love Stories" |
Tamiami Tale Tellers |
| Sheila Arnold - Roots of Compassion & Kindness: The Single Act | /cas/creativeconnections/images/sheila-arnold-hero.jpg | 10 | 02 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 9 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Sheila Arnold - Roots of Compassion & Kindness: The Single Act |
Sheila Arnold |
| Sheila Arnold - Stories of the Underground Railroad: Law & Order | /cas/creativeconnections/images/sheila-arnold-hero.jpg | 11 | 02 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 3 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Sheila Arnold - Stories of the Underground Railroad: Law & Order |
Sheila Arnold | |
| Josh Goforth - Appalachia Music and Song | /cas/creativeconnections/images/joshgoforth-hero.jpg | 17 | 02 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 9 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Josh Goforth - Appalachia Music and Song |
Josh Goforth |
| Josh Goforth - Music and Story from Hills and Hollers | /cas/creativeconnections/images/joshgoforth-hero.jpg | 18 | 02 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 3 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
Josh Goforth - Music and Story from Hills and Hollers |
Josh Goforth |
| Open Mic Storytelling | 24 | 03 | 2025 | 5:00pm-7:00pm | 9 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community" |
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| Joel Ying - Jamaica One Love | /cas/creativeconnections/images/joelying-hero.jpg | 25 | 03 | 2025 | 6:00pm-7:30pm | 1 | 3 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community" |
Joel Ying |
| Student Showcase: Storytelling as Healing | /cas/creativeconnections/images/storytellinghealing-mobile-hero.jpg | 15 | 04 | 2025 | 5:00pm-7:00pm | 1 | 9 | Veterans Pavilion, Library Lawn, Florida Gulf Coast University |
FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community" |
Student Showcase: Storytelling as Healing |
| Open Mic Storytelling | 21 | 04 | 2025 | 5:00pm-7:00pm | 1 | 3 | FGCU Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex |
FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community" |