United Arts Collier (UAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the official state-recognized Local Arts Agency for Collier County, Florida, stands as the unifying force for all the arts in one of America’s most vibrant cultural destinations. Based in Naples, UAC operates as Collier County’s “arts umbrella” — akin to a chamber of commerce for the arts — fostering collaborations among artists, cultural organizations, businesses, civic leaders, and residents to enrich lives and strengthen community vitality through the transformative power of the arts.
From free arts education and therapeutic programs reaching approximately 2,500 at-risk youth, seniors, and veterans annually, to high-profile exhibitions, performances, fundraisers like the Seaside Soirée and Gulfside Gala, and signature initiatives such as the Collier Arts Archive and the Naples International Dance Festival, UAC ensures equitable access to arts experiences across all disciplines — visual, performing, literary, and culinary. As a catalyst for economic impact, advocacy, and cultural preservation, UAC implements the county’s Arts and Culture Strategic Plan, conducts economic impact studies, maintains a county-wide arts calendar and interactive map, and distributes its popular Best Bets newsletter to over 5,000 subscribers weekly. By bridging artists with opportunities, promoting public art, and driving partnerships that boost tourism, education, health, and local commerce, United Arts Collier not only sustains Southwest Florida’s thriving arts ecosystem but also demonstrates how strategic nonprofit leadership can amplify cultural vitality in communities nationwide.