The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, a premiere arts, wedding and event rental center located in downtown Fort Myers at 2301 First Street, FL is a 501c3 organization that is run and operated by Florida Arts, Inc.

Florida Arts, Inc. nurtures innovation and excellence in the visual and performing arts via exhibitions, performances, education, and community outreach. Through the development and management of the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, the legacy of Berne Davis and her mission is carried on to provide a world-class venue and open access to the arts for all Members of the Southwest Florida Community.

The bronze light sculptures on the front walk are one of the most recognized photographic attractions in Fort Myers, Florida. Created by artist Jim Sanborn, the Caloosahatchee Manuscripts were completed in March of 2001. The eastern drum contains the text of a story told by Maskoki Indian leader Tchikilli to James Oglethorpe about the migration of Native Americans into Florida. The Seminoles, Miccosukee and Creek trace their ancestry to Tchikilli and his people. The western drum contains the Latin names of 500 botanicals that Thomas Edison tested in an effort to develop a local source of latex from which to make rubber in order to help out his friends Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone.

History:

The land where the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is built has a long history and, therefore, has become part of the local heritage. The site was originally a Native American Calusa settlement hundreds of years ago. In the mid-1800s, it became home to the original fort of Fort Myers, which also housed soldiers.

In 1933 a 23,000 square foot United States Post Office was built to replace the fort. The Post Office, designed by prominent Florida architect Nat Gaillard Walker, opened on the site. A rare masterpiece of Neoclassic Revival architecture in Florida, the building’s massive columns were made of limestone from the Florida Keys. Plus, the walls were embedded with coral formations and sea shells.

The Post Office on 1st Street was a local landmark used by Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone, as well as many average citizens in the area. Until it’s renovation, the Post Office served the community for decades. The building, later known as the George Whitehurst Federal Building, was converted into a Federal Courthouse in the 1960s. Judges, lawyers, defendants, and plaintiffs passed through the rooms and hallways on a regular basis. Much of the original 1930s architecture remained intact, which allowed eventual renovations to preserve the site’s history. The building was abandoned after a new courthouse was built nearby. The vacant building suffered deterioration from water infiltration, adding to the great wear from public use and deferred maintenance it sustained while it served the community. The building fell into disrepair and much of the original fixtures were removed or destroyed.

After the Federal Government vacated the building in 1998 the City of Fort Myers purchased the building in 2000 and put a request for proposals out to area nonprofits to create a cultural institution in downtown Fort Myers. Florida Arts, Inc. proposed a multidisciplinary arts center, and in 2003, Jim Griffith and Florida Arts, Inc. (a 501c3 not-for-profit organization) was awarded a 99 year lease of the building from the City of Fort Myers. Florida Arts, Inc. agreed to meld the past with the future by restoring the building to its original magnificence, while creating a modern arts facility. A Division of Historical Resources grant in the amount of $350,000 was awarded in 2004 to stabilize the building and stop water infiltration. This grant provided a new roof and complete restoration of the decorative steel cased windows throughout the building. Matching funds came from individual and corporate donors and the City of Fort Myers. In 2006, Berne Davis pledged $1 million to Florida Arts, Inc. for the building’s restoration. In honor of the Davis family contribution, the building was renamed the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. Phase one was completed June 2008, with the exception of the original door openings in the front loggia area, the first floor air conditioning, and the granite flooring. Completion of these three remaining items was at budget and ahead of schedule, so the building opened to the public on September 10, 2008. By the end 2008, 10,000 square feet of the building had been restored.

SBDAC was later selected for a Cultural Facilities grant receiving $650,000 to continue phase 2 in the restoration of the mezzanine and upper floors. The elevator was installed, and the building’s second floor was renovated to include the Capital Gallery, a state-of-the-art recording studio, and classrooms for the arts and Davis School of Music program. In addition, the artist green room was completed on the mezzanine level. In 2013, SBDAC was awarded a second Cultural Facilities grant for $328,000 for phase 3 to create a rooftop sculpture garden and reception area, which opened to the public during Art Walk on May 7th, 2021. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center had revitalized a once dilapidated classic Florida structure, and the downtown River District along with it.

"The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, run by Florida Arts, Inc. (a 501c3 organization), is a must-see attraction with a colorful history. The center is dedicated to bringing world-class art events to the Southwest Florida community. Within our restored, state-of-the-art facility, we present a wide range of events to the public. From concerts to art exhibitions, galas to lectures, and providing educational arts experiences for children and adults alike– we promise excellence!" Jim Griffith, CEO SBDAC

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