Mischelle Anderson's life centers around the arts. However, she isn't a dancer, an artist or an actress. Instead, she is a full-time appreciator and promoter of the arts, specifically those in Polk County.
As the executive director of the Polk Arts Alliance, Anderson says her job is to promote the artistic endeavors and organizations in the community - of which there are many.
"Basically, the Polk Arts Alliance is an umbrella organization whose job is to say, 'listen there are lots of arts and cultural opportunities in Polk County,'" says Anderson, who is quick to name a few of the artistic beacons in her community. "There's so much here. Most of the time, when I go out to talk to people in the community, there's a lot of 'did you know ...' and I tell them facts like that the Frostproof Art Guild has 1,000 members. I tell them how lucky we are to have a nationally accredited art museum or how the Polk Theatre is only one of a couple hundred theaters like it left in the country."
In addition to these artistic assets to Polk County, Anderson adds that there are a wide assortment of cultural opportunities, such as classical music from the Imperial Symphony Orchestra, opera, Bok Tower Gardens, art guilds, colleges with strong arts and theater departments, award-winning community theaters, the Bach Festival of Central Florida, Florida Dance Theater, Explorations V and a school district that has schools strictly devoted to the arts.
"There's so much here, and our job is to promote it," Anderson says. "Basically, whatever your interests, race, cultural, age or gender, there is something on the arts or cultural level in Polk County that will appeal to you."
Anderson's zeal for Polk's arts are what helped her to get the job with the Arts Alliance.
She was on the board for the Polk Arts Alliance, but working professionally as a consultant for faith-based organizations and teaching business at a local small college.
"The Arts Alliance decided they needed an office presence to help handle the day to day tasks of the organization," Anderson says. "I thought about how much I enjoy the variety of arts here in my community, so I got off the committee, so I would be eligible for the position."
David Price, who is the president of Bok Tower Gardens, says that during Anderson's time as executive director with the Arts Alliance, she has proven to be a valuable asset to the community.
"She is full of energy for the arts and stays on top of the issues, whether it is grants, professional workshops, or regulatory issues," Price says. "The Polk Arts Alliance is a great tool to disseminate information to the arts community to keep them abreast of critical issues."
The Polk Arts Alliance, which is headquartered in Bartow, commits itself to the arts through advocacy, promotion, coordination, education and economic development.
One of the services provided by the Polk Arts Alliance is the publication of Art-i-facts magazine.
"The Arts Alliance keeps us informed about the community's arts opportunities and all that's going on here," says Gail Reeder, who is the office manager for the Frostproof Art Guild. "With them being responsible for Art-i-facts, they do a real service to the community and the arts organizations. They always give us space to let everyone know what we have going on at our gallery."
"We're basically an umbrella organization for the arts in Polk County," Anderson says.
Anderson, who grew up in upstate New York, says she developed an appreciation for the arts at a young age - by going to Broadway shows and experiencing the rich artistic culture of New York City.
"Art is part of everything in life," Anderson says.
And through the Polk Arts Alliance, she helps to ensure the arts remain a vibrant part of life in Polk County.
