Sanibel-Captiva Art League Overview
Our Story
The Sanibel-Captiva Art League (SCAL) was founded in 1964 by a group of 25 artists who elected a board and officers with the mission of advancing the visual arts in the community. Through the years the League’s focus has been to foster cooperation and exchange of ideas among artists, provide exhibits for the public, and coordinate with many of the organizations that form the cornerstone of our community.
SCAL’s first juried show was held in 1975. Today the League consistently offers large exhibits and juried shows in public venues such as BIG ARTS, the Sanibel Public Library, the Captiva Civic Association, the Sanibel Community House, the Bailey Homestead, and the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village, as well as some private venues such as local banks, churches and clubs. We sponsor a popular biennial show, Art in Bloom, featuring flower arrangements coordinated with paintings, with the Shell Islands Garden Club, and were the initiators of Art Poems with local writers.
Residents and visitors are welcome at all events, including League member meetings, art demonstrations and plein air painting. Programs are free or at minimal cost.
SCAL artists also traditionally support F.I.S.H., SCCF, and the Sanibel Community House with proceeds of art programs specifically devoted to these organizations. Strong ties to our community have enabled the League to continue to enhance the visual enjoyment and artistic education of residents and visitors alike.
The Sanibel-Captiva Art League is a 501(c)(3) organization and a member of the Art Council of Southwest Florida.
“Swiss Garden and Monastery”
by SCAL Artist Vreni Scheu
Oil
Activities
Many of our monthly meetings feature demonstrations of artistic techniques, styles, and methods by artists both from our League, as well as from independent studios and organizations. Presentations at the meetings offer a variety of programs of interest to member artists and the public, and update members on upcoming activities.
Please refer to the 2025-2026 meeting schedule on the Activities & Events tab (above). Unless otherwise noted, monthly meetings take place on the third Thursday of each month from October through April.
Membership
Meetings and events provide members and guests with valuable opportunities for networking and learning. Active members with varied backgrounds and interests continually reinforce the organization’s collective creativity, continuity, and stability. Strong ties to the community enable the League to enhance the visual enjoyment and artistic education of both residents and visitors.
Exhibitions
Our line up for the 2025-2026 event season is posted.
For details and to register, click on the Activities & Events tab (above).
We will be exhibiting this season at BIG ARTS, Captiva Civic Association, Sanibel Community House,
The Sanibel Public Library, and Bailey Homestead Preserve.
Mission
The purposes and objectives of the Sanibel-Captiva Art League are:
- To promote public interest in and appreciation of the fine visual arts.
- To encourage cooperation and an exchange of ideas among artists, instructors, art students, and others engaged in artistic endeavors in the visual arts.
- To provide a registry for artists.
- To hold seminars, classes, workshops, competitions, and public and private exhibitions, and to provide the opportunity for members to increase their skill, knowledge, and enjoyment of the arts.
- To broaden the knowledge and awareness of both artists and viewers in the appreciation of the traditional artistic experience, and to generally promote the study and improvement of visual arts.
- To accomplish the foregoing, to do any other act or thing incidental to or connected with the foregoing purposes and objectives, or in the advancement thereof, but not for the pecuniary profit or financial gain of any of its members, directors, or officers.
"Morrow's Honeysuckle Berries"
by SCAL Artist Donna Esher
Watercolor
Current Leadership
2025-2027 Sanibel-Captiva Art League Leadership
Officers and Board:
Donna Esher and Maureen Ginipro, Co-Presidents
Nancy Sperte, Vice President
Joleen Raho, Secretary
Vreni Scheu, Treasurer
Amejo Amyot, Board Member
Patrick Conolly, Board Member
Gloria Krekel, Board Member
Sherry Fonseth-Lais, Board Member
Brooke Simon, Past President Ex-Officio
Committee Chairs:
Exhibition Chairs:
- SCAL Library Juried Shows – Gloria Krekel, Jane Hudson, Nancy Sperte, and Suzette Heeres
- SCAL SCCF - Maureen Ginipro
- SCAL/All Council Show at BIG ARTS – Nancy Sperte
- SCAL/SCA/All Council Show at SCH - Joleen Raho
- SCAL/CCA/All Council Show at CCA - Joleen Raho
Art Council of Southwest Florida Delegate: Patrick Conolly
Art in Bloom 2026 Liaison: Joleen Raho
Auditing: John Raho
Historian: Mary Klunk
Hospitality: Amejo Amyot and Paula Hult
In-house Graphic Designer: Dave Tompkins
Membership: Suzette Heeres
Nominating Committee: Amejo Amyot and Patrick Connelly
Plein Air: Antonia Crook
Publicity: Sherry Fonseth-Lais and Donna Esher
Programs and Sanibel Library Exhibits: Gloria Krekel
SCAL/Community House Art Collaboration: Joleen Raho
Social Media: Donna Esher, and Frank Nero
Website Administrator: Donna Esher
Webmaster: Guerrilla Marketing
Past Presidents
Artful Appreciation to Our Past Presidents
- 1964 Leon Levy
- 1969 Dorothy Robinson
- 1974 Mary Stolz
- 1975 Winifred Lurks
- 1979 Kay Cooper
- 1980 Ruth Searing
- 1982 Jean Gibson
- 1984 Billie Elder
- 1986 Harriet Ringel
- 1988 Carol Hagerman
- 1990 Nancy Huff
- 1992 Naomi Campbell
- 1994 Ann Bischoff
- 1996 Dick Smith
- 1998 Nancy Jones & Dick Smith
- 2000 Carolyn Johns
- 2003 Betty Weise
- 2005 Neil Glaser
- 2007 Randon Eddy
- 2009 Peter Zell
- 2011 Pat Smart
- 2013 Kathy Taylor
- 2015 Marcy Calkins
- 2017 Jim Storer
- 2019 Anita Force Marshall
- 2021 Nancy Sperte
- 2023 Brooke Simon
