ART NEWS: socials, partnerships, trips

Social tonight from UAC

“Hot Nights ... Cool Sights” is the theme of a gallery reception sponsored by United Arts Council of Collier County and hosted by DeBruyne Fine Art, 275 Broad St. S., Naples, from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14. It is free with advance registration with the United Arts Council by calling (239) 263-8242.

Petrucci portraits at New River

New River Fine Art of Fort Lau­derdale and Naples is now the ex­clusive representative for portraits by Nicholas Petrucci of Naples.

“I am honored and pleased to work with owner Lisa Burgess and her staff to serve this elite segment of the art community,” Petrucci said in a statement accom­panying the announcement of the partnership. New River’s Naples gallery is at 600 Fifth Ave. S. Call (239) 435-4515 or visit online at www.newriverfineart.com.

FCGU day trip to St. Petersburg

The Renaissance Academy, Florida Gulf Coast University’s noncredit adult lifelong learning program, has organized a day trip to St. Petersburg to view the Chi­huly Collection and Salvador Dalí Museums on July 21.

The day’s first stop will be a do­cent- led tour of the new Salvador Dalí Museum. The new museum combines elements of the “classi­cal and the fantastical,” much like the work of Dalí.

After free time for lunch, the afternoon will feature the Chihuly Collection, a permanent glass art collection of world-renowned art­ist Dale Chihuly’s unique creations in a 10,000-square-foot setting. The group will also visit the Morean Arts Center Glass Studio & Hot Shop, where glassblowers create one-of-a-kind pieces, and partici­pants can have their own personal glass-blowing experience and shop for unique glass art created by local and regional artists.

Cost is $100 per person and in­cludes round-trip motor coach transportation, driver gratuity and docent-led tours of both muse­ums. The motor coach will offer departures from North Naples at 8 a.m.; Fort Myers at 8:40 a.m.

For departure location and reg­istration go to https://RegisterRA. fgcu.edu or contact the academy at (239) 434-4737.

The Renaissance Academy of­fers affordable, noncredit single lectures, short courses, day trips, computer classes, film series, life enrichment classes and other pro­grams. For more information or a free catalog of offerings, con­tact The Renaissance Academy at (239) 434-4737.

Blog from Prague: Ensemble story

The Bach Ensemble of Naples is touring Eastern Europe to sing benefit concerts and educate them­selves for their upcoming 10th an­niversary concert, the Bach Mass in B minor, next March. Their ad­ventures are being chronicled daily at www.naplesnews.com. Type “Blog from Prague” into the search box to see photos and stories.