Find the Art in Panama City, Florida

The City of Panama City is nestled along the picturesque St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Bay County, on Florida's panhandle. Panama City is the largest one between Tallahassee  and Pensacola in Florida, with a population of about 36, 500 people. The strategic location of Panama City creates auspicious conditions for local tourism - St. Andrews Bay creates natural harbour protection whereas the Panama City Marina, which is owned by Panama City, and St. Andrews Marina on the Intracoastal waterway of Florida offer wonderful full-service docking for boats and vessels up to130 feet.
    
The City of Panama City boasts a rich and vibrant art scene, enjoyed by the local people and by the numerous guests of the city. The Marina Civic Center, housed on the Marina of Panama City and the adjacent Visual Arts Center and Martin Theatre will bewilder you with the remarkable array of artistic and cultural offerings, inspiring the inner artist in you. Panama City plays the role of the artistic hub both for the thriving city and for the whole area.
   
The permanent citizens are well aware of the merits of their incredible community - the living standard is high. Panama City is an eclectic blend of lifestyles and tastes; the climate is mild and favourable with annual summer temperatures of about 27 degrees Celsius and about 12 degrees during the winter months. The small-town setting is ideal for the raising of a family. All kinds of water sports and fishing are at your disposal, ready to make your vacation unforgettable, and the entertainment and arts are world-class. Plu, lodging options vary greatly, so there is something to satisfy every taste for a wonderful stay. Bay County is famous for its bounteous freshwater supply. Panama City is a famous year-round tourist spot with a welcoming environment and spirited people.
   
The Marina Civic Center is a complex with 2,508 seats available, where other than art events, businesses meetings and conferences are conducted, as well.
   
The Martin Theatre is a historical building with a capacity of 460 seats. This wonderful arts facility is a host for numerous renowned plays and other artistic events. Specialized for more social-oriented happenings and business purposes, "The Green Room", located in the theatre complex widens the variety of functions that the multiplex performs.
   
The Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida is housed in the first City Hall in Panama City. The building was built in 1925 and since its opening it has been a host for a dozen artistic events every year. The Visual Arts Center is comprised of several sectors, such as: the Main Gallery, the Higby Gallery, the Lobby Gallery, and the Walkway Gallery and Impressions, the last being a Hands-on Children's Gallery. The Visual Arts Center opened doors in 1988, and the artistic exhibits that are held there since there include the names of some of the most popular international and American artists. Some of the most intriguing exhibits that the Arts Center has displayed are national the Watercolor Competition, the international Photography Competition and Russian Icons. Numerous Florida artists, Bay County School students, and artists of regional acclaim have the luck to be presented in the galleries of the Visual Arts Center. Often lectures, workshops and courses devoted to various topics are put on as well.
   
George Mortimer West gave the city its name because of its location on the straight line between Panama City and Chicago. The initial name was "Harrison, Florida", but with the building of the Panama Canal, it was changed to its present name to draw the media interest and to encourage the real estate market in Bay County.