Artel Gallery

Artel Gallery calls itself the only nonprofit, all-volunteer experimental art gallery serving Northwest Florida. Founded in 1993, it works differently from the co-ops and retail galleries around it on Palafox: Artel is not a sales-driven space, and its exhibitions focus on contemporary and experimental work shown without commercial pressure. The whole operation is run by volunteers.

Artel is at 223 Palafox Pl, Pensacola, FL 32502; call 850-432-3080 or visit artelgallery.org. Exhibitions rotate through the year, and the gallery pairs them with educational programs. Artel also houses the Cinco Banderas Collection, which celebrates the multicultural heritage of Pensacola, the “City of Five Flags.”

The downtown directory lists Artel’s hours as Tuesday through Saturday, 10am–4pm. It’s a good stop for visitors who want to see what regional artists are experimenting with, rather than shopping for coastal decor. Shows change regularly, so check the website before you go to see what’s on the walls, and pair a visit with the other galleries a short walk away on Palafox, including the co-op galleries and artist studios in the same stretch of downtown.