BIG ARTS of Sanibel has set its 2027 Conversations Speaker Series lineup, pairing journalist Margaret Hoover with retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster to open the season, followed by appearances from former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham. The series kicks off Wednesday, January 13, at 7:30 p.m., with two more installments following in February and March.
Hoover, who hosts PBS's Firing Line and is the great-granddaughter of Herbert Hoover, the 31st U.S. president, will appear in conversation with McMaster on opening night, according to Cape Coral Breeze. McMaster served as the 25th United States National Security Advisor from 2017 to 2018 and is known for his roles in the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, per BIG ARTS. The January 13 conversation is sponsored by Bob and Kathy Wiesemann, the outlet reports.
Following the talk, attendees are invited to a complimentary post-conversation reception where BIG ARTS says it will serve beverages and bites. The organization describes Conversations as an interactive series built around renowned experts and commentators discussing topical issues — one it bills as a platform free of political grandstanding or campaign messaging.
Christie and Meacham Round Out the Season
Chris Christie, described by the nonprofit as an attorney and former Republican governor of New Jersey who served in both the George W. Bush and Trump administrations, is slated to speak at the February 10 conversation. Jon Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, follows at the March 10 event, which the Cape Coral Breeze reports is sponsored by JoAnn and Bob Glick. Both the February and March conversations are set to start on a Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
The Conversations Speaker Series launched at BIG ARTS Sanibel in 2025 and was, in the organization's own words, a hit and terrific experience for all. This year's roster extends that run with another slate of political and literary figures drawing crowds to the island nonprofit.
Tickets and Venue Details
For tickets, the Cape Coral Breeze directs readers to my.bigarts.org/5595/5596. BIG ARTS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization located at 900 Dunlop Road on Sanibel. The organization is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and can be reached at 239-395-0900.
