The University of West Florida’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities is proud to announce this year’s Gulf Coast Culture Series theme: Pensacola Noir. The Gulf Coast Culture Series is an evolution of the longstanding Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series. Launched in 2024, GCC expands beyond lectures to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of the U.S. Gulf Coast Region through events linked by yearly themes.
This year’s GCC theme, Pensacola Noir, is inspired by gritty crime fiction and film noir traditions and explores history, art and Southern Gothic storytelling through a mix of conversations, tours and lectures. By weaving together these themes, the series brings timely and thought-provoking conversations into the public sphere while highlighting the creative depth of the Gulf Coast region.
“There is a deep history in literature, film and art of the Southern United States as a site of mystery, the gothic and crime,” said Dr. David M. Earle, professor and dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. “Florida is no exception, and this series will rely upon our local history and talent to explore such Noir-ish dynamics.”
This year’s programming offers distinctive experiences that blend scholarship with cultural storytelling in ways not typically available to the public. From a roundtable with three of Pensacola’s most prominent crime writers and a twilight cemetery tour exploring the shadowed corners of the city’s past, to a discussion on how “Murder, She Wrote” shaped pop culture’s fascination with forensic science and a lecture on Southern Gothic photography by a nationally recognized curator, each event offers a unique lens on how stories of crime, memory and art shape our understanding of place and identity.
A few of the events planned for the upcoming year, which are free and open for the public to attend, include:
Sept. 17, 2025 – Pensacola Crime Writers Roundtable: Three of Pensacola’s leading crime writers – Mike Papantonio, author of “Middleman”; Rick Outzen, author of “City of Grudges”; and Corbett Davis Jr., author of “Dead Man’s Fingers” – will come together for a dynamic roundtable discussion at the Museum of Commerce. Each author will share insights into their work, inspirations and how the noir tradition influences Gulf Coast storytelling, followed by a Q&A and book signing. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by speakers at 6 p.m, the Q&A at 7 p.m. and book signing at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18, 2025 – Stories in Stone: A Twilight Walking Tour of St. Michael’s Cemetery: Hosted in partnership with the Florida Public Archaeology Network, the UWF Archaeology Institute and the UWF Department of Anthropology, this twilight program invites guests to explore the shadowed corners of Pensacola’s past. Through guided walking tours of St. Michael’s Cemetery, participants will encounter the complex history of the city and reflect on how the cemetery serves as both a resting place and a keeper of memory. The tours will highlight the lives, professions and stories of those who shaped the community across centuries while also examining the challenges of preservation and the cultural significance of remembrance. With groups limited to 15 and scheduled every half hour (first tour at 4:30 p.m., last at 6 p.m.), the experience offers an intimate and thought-provoking evening as the sun sets over one of Pensacola’s most historic sites. Registration will be required closer to the date of the event at uwf.edu/gulfcoastculture.
Nov. 13, 2025 – Murder She Investigates: Allysha Winburn & Cate Bird: In this unique program, Dr. Allysha Winburn, a biological anthropologist specializing in forensic and bioarchaeological research, and Dr. Cate Bird, missing persons & forensic manager for the International Committee of the Red Cross (United States & Canada), will examine the lasting cultural impact of the television series “Murder, She Wrote.” The discussion will explore how the show shaped public fascination with forensic evidence and influenced popular understandings of crime solving. Drawing on their own expertise, Winburn and Bird will connect the fictional world of Jessica Fletcher to the realities of forensic anthropology, investigative work and human rights, revealing how cultural narratives intersect with science and justice. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum of Commerce, and the discussion will run from 6 – 8 p.m.
Jan. 22, 2026 – Richard McCabe on Southern Gothic Photography: Renowned curator, photographer and writer Richard McCabe will speak at the Pensacola Museum of Art. McCabe, curator of photography at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans since 2010, examines how Southern Gothic traditions of mystery, melancholy and beauty are captured through photography. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., the speaker will go on at 6 p.m., and a Q&A will follow at 7:30 p.m.
The Gulf Coast Culture Series underscores the college’s mission to enrich, educate and connect the community by celebrating the traditions, stories and creative expressions that make the Gulf Coast extraordinary. Through immersive programming, GCC fosters curiosity, creativity, communication and compassion, bringing the liberal arts to life in new and impactful ways.
For more information on the Gulf Coast Culture Series, visit uwf.edu/gulfcoastculture.
