Mention ‘Sarasota’ and ‘arts and culture’ easily springs to mind. More than just being popular for its beaches, Sarasota County is a hub that thrives on concerts, live theater, opera, ballet, museums and even the circus. Dubbed Florida’s cultural mecca, Sarasota is one of the very few places in the US that is home to a spectrum of arts and cultural entertainment. If you are considering retiring to senior independent living communities in Sarasota FL, here’s what you can expect to experience in the realm of arts and culture.
A Passion for Performing Arts
Expect to experience shows in dozens of esteemed performing arts venues situated on Florida’s Gulf Coast. These renowned venues include Asolo Rep Theatre, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, Circus Sarasota, Players Centre for Performing Arts, Florida Studio Theatre and more. Here’s a fun fact: Sarasota has even been given the label “Most Big Cultural Institutions per Square Inch“.
An Appreciation for Architecture
You’ll chance upon architecture throughout the city that pays homage to climate, history, and way of life from the Mediterranean and Venetian-style influence of John Ringling to the Sarasota School of Architecture. Eminent practitioners from the 1940s to 1960s, such as Gene Leedy, Paul Rudolph, Victor Lundy, and Ralph Twitchell, among many others, formed the genesis of a progressive regional style that is still studied by architecture students from all over the world. The yearly SarasotaMOD Weekend, which is organized by the Sarasota Architectural Foundation, pays tribute to this legacy. Modern architects of today continue to push the creative envelope of the medium in what has been identified as the golden era of architectural innovation in this day and age.
Museums and Galleries Galore
The hallmark of the community is The Ringling, where you meander through 31 galleries comprising contemporary art, old masters, and exhibitions hailing from around the world. There are also plenty of institutions for visual art sitting along the Gulf Coast. Galleries stretch throughout the Rosemary District and downtown Sarasota, while Coastal Living Magazine has included Towles Court in the list of ‘North America’s Top 10 Artists Colonies’.
Festivals and art walks happen weekly; first Friday gallery walks are on Palm Avenue, third Friday art walks in Towles Court, aside from Music on Main in Lakewood Ranch. Organizations like Longboat Key Center for the Arts and Art Center Sarasota provide offer exhibitions, cultural programs, and education to the local residents.
Additionally, Sarasota’s first museum of modern and contemporary art, the Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA), practices the city’s tradition of creative learning. Transforming the former Sarasota High School, SMOA will be integrated with an exhibition space with a 110-seat auditorium, multiple galleries, community gathering venues, and a classroom.
Annual Festivals
Sarasota is also a hotspot for annual festivals, beyond its cultural institutions that support art. There is something to enjoy every month! Englewood Fine Arts Festival happens in March, Sarasota Film Festival in April, Sarasota Music Festival happens in June, Ringling International Arts Festival happens in October, Sarasota Film Society’s Cine-World Film Festival in November, Atomic Holiday Bazaar in December, Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festivals in January, and many more – the list just doesn’t end.
