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Arts + Culture

A visitor to Sarasota Art Museum takes a photo of David Hockney's "Inside It Opens Up As Well," which collector Stanton Storer loaned to the museum for "Something Borrowed, Something New."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 24, 2026
Collectors lend their treasures to Sarasota Art Museum for blockbuster exhibition

"Something Borrowed, Something New" features works by contemporary artists David Hockney, Ai Weiwei, KAWS, Louise Bourgeois, Frank Serra and others.

  • Arts + Culture
Jerome and Kathryn Chesley pose in their living room surrounded by colorful glass art that they've collected over the years.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 22, 2026
Sarasota couple are cultural ambassadors, together and separately

Retired educators Jerome and Kathryn Chesley lead trolley rides, usher at theaters, teach and lecture about arts and history.

  • Arts + Culture
Most of the action in Asolo Repertory Theatre's "Lady Disdain" takes place in a studio where romantasy audiobooks are recorded.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 17, 2026
Asolo Rep's 'Lady Disdain' brings the Bard into age of romantasy, revenge porn

Lauren Gunderson's reimagining of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" is a rolling world premiere.

  • Arts + Culture
Cristela Carrizales stars in Lifeline Productions' "Begin Again Badge," which runs through June 21 at the Cook Theatre in FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 15, 2026
Lifeline Productions follows a Girl Scout who grows up and conquers her demons

Cristela Carrizales' "Begin Again Badge" uses humor to to punctuate a recovery journey to self-acceptance.

  • Arts + Culture
Carlos Pagรกn, a fixture of the Sarasota jazz scene, passed away June 7 at age 78.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 12, 2026
Sarasota jazz crusader and filmmaker Carlos Pagรกn dies at age 78

The Bronx native served on the board of the Jazz Club of Sarasota and was a programmer at WSLR.

  • Arts + Culture
Venice Theatre hosts global theater showcase WorldFest
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 10, 2026
Venice Theatre hosts global theater showcase WorldFest

The festival returns to Venice with the help of more than 1,300 volunteers.

  • Arts + Culture
Steven High is retiring as executive director of The Ringling, a position he has held since 2011.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 5, 2026
Steven High to retire as executive director of The Ringling

High has led the museum founded by circus magnate John Ringling and now administered by Florida State University since 2011.

  • Arts + Culture
Collin Purcell, Katie Blackwell and Brian Ott bring back the feel-good era of folk music in "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 3, 2026
Cool off this summer with Florida Studio Theatre's cabaret shows

FST music shows provide a welcome respite from summer in the city.

  • Arts + Culture
Pianist and composer Michael Stephen Brown is a faculty member at the 2026 Sarasota Music Festival.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 1, 2026
A slimmer Sarasota Music Festival aims to be as satisfying as ever

Minus a music director, the festival has fewer concerts and fellows but more engagement between faculty and students.

  • Arts + Culture
Arts and Central, the Rosemary District restaurant opened in 2024 by father-and-son team Dan Henson Jr. and Dan Henson, is one of more than 50 restaurants participating in the 21st annual Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2026
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week kicks off its 21st edition June 1-14

More than 60 area eateries are offering two-course lunches for $25 and three-course dinners for $45.

  • Arts + Culture
Kallista Schneiderman and Kelly Haramis rehearse for their upcoming performance of "Grease is the Word" at the Squeaky Wheel Fringe Festival, which runs from June 2-7.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 27, 2026
Sarasota's Squeaky Wheel Fringe keeps making noise

The funky festival returns for its fourth edition from June 2-7 at the Jane B. Cook Theatre.

  • Arts + Culture
Hermitage Fellow and Grammy Award winner Rona Siddiqui teams up with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe performers Raleigh Moseley II and Maicy Powell for Hermitage Sunset Music on the Beach on Thursday, May 28.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 26, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for May 28-June 3

Don't miss these arts and entertainment events around Sarasota and Manatee counties this week.

  • Arts + Culture
Ann Morrison played the titular role in the Broadway touring production of "Kimberly Akimbo" for 10 months.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • May 21, 2026
Sarasota actor Ann Morrison is forever young

The 70-year-old just wrapped a national tour playing the teenaged lead in 'Kimberly Akimbo.'

  • Arts + Entertainment
Andrii Padkovskyi plays the titular role in Asolo Rep's "Fiddler on the Roof," which runs through May 24.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • May 20, 2026
A Ukrainian fiddler finds his roof in Sarasota

After a musical family escaped war in Ukraine, two brothers land at Asolo Repertory Theatre.

  • Arts + Culture
The annual Memorial Day parade kicks off on Main Street in Sarasota at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25. Rebecca Souders, 10, Jessica Wilhelm and Beth Duranceau watch the parade in 2023.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 19, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for May 21-27

Don't miss these arts and entertainment events around Sarasota and Manatee counties this week.

  • Arts + Culture
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  • June 24, 2026
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  • June 24, 2026
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5
A visitor to Sarasota Art Museum takes a photo of David Hockney's "Inside It Opens Up As Well," which collector Stanton Storer loaned to the museum for "Something Borrowed, Something New."
  • June 24, 2026
Collectors lend their treasures to Sarasota Art Museum for blockbuster exhibition

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