Sarasota Keys pianos return to downtown sidewalks

Once again, visitors to downtown Sarasota will have the opportunity to sit down and play a series of locally painted pianos, as the Sarasota Keys project is returning for its third season Thursday.

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, the organizer of Sarasota Keys, announced that four public pianos will be placed downtown as part of the project later this week. After the project made its debut in 2014, city leaders have applauded the public art and music campaign.

“This has been one of our region’s most popular public art projects,” said Jim Shirley, executive director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance in a release. “We love the fact that it is a true partnership between the city of Sarasota, our business community, and the Arts and Cultural Alliance.”

The Arts and Cultural Alliance teamed with local artists, who painted the designs on the pianos, and local businesses, which will assume responsibility for the pianos through May.

The locations of the four pianos are:

• Woman’s Exchange Inc., 539 S. Orange Ave.
• Clasico Café and Bar, 1341 Main St.
• Louies Modern, 1289 N. Palm Ave.
• Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 1741 Main St.