• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Circus Arts Conservatory unveils renovated Sailor Circus Arena

The $4 million campaign hopes to be complete by June.


  • By Kayleigh Omang
  • | 12:40 p.m. May 9, 2018
  • Arts + Culture
  • Share

Supporters of The Circus Arts Conservatory and specifically Sailor Circus got a first look at the new renovations underway at the Sailor Circus Arena.

The Sailor Circus Arena groundbreaking ceremony was hosted May 9 at the 2075 Bahia Vista St. location.

With the new updates, the arena will be open for health and fitness activities for seniors, children and teens, and those who face cognitive and developmental challenges. They also hope to host schools, businesses and organizations for year-round events.

A little more than $3 million has been raised so far for the $4 million project. CAC has a thermometer displayed on Bahia Vista Street to track the progress until the goal is reached. 

Sailor Circus performers put on a show during social hour.
Sailor Circus performers put on a show during social hour.
Marcia Jean Taub, Emma Clarke and Jennifer Gemmeke
Marcia Jean Taub, Emma Clarke and Jennifer Gemmeke
Todd Bowden, Karen Bell and Jim Shirley
Todd Bowden, Karen Bell and Jim Shirley
Veronica Brady and Peter Hayes
Veronica Brady and Peter Hayes
Donna Koffman and Tomeika Koski
Donna Koffman and Tomeika Koski
Debbie Shoss and Cheryl Reina
Debbie Shoss and Cheryl Reina
Jennifer Mitchell and Julie Harris
Jennifer Mitchell and Julie Harris
Hardhats from construction partner Tandem Construction were given to guests.
Hardhats from construction partner Tandem Construction were given to guests.
Gold shovels were used in the groundbreaking.
Gold shovels were used in the groundbreaking.
Founder and Vice President Dolly Jacobs gives a speech about the impact Sailor Circus has on the community.
Founder and Vice President Dolly Jacobs gives a speech about the impact Sailor Circus has on the community.
Founder and CEO Pedro Reis addresses the audience.
Founder and CEO Pedro Reis addresses the audience.
Executive Vice President Jennifer Mitchell thanks the audience and those involved.
Executive Vice President Jennifer Mitchell thanks the audience and those involved.
Board Chairman Jack Brown addresses the audience.
Board Chairman Jack Brown addresses the audience.
Zoltan Karpathy unveils the thermometer.
Zoltan Karpathy unveils the thermometer.
The thermometer is used to track the $4 million goal.
The thermometer is used to track the $4 million goal.
Zoltan Karpathy gives a speech.
Zoltan Karpathy gives a speech.
Everyone in attendance poses for a photo.
Everyone in attendance poses for a photo.
The Circus Arts Conservatory broke ground on the Sailor Circus Arena May 9.
The Circus Arts Conservatory broke ground on the Sailor Circus Arena May 9.
Those involved with the renovation project pose for a photo with the golden shovels.
Those involved with the renovation project pose for a photo with the golden shovels.
Dirt flies for the groundbreaking ceremony at Sailor Circus Arena.
Dirt flies for the groundbreaking ceremony at Sailor Circus Arena.
Marcia Jean Taub, Jennifer Mitchell and Dolly Jacobs
Marcia Jean Taub, Jennifer Mitchell and Dolly Jacobs
Circus Arts Conservatory co-founders Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis and CAC President and CEO Jennifer Mitchell break ground on the renovation of the Sailor Circus Arena.
Circus Arts Conservatory co-founders Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis and CAC President and CEO Jennifer Mitchell break ground on the renovation of the Sailor Circus Arena.
Courtesy image

 

Latest News

5 dead in Sarasota shooting, link to Fort Lauderdale double homicide suspected
  • February 11, 2026
5 dead in Sarasota shooting, link to Fort Lauderdale double homicide suspected
The purple piles will carry reclaimed water to Lakewood Ranch Southeast for irrigation.
  • February 11, 2026
New road construction speeds through Lakewood Ranch Southeast
Students in Manatee schools begin learning cursive in third grade. With House Bill 127, that might change to second grade instead. It would also require fifth graders to be evaluated to prove proficiency.
  • February 11, 2026
Cursive writing requirements would change if proposed legislation passes
Spanish Main Yacht Club was one of the most impacted communities from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. All of the 212 condominium villas were impacted one way or another, and more than 16 months after Helene, the rebuild continues with some houses finished and residents moved in and others with cabinets in the front yard, work underway on the interior.
  • February 11, 2026
Longboat's Spanish Main looks for normalcy a year after the storms

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Arts + Culture

Jamie Saunders, Corrie Owens and Alan Kim star in FSU/Asolo Conservatory's production of "Exit, Pursued by a Bear."
  • February 11, 2026
A wolf enters and a bear exits in twin FSU/Asolo Conservatory plays
LaMichael Leonard Jr.'s dance career has taken him to New York and Paris and back to Sarasota.
  • February 10, 2026
International dance star comes home to Sarasota
Puerto Rican singer and rapper Bad Bunny poses with Sarasota Orchestra maestro Giancarlo Guerrero and Guerrero's wife, Shirley, before Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.
  • February 9, 2026
Sarasota Orchestra maestro performs at Super Bowl LX Halftime Show
"Baby Wings" and other glass art by Tom Marosz will be on display at Chasen Galleries' International Weekend of Glass from Feb. 13-15.
  • February 9, 2026
International Glass Weekend celebrates many facets of glass art
Work by Janet Echelman in “Radical Softness” at Sarasota Art Museum through April 26.
  • February 6, 2026
New creations, global voices, celebrations light up our cultural horizon
Danny Bernardy demonstrates research with a theatrical flair to Greg Ball in Florida Studio Theatre's "The Blue-Sky Boys."
  • February 4, 2026
Florida Studio Theatre shoots for the moon with 'The Blue-Sky Boys'

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now