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Arts + Culture

Fogartyville has installed a new bar.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 13, 2026
Fogartyville gets a face-lift

Grants allow the Rosemary District listening room to add a built-in bar, more restrooms and flexible seating options.

  • Arts + Culture
Keren Shani-Lifrak is stepping down as executive director of Artist Series Concerts.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • July 13, 2026
Artist Series Concerts executive director is stepping down

The board is undertaking a search for Keren Shani-Lifrak's successor.

  • Arts + Culture
Kelsey Stalter teaches Katharine McLeod how to live in the moment in Florida Studio Theatre's "Dog Mom."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 8, 2026
Florida Studio Theatre embraces summer's dog days with a rolling world premiere

The new play "Dog Mom" at FST shows how fur babies have a lot to teach their humans about how to live.

  • Arts + Culture
Beth Arthur poses with her granddaughter Sandy Arthur in front of two paintings acquired by Arts Advocates Gallery, "Bryce Canyon" (left) and "Sky Dreams."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 6, 2026
Sarasota Art Colony artist refuses to be forgotten

Beth Arthur recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Art Advocates, which has acquired two of her paintings.

  • Arts + Culture
Hand balancer Yelitza Vivas wows the crowd at the Summer Circus Spectacular, which runs through Aug. 8 at The Ringling's Historic Asolo Theater.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 1, 2026
The Summer Circus Spectacular is a family affair

Husband and wife Davis Vassallo and Ashley Vargas star in a circus that thrills all generations.

  • Arts + Culture
Andy Sandberg is artistic director and CEO of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, an artist incubator based in Englewood.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 29, 2026
Hermitage Artist Retreat strengthens its ties with Broadway

The Englewood arts incubator announces non-exclusive development deal for musicals with Manhattan Theatre Club.

  • 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, Richard 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 Pagán, 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 Pagán 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
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest News

1
Alisa Mitchell helped guide the organization to record-breaking successes in fundraising with its sell-out annual author luncheon, the group said in a release, adding that she played a significant role in growing the donor base and more.
  • July 13, 2026
Executive director to leave Library Foundation
2
The site of the proposed Ringling & Osprey Condos is outlined in green, Osprey Court in red.
  • July 13, 2026
New downtown Sarasota condo project moves forward
3
Fogartyville has installed a new bar.
  • July 13, 2026
Fogartyville gets a face-lift
4
Keren Shani-Lifrak is stepping down as executive director of Artist Series Concerts.
  • July 13, 2026
Artist Series Concerts executive director is stepping down
5
Kelly Shrout (left) and Melanie Dale weed at Bicentennial Park Friday, July 10 in the morning before the heat index reached triple digits.
  • July 13, 2026
Bicentennial Park hurricane repair nearly complete

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