• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • 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
    • Elections
    • 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
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Arts + Culture

The Sarasota Concert Association presents the Czech National Symphony Orchestra on Feb. 13 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • February 5, 2025
The Sarasota Concert Association is still hitting the high notes at 80

In a town filled with cultural options, SCA's concerts with world-class artists consistently sell out.

  • Arts + Culture
August Wilson's "Fences" runs through Feb. 23 at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • February 3, 2025
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe goes all in on August Wilson

WBTT presents Wilson's autobiographical play, "How I Learned What I Learned," in honor of Black History Month.

  • Arts + Culture
Spring is the season of renewal and reinvention. The art scene is no exception.
    By
  • Su Byron
  • January 30, 2025
Spring is the season of renewal and reinvention. The art scene is no exception.

The spring arts season serves up ample opportunities to dive deeper into our collective experience.

  • Arts + Culture
"Joe Fig's Contemplating Vermeer" is on display at the Sarasota Art Museum through April 13.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 29, 2025
Sarasota Art Museum paintings exhibit puts the focus on the viewers

Joe Fig used photography, software and painting to create his "Contemplating Vermeer" series.

  • Arts + Culture
Lifeline Productions adds Atomica Arts co-founders to its management team
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 27, 2025
Lifeline Productions adds Atomica Arts co-founders to its management team

Will Luera and Maria Schaedler-Luera join arts nonprofit founded by Joel Ehrenpreis.

  • Arts + Culture
The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players bring "H.M.S. Pinafore" to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Monday, Jan. 27.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 22, 2025
It's topsy-turvy time as two Gilbert and Sullivan shows come to town

The Victorian operettas continue to delight audiences 150 years after their creation.

  • Arts + Culture
Katherine Ceaser became the new executive director of Art Center Sarasota in December 2024.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 21, 2025
Art Center Sarasota welcomes a new leader on eve of 100th birthday

Katherine Ceasar was promoted from education director to executive director in December.

  • Arts + Culture
The Observer's theater critic's picks for 2025
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 20, 2025
The Observer's theater critic's picks for 2025

Sarasota's live theater companies share the human stories that often remain untold.

  • Arts + Culture
This year's Best in Show award for adult artwork submitted for "Embracing Our Differences," went to Amanda Marie of Manchester, Connecticut, for “Through Your Story."
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 17, 2025
Embracing Our Differences cancels Jan. 19 opening day party

The organizers decided to nix the celebration due to forecasts of extreme weather.

  • Arts + Culture
Ken Ludwig takes a creative journey with Asolo Repertory Theatre
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 15, 2025
Ken Ludwig takes a creative journey with Asolo Repertory Theatre

Ludwig talks about developing his Asolo Rep world premiere, "Lady Molly of Scotland Yard," in Sarasota.

  • Arts + Culture
Cynthia Sayer plays the Glenridge Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Jan. 19.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 13, 2025
Cynthia Sayer brings her hot banjo show to Sarasota

A recent winner of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize, Cynthia Sayer got her start by performing in a nursing home.

  • Arts + Culture
A flamingo by Peggy Roberts
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • January 9, 2025
Artist of palm frond creations to hold exhibition at Art Ovation Hotel

Peggy Roberts started creating animals from palm fronds in her retirement, as a showcase of upcycling.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
The iconic Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota's "Purple Palace," kicked off its delayed season with "Menopause the Musical 2," on Jan. 4.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 8, 2025
Van Wezel reopens after hard work by employees and contractors

After being postponed for more than two months, Sarasota's "Purple Palace" kicks off a sparkling season.

  • Arts + Culture
Terri Weagant starts in "Spaceman," which runs through Feb. 16 at Urbanite Theatre.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • January 6, 2025
Urbanite's 'Spaceman' is out of this world

Summer Dawn Wallace directs a human story in a science-fiction universe.

  • Arts + Culture
Rickey Tedesco, Tron Montgomery, William Ashburn and Yinoelle Colon starred in "The Florida Highwaymen" by Don Salvo in 2024 Ten-Minute Play Festival.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • January 5, 2025
Theatre Odyssey celebrates 20 years of its Ten Minute Play Festival

After a modest start, the festival has become a mainstay of the Sarasota arts season.

  • Arts + Culture
« 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 »
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 News

1
The gentle, warm waters of the Gulf can be an aid to mobility for those with arthritis.
  • May 29, 2026
It's possible to live with arthritis. Here's how.
2
Boards Brock Leach sat on in the Sarasota area include, with the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition and Children First.
  • May 29, 2026
Prominent Sarasota philanthropist, former Tropicana CEO dies at 67
3
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's appointments to U.S. service academies for the fall include (from left) Micah Pubillones, Lakewood Ranch High graduate Jack Crosbie, Caine Cokkinias, Hunter Wilk, Dax Morgan, Caitlin Nguyen, and John Wheaton.
  • May 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch grads named to service academies
4
Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota has served as the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles since 2010.
  • May 29, 2026
Sarasota spring training stadium to get HVAC overhaul
5
Matthew Myers is the chief of Emergency Management for Manatee County.
  • May 29, 2026
Custom equipment, software to accelerate Manatee County hurricane response

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.

Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free