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Arts + Culture

Clyde Butcher's iconic black-and-white photos of Florida landscapes are on display in his Venice Gallery and Studio.
  • By Emily Leinfuss
  • September 13, 2023
Venice arts scene is worth the trip

Long overshadowed by cultural capital Sarasota 18 miles north, the city of Venice is making a name for itself with an abundance of cultural attractions.

  • Arts + Culture
Derek Blankenship is executive director of the Venice Institute for the Performing Arts. Kristofer Geddie is executive director of the Venice Theatre.
  • By Emily Leinfuss
  • September 13, 2023
New Venice arts leaders earn unexpected promotions

Neither Kristopher Geddie nor Derek Blankenship knew the top job was waiting in the wings.

  • Arts + Culture
"Hamilton" is one of seven Van Wezel premieres during the 2023-24 season.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 11, 2023
Van Wezel prepares for a season of hot tickets

Demand for "Hamilton" at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is expected to surpass 2019's "The Lion King."

  • Arts + Culture
Brian Hersh is the president and CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 7, 2023
Meet Sarasota's new arts czar

Brian Hersh holds the power of the purse for local cultural organizations.

  • Arts + Culture
The Suncoast Concert Band got its start in January 1933 as the Sarasota Trailer Park Band.
  • By Robert Stoll
  • September 6, 2023
Suncoast Concert Band celebrates its 90th birthday

Formed in a trailer park during the Great Depression, the Sarasota-based band is still going strong.

  • Arts + Culture
Eric Pugh has joined Asolo Repertory Theatre as its director of marketing and communications and Sarah Johnson is its new director of development.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 5, 2023
Asolo Repertory Theatre expands management team

Sarah Johnson and Eric Pugh fill development and marketing posts.

  • Arts + Culture
After sharing the artistic director role for 10 years, Summer Dawn Wallace is running the show on her own at Urbanite Theatre.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • August 31, 2023
Artistic director showcases Urbanite’s commitment to new play development

Urbanite Theatre's newly solo artistic director, Summer Dawn Wallace, talks about her singular vision for Sarasota's "black box" theater.

  • Arts + Culture
Olivia "Liv" Scanlon stars as Shakespeare's sister in "Judith" at Urbanite Theatre from Jan. 5 to Feb. 18, 2024.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • August 31, 2023
Urbanite Theatre enters unknown territory with 10th season

The "black box" theater pushes the envelope in its 10th season.

  • Arts + Culture
The Sarasota Orchestra has finalized a three-year agreement with its musicians' union that begins with the 2023-24 season, the orchestra's 75th anniversary.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 25, 2023
Sarasota Orchestra signs three-year agreement with musicians' union

The pact calls for a 5% salary increase in each of the three years.

  • Arts + Culture
Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County President and CEO Brian Hersh, incoming Visit Sarasota County President and CEO Erin Duggan and Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County President and CEO Erin Silk.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 24, 2023
New Sarasota County leaders meet the community

A panel discussion and members mixer was held at CMX CinéBistro Siesta Key.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Katherine Michelle Tanner
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 23, 2023
Sarasota performer launches her own theater company

As her theater company, Tree Fort Productions, becomes a nonprofit, actress Katherine Michelle Tanner emphasizes: "The best way to support a theater company is to buy a subscription."

  • Arts + Culture
Art Uptown Gallery artist Elisabeth Trostli displays digital paintings of powerful women of varying races and ethnicities in 2018.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 18, 2023
Art Uptown Gallery to close after 43 years in Sarasota

Rising rents are forcing galleries out of downtown, but other artist spaces beckon.

  • Arts + Culture
The Sarasota Orchestra plans to build a new music center on the 32-acre parcel at 5701 Fruitville Road.
    By
  • Marty Fugate, Su Byron
  • August 18, 2023
Sarasota Orchestra nears its goals with coming Fruitville concert hall

The Sarasota Orchestra is building a state-of-the-art campus on 32 acres near Lakewood Ranch. CEO Joseph McKenna couldn’t be happier.

  • Arts + Culture
Seminole artist Wilson Bowers used a digital design on board to create his 2020 work, "MMIW," which draws attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 16, 2023
Ringling Museum exhibit underscores resilience of Seminole people

"Reclaiming Home" bears witness to the trials and triumphs of the Seminole tribe.

  • Arts + Culture
Alexia, Suzanne and Juliana Mattes perform together for the first time at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • August 16, 2023
'Something Rotten' a family affair for Lakewood Ranch mom, daughters

Suzanne Mattes and her two daughters, Juliana and Alexia, appear in the ensemble cast at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
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Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
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Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
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Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair

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