• Alternate Text

  • Loading

  • Holiday 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
  • LWR Life
  • 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
  • LWR Life
  • 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
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Arts + Culture

Scottish comedian and hip-hop artist MC Hammersmith will headline the 13th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • July 14, 2023
Improv fest headliner MC Hammersmith breaks it down

MC Hammersmith, Scotland’s leading free-style comedy rapper and improviser, will headline Florida Studio Theatre's 13th annual Sarasota Improv Festival.

  • Arts + Culture
2-Man No-Show will appear at the 13th annual Sarasota Improv Festival at 8 p.m. on July 21 and 6 p.m. on July 22.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • July 13, 2023
Improv comedy gets real at Florida Studio Theatre

FST's 13th annual Sarasota Improv Festival is taking the stage for the first time in three years.

  • Arts + Culture
"The Surfer Boys" features the hits of the Beach Boys and follows four young men on a bachelor party in Sarasota.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 12, 2023
Beat the heat with fun-filled musical revues at FST

Enjoy the sounds of summer with these three Florida Studio Theatre cabarets.

  • Arts + Culture
Art Center Sarasota Executive Director Kinsey Robb stands in front George Zebot's "Healing Democracy," the first-prize winner in the 2023 Annual Juried Regional Show.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • July 5, 2023
Kinsey Robb is giving Art Center Sarasota a makeover

The Gagosian gallery veteran is upgrading the arts venue's interiors and technology and revamping the submission process for juried shows.

  • Arts + Culture
John Sims in the 2021 multimedia presentation of his “Recolorized Confederate Flag” project at the Historic Asolo Theater.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • July 2, 2023
Sarasota artist John Sims, up close and personal

Sims' creations sparked arguments, but they also forged connections.

  • Arts + Culture
Ringling College curator honors his father with stained glass
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • June 28, 2023
Ringling College curator honors his father with stained glass

Tim Jaeger has created a legacy to his Episcopal priest dad.

  • Arts + Culture
Peppi Elona
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 27, 2023
Sarasota artist and arts advocate Peppi Elona dies at 86

Elona was one of 13 founding members of the contemporary Sarasota Art Museum.

  • Arts + Culture
Rich Schineller
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 25, 2023
Ringling College media maestro Rich Schineller dies

The PR guru helped raise the profile of the arts, the environment and social justice in Sarasota.

  • Arts + Culture
The perfect Florida afternoon, as captured by Niki Butcher from a boat near Tiger Tail Beach.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 21, 2023
Local artist creates a candy-colored world

Niki Butcher has emerged from the shadow of her husband, photographer Clyde Butcher, with a book capturing her pastel-hued work.

  • Arts + Culture
Les and Pam McCurdy opened their first Sarasota comedy club in 1988, the year after they got married.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 14, 2023
McCurdy's celebrates 35 years of comedy in Sarasota

Les and Pam McCurdy share their secrets for mixing business with pleasure.

  • Arts + Culture
Raleigh Mosely II, Ariel Blue and Derric Gobourne Jr. will perform as RAD during WBTT’s Juneteenth Arts Festival.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 12, 2023
WBTT to host inaugural Juneteenth Arts Festival

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is celebrating Juneteenth with a festival of films, film shorts, performers and local vendors.

  • Arts + Culture
Jeffrey Kahane, music director of the Sarasota Music Festival, will perform, conduct and teach.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 7, 2023
2023 Sarasota Music Festival devotes its program to storytelling

Under music director Jeffrey Kahane, the festival realizes a dream deferred.

  • Arts + Culture
Joe Martinez is a lifelong musician who now will be the conductor of the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 7, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble welcomes new conductor

Lakewood Ranch's Joe Martinez says he will challenge his talented ensemble.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Anne Abgott describes her watercolor techniques.
    By
  • James Peter
  • June 7, 2023
85-year-old watercolorist Anne Abgott’s best work lies ahead

Abgott is winning awards and her instruction is in high demand.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Stephanie J. Woods’ artist residency in Dakar, Senegal, helped inspire her one-woman show at the Sarasota Art Museum.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • June 6, 2023
Multimedia artist brings eye-popping installation to Sarasota Art Museum

Childhood memories of board games with her grandpa suffuse Stephanie J. Woods' Sarasota Art Museum show.

  • Arts + Culture
« 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 »
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
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
2
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
Sponsored Content
3
  • December 12, 2025
ANNIE
Sponsored Content
4
  • December 12, 2025
“Catskills After Dark”
5
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

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 © 2025 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