• 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

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
Rapper Ryanito poses with the Riverview Kilties, who were featured in his recording of the theme song for the Sarasota Paradise soccer team.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 15, 2023
Hip-hop meets high school in soccer team song

Rapper Ryanito teamed with Riverview High for the Sarasota Paradise's anthem.

  • Arts + Culture
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 14, 2023
Sarasota Ballet names principal dancer

Jennifer Hackbarth, a Dresden Semperoper Ballet veteran, replaces Danielle Brown, who retired.

  • Arts + Culture
Derek Blankenship is the new executive director of the Venice Institute for Performing Arts.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 11, 2023
Venice Institute of Performing Arts names executive director

Derek Blankenship succeeds Reno Manne, who died in March.

  • Arts + Culture
Jaiden Johnson and Sharon Preston-Folta
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 10, 2023
Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative adds two new team members

Sharon Preston-Folta and Jaiden Johnson are joining the nonprofit.

  • Arts + Culture
Sarasota artist John Pirman in his studio.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 9, 2023
Selby Gardens goes 'meta' with John Pirman show

Life imitates art imitates life in the retrospective of the Sarasota artist's work.

  • Arts + Culture
Michael DeWulf painting at his live art show at Wyland Gallery on Aug. 4.
    By
  • Petra Rivera
  • August 9, 2023
Sarasota artist draws audience with live show at Wyland Gallery

Sarasota-based artist Michael DeWulf paints for 10 to 14 hours to grow in his craft.

  • Arts + Culture
« 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 »
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