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Arts + Culture

Ringling College of Art and Design.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • October 8, 2025
Ringling College invites community to take an art walk

The Sarasota college makes it easy for visitors to tour seven art galleries with the free event.

  • Arts + Culture
Carole Kleinberg, co-founder and artistic director of the Sarasota Jewish Theatre.
    By
  • Emily Leinfuss
  • October 6, 2025
Sarasota Jewish Theatre founder and artistic director is stepping down

The 2025-26 season will be Carole Kleinberg's last at the helm of the theater.

  • Arts + Culture
The band gets the crowd rockin' on the dance floor in The Sarasota Players' "The Wedding Singer," which runs through Oct. 5.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • October 1, 2025
Sarasota Players brings back the Big '80s with 'The Wedding Singer'

High hair, heavy metal and shoulder pads hit the dance floor in a raucous celebration of love.

  • Arts + Culture
Key Chorale will follow up last season's acclaimed concert of Verdi's Requiem at Church of the Palms with Mozart's Coronation Mass on Saturday, Sept. 27.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 24, 2025
Key Chorale kicks off its 41st season with music fit for a king

The title of the symphonic chorus's Sept. 27 concert, "Coronation: Music Inspired by Royalty," comes from Mozart's Coronation Mass.

  • Arts + Culture
Michelle Butler is deputy executive director of Sarasota Ballet.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 23, 2025
Sarasota Ballet names deputy executive director

The new position strengthens the company's management structure.

  • Arts + Culture
Natalie Ball's massive mixed media tapestry, "Playing Dolls," is on loan to The Ringling from the Rubell Museum in Miami.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 17, 2025
The Ringling gives Native American 'women's work' its due

The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum's "Ancestral Edge" exhibition showcases nine Native female artists.

  • Arts + Culture
Florida Studio Theatre promotes two artistic team members
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 15, 2025
Florida Studio Theatre promotes two artistic team members

Catherine Randazzo and Nancy Rominger receive new titles.

  • Arts + Culture
Dingbat Theatre Project founder Luke Manual played the Cowardly Lion in its production based on "The Wizard of Oz."
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 10, 2025
Dingbat Theatre Project leans into diversity

Luke Manual's troupe welcomes performers of all ages, sizes, colors, physical abilities and sexual orientation.

  • Arts + Culture
Urbanite Theatre goes big for its 2025 Modern Works Festival
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 8, 2025
Urbanite Theatre goes big for its 2025 Modern Works Festival

The female playwriting contest opens with Phoebe Potts' "Too Fat for China."

  • Arts + Culture
Sarasota Music Festival 2023 fellows Ellen Hayashi, Ray Wyant, Melanie Chen and Daniel Itzkowitz relax with their instruments.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • September 3, 2025
Music director's exit ushers in period of change at the Sarasota Music Festival

The 2026 festival will be scaled back to two weeks and curated by faculty members.

  • Arts + Culture
Jazz Club of Sarasota names first development director
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 1, 2025
Jazz Club of Sarasota names first development director

Veteran arts administrator Danielle La Senna steps into the new position.

  • Arts + Culture
"Chrysler," a 1930 lithograph by Roger de Valerio, is on display at Sarasota Art Museum's exhibition, "Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration," which runs from Aug. 31 to March 29, 2026.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 27, 2025
Sarasota Art Museum stages an Art Deco extravaganza

The museum pays tribute to a dynamic era of design with posters from the Crouse Collection.

  • Arts + Culture
"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical" plays the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Nov. 14-16.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 26, 2025
Van Wezel is already getting ready for Christmas

Executive Director Mary Bensel is doubling down on the holidays after last year's hurricane disruption.

  • Arts + Culture
Jeffrey Kahane spent 20 seasons as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra before being appointed music director of the Sarasota Music Festival in August 2016.
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 25, 2025
Sarasota Music Festival music director steps down

The 2026 festival will be scaled back to two weeks as the Sarasota Orchestra looks for Jeffrey Kahane's successor.

  • Arts + Culture
Artist Series Concerts' executive director goes back to the future
    By
  • Monica Roman Gagnier
  • August 24, 2025
Artist Series Concerts' executive director goes back to the future

Keren Shani-Lifrak returns to the arts after a stint in real estate.

  • Arts + Culture
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 »
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Latest News

1
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
2
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy
3
Evidence discovered in the home of 33-year-old Demond L. Smith who was arrested by Sarasota police on multiple charges.
  • December 20, 2025
Repeat felon faces charges in Sarasota drug bust
4
Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
5
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat

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