We Sarasotans pride ourselves on our cultural acumen—and rightly so. This quiet beach town cum cultural mecca boasts an impressive collection of artistic organizations for a city of any size. Whether the spotlight’s on stages or stanzas, choirs or comedians, there’s not a bad seat in town.

          The classics get plenty of play in Southwest Florida, where the professional artists of the Sarasota Opera, Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Ballet and a host of theater organizations present Bizet, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Shakespeare for astute aficionados and eager newcomers alike. Similarly, masterpieces and more can be seen under one roof during the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s season of touring shows.

          But Sarasota is entertained by the contemporary and cutting-edge, too, through independent cinemas and major film festivals, second-stage theater productions and summer seasons, poetry readings, magic shows and cooperative arts organizations, all spreading the creative spirit. After all, in an arts community, everyone gets into the act.

THEATER

Asolo Repertory Theatre, 351-8000. Resident professional theater company presenting productions in rotating repertory at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts, October through June.

The Backlot, 2208 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota. 363-9300. Cooperative arts, sports and education facility.

Banyan Theater Company, 358-5330. Professional company offering three productions, June through August.

The FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 351-8000. Home to the professional Asolo Repertory Theatre, FSU/Asolo Conservatory of Professional Actor Training and Sarasota Ballet of Florida. Mainstage schedule of plays runs from November to June.

Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 366-9000. Professional theater presenting a mainstage winter season, plus a cabaret season next door and a three-play season at Stage III in the Gompertz Theatre. Also offers staged readings of new plays and a special season each summer.

Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, 25 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 366-5454. Year-round season of professional Broadway musicals accompanied by cocktails and buffet dining.

Manatee Players, 102 Old Main St., Bradenton. 748-5875. Community theater presenting a full season of plays October through May, as well as educational programs.

The Players of Sarasota, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 365-2494. The area’s oldest community theater offers productions September through April, along with special events and educational and summer programs.

Venice Little Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. 488-1115. Community theater presenting a mainstage season October through May; also offers Stage II productions and educational outreach.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 358-9228. Professional African-American theater company presenting its fourth four-play season this year at the Historic Asolo Theater at the Ringling Museum.

MUSIC, DANCE & POETRY

Florida West Coast Symphony Inc., 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 953-4252. Under this umbrella heading are the bi-county Florida West Coast Symphony; chamber groups Florida String Quartet, New Artists Piano Quartet, Florida Wind Quintet and Florida Brass Quintet; several Youth Orchestras; and the annual Sarasota Music Festival in June. www.fwcs.org

Gloria Musicae, 954-4223. Professional chamber chorus presents several concerts per season.

The Jazz Club of Sarasota, 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 111, Sarasota. 366-1552. Promotes and perpetuates jazz year-round with jams, members’ concerts and educational programs; presents the annual Sarasota Jazz Festival at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall each spring.

Key Chorale, 921-4845. Ensemble performing choral masterworks.

La Musica Di Asolo, 366-8450. Two-week international music festival takes place in April, with rehearsals open to the public and concerts at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Sarasota Ballet of Florida, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 359-0099. International professional company performing classical and contemporary repertoire, September through April, at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Sarasota Concert Band, 1345 Main St., Sarasota. 364-2263. Professional musicians perform monthly concerts and summer performances in area parks.

Sarasota Opera, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 366-8450. Presenting a winter season of professional opera productions, as well as concerts and special events, at the Sarasota Opera House.

SOULSPEAK/SOULMOVES, 535 Columbia Court, Sarasota. 366-6468. Live poetry performances and educational workshops.

Sarasota Pops, 756-7603. Presenting a concert season in addition to on-site community outreach performances.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 953-3368. City-owned performing arts hall presents a full season of music, dance, theater, children’s programs and more; primary season is October to May. Student and teacher discounts available for certain events.

Venice Symphony, 488-1010. Classical and pops concerts presented in Venice.

CIRCUS

Circus Sarasota, 3333 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 355-9335. One-ring circus presents spring performances under the Big Top near Ed Smith Stadium. Also offers numerous educational and outreach programs.

COMEDY

McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 3333 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 925-FUNY. Featuring national stand-up comedians, open-mic nights and training and special programs through the Humor Institute.

FILM

Sarasota Film Festival, 364-9514. Year-round arts organization culminates in an annual film festival each spring.

Sarasota Film Society/Burns Court Cinema, 955-FILM or 364-8662. SFS presents international films at its Burns Court location in downtown Sarasota and sponsors education programs and the Cine-World Festival in November.

MAGIC

Houdini’s Showplace, Classic Car Museum, 5500 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 351-1250. Florida’s only magic dinner theater is now in its third year of performing a regular schedule of professional magic shows, in addition to accommodating special groups, on-site fund raisers and field trips.

ARTS EDUCATION

Manatee Community College, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton. 752-5000. The Fine and Performing Arts department at MCC includes instruction on art, photography, film, music and theater. Many local students begin their artistic education here, then proceed to four-year institutions like New College of Florida and Ringling School of Art and Design.

New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. 359-4700. An innovative, award-winning, four-year liberal arts school known as the honors college of the state university system.

Ringling School of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 351-5100. Four-year professional art and design school, offering programs in graphic and interior design, computer studies, fine arts, illustration and photography.

Sarasota County Arts Council, 1226 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 365-5118. Promotes, develops and coordinates the arts and related programs in Sarasota County.

University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 359-4200. Brand-new campus just north of the Ringling Museum. Thirty-nine academic programs.