Media

ArtsBeat Launches as a New Model for Community-Supported Journalism in Sarasota

Led by Jay Handelman and Carrie Seidman, ArtsBeat is designed to provide consistent, authoritative coverage of Sarasota’s performing, visual, and cultural arts.

02/02/2026 By Staff

Creative and Candid

Actress Heather Graham Shares Candid Insights on Filmmaking, Perseverance and Female Representation

The "Boogie Nights" actress talked with students and film lovers about the creative grind, industry challenges and the personal journey behind her latest film, "Chosen Family."

02/25/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Funding Fallout

State and Local Leaders Cut Funding for Arts Organizations This Year. Will Things Be Any Better Next Time Around?

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in funding for the arts in June due to concerns over content, and the Sarasota County nixed grants to three arts organizations a month later.

11/21/2024 By Kay Kipling

Smallville

Browse Art That's 'Small Enough to Steal' at Sarasota's 502 Gallery

Sarasota Magazine creative director Gigi Ortwein is among the artists whose work is being featured.

11/13/2024 By Lauren Jackson

Green Light

Investors Have Purchased the Lime Arts Building. Good News: Nothing Is Changing.

A respectful restoration by developer Howard Davis made this iconic teal-colored building a beloved destination for creatives. Its new owners agree.

08/28/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Public Art

A New Mural Is Headed to Gulfstream Avenue in Downtown Sarasota

Local artist Truman Adams' mural, "Amphitrite," is the first in the Florida Legacy Art Mural series, spearheaded by the City of Sarasota's public art committee.

05/28/2024 By Kim Doleatto

48 Hours in Sarasota

A Weekend Spent Exploring Sarasota's Arts Scene Is One Well-Spent

The arts are an essential part of Sarasota’s identity and a major draw for tourists and residents alike.

11/06/2023 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Arts 2.0

Construction Is Underway on the New ArtCenter Manatee. Here's a Sneak Peek.

The new two-story, 28,000-square-foot facility will be named the Herrig Center for the Arts and is slated to be done in roughly two years.

09/20/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Saying Goodbye

Art Uptown Gallery Is Closing, and Big Changes Are in the Works for That Stretch of Main Street

A recent sale means a hike in rent that the gallery can't afford.

08/16/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Arts News

A New Festival Is Coming to Sarasota Next Year

Sarasota Rising just announced a collaboration with Selby Gardens and Embracing Our Differences as part of its Living Arts Festival.

06/29/2023 By Staff

A Royal Invitation

The Sarasota Ballet Will Perform at the Royal Opera House in London Next Year

The specially curated performances will feature the works of renowned Royal Ballet choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton.

04/26/2023 By Staff

El Fuego

Juan Montenegro Will Talk Salsa With Izzy Sanábria and Sarasota Magazine on WSLR This Friday

Sarasota Magazine managing editor Bethany Ritz will join Montenegro and Sanábria to discuss the Salsa King's influence.

03/06/2023 By Staff

Celebrating Our Arts

New Sarasota Arts Festival Moving Forward

Sarasota Rising is working toward presenting a weeklong festival in 2024.

02/24/2023 By Kay Kipling

New tunes

Local Musician Dean Johanesen’s New Album Ties Into Sarasota's History

Johanesen's new album, Cautionary Tales, pulls inspiration from Sarasota's circus legacy with upbeat guitar riffs, jazzy horns and lots of storytelling.

12/12/2022 By Yasi Bahmanabadi

A Closer Look

The Gods and Lovers Exhibit at Ringling Magnifies Indian Art

A temporary exhibit of paintings and sculptures at the Ringling Museum opens a portal to intricate, medieval India.

12/07/2022 By Laura Paquette

Chalk Talk

This Year's Chalk Festival Returns to Historic Burns Square

The show will go on from Oct. 28-31, despite damage from Hurricane Ian at its original Venice location.

10/26/2022 By Laura Paquette

Calling All Artists

Arts Nonprofit Issues Call for Submissions for Upcoming Exhibit

Art 4 Change, a nonprofit that uses art to promote social justice, is asking artists to submit work by Friday, Oct. 28.

10/24/2022 By Yasi Bahmanabadi

wellen park art

Downtown Wellen Is Kicking Off a Mural Contest

A competition for artists invites submissions by Oct. 7 to be one of three to leave a mark on the fast-growing hub.

09/06/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Big Plans

Sarasota Activist Shannon Fortner Wants to Build an Arts Center Focused on LGBTQ+ Voices

Fortner hopes to create an arts and mental health hub where queer and trans voices can shine and thrive.

07/08/2022 By Kim Doleatto

Art Is All Around

Sarasota's Unconventional New Gallery Spaces Are Showing Fresh Work by Local Artists

Visual artists in Sarasota are always finding new ways to display and sell their work, sometimes in locations you might not know about.

07/01/2022 By Kay Kipling

Sarasota Magazine