Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

Stop letting people think the arts are just “nice to have.”

They are essential to who we are.
From economic impact to community identity, this article breaks down what so many of us already feel:

The arts aren’t extra.
They’re infrastructure.

Sarasota doesn’t happen without its artists, creatives, and cultural spaces.

If you’ve ever been moved by a performance, a gallery, a piece of music… you already understand why this matters.

💬 What role have the arts played in your life here?

Thanks to ArtsBeat for this coverage of our Annual Arts Summit.

https://www.artsbeat.org/p/arts-alliance-summit-underscores-value-of-the-arts-to-sarasota?fbclid=IwY2xjawRxrOdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzcU1VMkZ6Tk9hSWpsVHhnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo2gZaYdcBH2LsDW19bhQ5x1g1g96VZGRWVYhPpUflyMOGT5fCNGhlmvaSbn_aem_mWA_Cq1-Nlv86Oq31_Q3TA

Second Arts Alliance summit underscores value of the arts to Sarasota Engagement in the arts bolsters health, community connection and the local economy

Two artists. Two powerful journeys.

Work that carries history, movement, and identity across borders and into this community.

This year’s Creative Champions are shaping the cultural fabric of Sarasota.

We are thrilled to be honoring our 2026 Creative Champions, Alicia Brown and Tania Vergara-Pérez, and the kind of artistry that makes Sarasota feel alive with possibility.

Special thanks to the award sponsor, Synovus.

New episode of Behind the Masterpiece! 🎙️ Explore Something Borrowed, Something New with Virginia Shearer, Executive Director of Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College.

From rare works pulled from private Sarasota collections to the stories behind the collectors who shared them, this episode offers a fascinating look at how contemporary art sparks curiosity and conversation. Plus, hear what’s happening at the museum this summer, including new exhibitions, camps, and educational programs for all ages.

🎧 Listen now: https://bit.ly/sarasotaartspodcast

🎙️ Host Jeffery Kin, Sarasota Rising
🙌 Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

Second Arts Alliance summit underscores value of the arts to Sarasota Engagement in the arts bolsters health, community connection and the local economy

What happened at the Arts Summit this week was a reminder of what’s possible when a community chooses to invest in creativity, connection, and culture.

To every attendee who showed up, leaned in, and contributed to the energy in the room — thank you. You are what makes this work matter, and possible.

To our incredible, insightful speakers: Sarah Cartwright, Tim Jaeger, Terry Connor, Angelica Hull, Aude Monde, Alicia Brown, and Tania Vergara — thank you for your honesty, your perspective, and for pushing the conversation forward.

To our performers: Key Chorale Vocal Quartet, Asolo Repertory Theatre, and the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota — thank you for creating moments we didn’t just hear, but felt.

To our sponsors and partners: Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Synovus, Classical WSMR 89.1, WEDU PBS, Café on St. Armands, and Oyster Rock Hospitality — thank you for believing in the power of the arts and investing in the cultural life of this community.

We’ve already heard from so many of you about how inspired you felt, how encouraged you left, how much these conversations mattered.

That’s how we know this is working.

We are proud to be part of advancing arts and culture in Sarasota County, and this is just the beginning.

We’re just getting started.

Special thanks to Sorcha Augustine Photography for capturing the magic.

The Ringling
502 Gallery
Tim Jaeger, painter
Sarasota County Schools
Key Chorale
Asolo Repertory Theatre
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota
Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Synovus
Classical WSMR
WEDU PBS
Sorcha Augustine

You don't want to miss this.

Voices from the Key Chorale Vocal Quartet fill the room. Vocal storytelling from Asolo Repertory Theatre brings energy and movement to the stage.

This is an experience you’ll feel as much as you hear.

Tickets for our annual Arts Summit can be purchased here: https://sarasotaarts.org/annual-arts-summit/

We often treat the arts like a “nice to have.” They’re not.

Creative expression and experiences are tied to our health, our communities, and our quality of life — whether we realize it or not.

Join Angelica Hull at our Annual Arts Summit for a conversation that connects the dots.

Tickets here: https://sarasotaarts.org/annual-arts-summit/