Sarasota Arts & Culture
Sarasota is recognized as Florida's Cultural Coast and is home to a professional symphony, ballet and opera. In addition, more than 10 theaters and 30 art galleries are located in Sarasota. The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art is Florida's State Museum, and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, known for its architecture and great acoustics, seats 1,700 people and features a dazzling season of music, shows and programs for all ages.
John And Mable Ringling Museum
The Museum of Art, built by John Ringling to house his personal collection of masterpieces, today features paintings and sculptures by the great Old Masters including Rubens, van Dyck, Velázquez, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, El Greco, Gainsborough and more. The European, American and Asian masterworks available here make the Museum of Art an awe-inspiring retreat. It is a palace for treasures emulating the footprint of Florence's Uffizi Gallery, echoing its grace and grandeur.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Set along Sarasota's beautiful bayfront, the landmark Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has been entertaining audiences with a variety of music, dance, theater and comedy for more than 35 years.
Asolo Repertory Theatre
From the origins of our name to the stages on which we have performed, the Asolo
story is rich in history both in our community and abroad.
Each season more than 100,000 people attend the Asolo Rep's productions.
Sarasota Ballet
Sarasota Ballet is the Gulf Coast of Florida's first and only professional ballet company. Under the Direction of Iain Webb, Sarasota Ballet has expanded its repertoire to include works by world renowned choreographers such as Sir Frederick Ashton, Dame Ninette de Valois, Antony Tudor, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Robert North, John Cranko, Hans van Manen, Andre Prokovsky, Matthew Bourne and Dominic Walsh.
Sarasota Opera House
Sarasota Opera owns and performs in the historic Sarasota Opera House. The building has recently undergone a $20 million rehabilitation to restore the beauty of the 1920's theater, while creating an up-to-date opera house for the 21st century.
Sarasota Orchestra
60 years in the making, the Sarasota Orchestra is the new Florida West Coast Symphony. With new series and new concerts, the Orchestra offers a whole new way to experience classical music.
Florida Studio Theatre
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) has been in operation in Sarasota since 1973. FST has grown into a theatre with a budget of over $4 million and 20,000 subscribers a year, more than any theatre its size in the country. FST produces world premieres and contemporary works which have been produced on or off-Broadway within the last five years.
These are but a few of Sarasota's offerings. For more information visit
The Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau.