Arts & Culture
Sarasota County is home to some of Florida’s oldest and most prestigious institutions. The Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota Orchestra, Asolo Repertory Theatre and The Hermitage Artist Retreat are just a few that form our storied arts culture.
A Rich Cultural Tapestry
Sarasota County’s cultural assets rank among the best in Florida. So much so that Southern Living Magazine called Sarasota County “the nation’s per capita arts capital.”
Performing Arts
- Asolo Repertory Theatre – Florida’s oldest theatre company
- Florida Studio Theatre – Foremost among many contemporary theatre productions
- Sarasota Ballet – The Gulf Coast’s first professional ballet company
- Sarasota Opera – The Gulf Coast’s first professional opera
- Sarasota Orchestra – Florida’s oldest continuing orchestra
- Venice Chorale – Promotes the art of choral singing through vocal excellence and multi-generational education
- Venice Symphony – Professional orchestra offering a variety of concerts and educational programs
- Venice Theatre – One of the largest and most active community theatres in the US
John Ringling of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and his wife Mable, built a permanent home in Sarasota in 1926. Their presence and patronage of the arts provided a foundation for Sarasota’s creative spirit, transforming it into a mecca for the arts.
Before his death in 1936, Ringling willed his Ca’ d’Zan mansion, his expansive collection of Rubens and Van Dycks and many other artworks to the state of Florida for generations to enjoy at The Ringling Museum of Art.
