Arts & Culture in Sarasota
Sarasota is home to a world-class art museum, a major opera company, a circus heritage dating back to John Ringling, and a thriving independent theater scene — an unusual breadth for a city this size.
Museums & Galleries
From world-class collections to specialized and regional museums worth an afternoon.
The Ringling Museum
A 66-acre estate combining a world-class art museum, the gilded Ca' d'Zan mansion, a circus museum, and beautiful bayfront gardens.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
A stunning downtown waterfront garden with world-renowned orchid and bromeliad collections, plus rotating art installations woven through the plantings.
Sarasota Art Museum
Contemporary art museum housed in a beautifully converted old high school, with rotating exhibitions and a solid bistro. Free on second Sundays.
Art Center Sarasota
A nonprofit community art center in The Bay Park with rotating exhibitions, art classes, and a gift shop — showcasing local and regional artists since 1926.
Performing Arts Venues
The theaters, concert halls, and performance spaces that drive Sarasota's performing arts scene.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota's iconic purple seashell-shaped performing arts hall on the bayfront, hosting Broadway tours, concerts, comedy acts, and the Sarasota Orchestra.
Asolo Repertory Theatre
One of Florida's premier professional theaters performing on the Ringling campus with a mix of classics, new works, and musicals year-round.
Florida Studio Theatre
Sarasota's contemporary theatre with five intimate stages in the heart of downtown, known for new plays, cabarets, improv, and its popular Winter Fest.
McCurdy's Comedy Club
Sarasota's go-to comedy club featuring touring national headliners and local talent, with a full bar and intimate showroom setting.
Sarasota Opera House
A nationally recognized opera company performing in a beautifully restored 1926 Mediterranean Revival opera house downtown.
Film & Literature
Independent cinemas and libraries that anchor Sarasota's film and literary culture.
Burns Court Cinemas
Sarasota's go-to for indie, art-house, and foreign films, operated by the Sarasota Film Society. A small, beloved theater in the heart of downtown's Burns Court district.
Lakewood Ranch Cinemas
The Sarasota Film Society's Lakewood Ranch location, showing a mix of independent, foreign, and mainstream films. A great alternative to the standard multiplex experience.
Selby Public Library
Sarasota's main downtown library with free WiFi, community meeting rooms, a maker space, and regular programming for all ages.
Lakewood Ranch Library
A modern, spacious library serving the Lakewood Ranch area with a strong kids' programming calendar — storytimes, summer reading programs, LEGO clubs, and craft workshops.
Fruitville Library
A well-loved neighborhood branch in eastern Sarasota with regular kids' events, a large children's section, and a quiet study area for adults.
Gulf Gate Library
A cozy neighborhood library in the Gulf Gate area with weekly storytimes, tech workshops, and a surprisingly robust calendar of community events.
Upcoming Shows & Art Events
Shows, performances, art festivals, and other cultural happenings in the coming weeks.
Three days of live tattooing from 100+ award-winning artists alongside custom jewelry vendors, temporary tattoos, and food. Come to watch, shop, or get inked yourself.
An all-American program to close out the symphony's season, featuring Copland's Appalachian Spring, Bernstein's Times Square: 1944, and John Williams' Cowboys Overture. Andrea Ross joins as guest soloist
Juried artists from across Florida and the U.S. take over St. Armands Circle for a two-day outdoor fine art show. Browse and buy original sculpture, jewelry, painting, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber art, and more.
A juried outdoor fine art show on the grounds of the Sarasota Art Museum, ranked among the top 100 art shows in America. Paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, glass, and more from artists across the country — all original, all for sale.
Recurring Arts Events
Ongoing arts programming at local museums and art centers.
- Every Saturday
Family Saturdays at Art Center Sarasota
Hands-on art projects for kids and grown-ups, led by professional teaching artists. Each week brings something new — from vision boards to comic books. RSVP required.
- 2nd Sundays
Free Second Sundays at Sarasota Art Museum
Free admission every second Sunday—plus art-making in the studios, live music, and a performance from Asolo Rep. All ages, no ticket needed.
- 1st & 3rd Thursdays
Cultural Crafts
A casual quilting gathering for all skill levels — bring your current project, swap techniques, and connect with fellow fabric arts enthusiasts who share a love of the craft and its history.