Arts and Culture

 Venice Theatre is the largest community theatre per capita in the United States. This award-winning theatre boasts a professional staff, a variety of shows, and a rich history in the City of Venice.

 The Venice Arts Center has more than 1,400 members and about 260 volunteers. It provides more than 650 classes in various media of art for ages from 6 up. There are multiple art shows of every kind of work imaginable.

 Each Year Venice High School hosts over 120 events in the VPAC, from lectures with world-renowned authors to concerts, plays, and musicals. Performers and presenters locally and globally can be found here.

The Ringling is home to one of the preeminent art and cultural collections in the United States. With a rich history in the circus and the Sarasota area, The Ringling Estate is a 66 acre complex of art and circus museums, theaters, a historic mansion, and lush, sprawling gardens. 

A true pioneer in the cultural development of Sarasota, the Van Wezel presents a broad spectrum of the world's finest performers, with  spectacular Broadway musicals, popular comedians, world-class symphony orchestras and more. The Van Wezel also hosts performances and events presented by Sarasota's finest.

The Sarasota Opera produces outstanding opera true to the vision of the composer. It is an internationally respected producer of the highest quality professional opera with the goal of entertaining, enriching, and educating the community, as well as patrons from across the state and around the world. 

The Sarasota Ballet’s celebrates both national and international acclaim, thanks to it's expansive repertoire and the athleticism and artistry of The Company’s dancers, all of whom live and contribute in Sarasota.

Asolo Rep is the largest Equity theatre in Florida, and the largest Repertory theatre in the Southeastern United States. Another gem of the Ringling Museum, the company is now housed in the FSU Center for Performing Arts, adjacent to the museum.

 Located in the heart of downtown, Florida Studio Theatre is Sarasota’s contemporary theatre. The FST campus is a village of small theatres, providing intimate and engaging settings for high-quality, professional performances. 

The Players Centre is a non-professional community theatre which draws from the incredible talent pool we have here in the Cultural Coast. Half of the volunteers have at one time been professionally paid performers. It's a great place to catch a local show or even jump in and get involved in

theatre yourself!

The Sarasota Art Museum is the  region’s first museum dedicated to contemporary art, offering visitors a chance to be moved by thought-provoking, boundary-pushing

exhibitions and participate in

dynamic educational programming

with global thought leaders. 

McCurdy's Comedy Theater is the heart of fun and entertainment in Sarasota, having hosted the likes of Jeff Dunham, the Wayans Bros, and even gave Larry the Cable Guy his start. But stand-up comedy isn't the only entertainment  you'll find here - stop by for a round of Drag Queen Bingo, catch a Burlesque show, or even try your hand at improv.

Since 1949, the Sarasota Orchestra has been entertaining music lovers from  around the world. The 80-member Orchestra performs more than 100 concerts each year, and thrives as the oldest continuing orchestra in the state of Florida. The orchestra also provides educational programs to hundreds of aspiring young musicians every year.

The West Coast Black Theatre Troupe is a professional theatre company that promotes and celebrates the African American experience, attracts diverse audiences, supports and develops African American artists, and builds the self-esteem of African American youth. The Troupe typically performs half a dozen shows a year and is the only black professional theatre group on Florida's West Coast

The Venice Symphony provides a standard of music appreciation within its community that integrates quality musical performances, unique educational opportunities and accomplished musicians to enrich the experiences of the community. The Symphony has a history of founding and supporting music education programs in Sarasota County.