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The cultural capital
of Southwest Florida, Sarasota is a mecca for artists, musicians, writers
and patrons of the arts. The county’s cultural attractions put those of
much larger cities to shame with two symphonies, an opera house, a
world-class ballet company, numerous playhouses and a plethora of art
galleries.
John and Mable Ringling bequeathed to Sarasotans, among other things, one
of the most beautiful museums in the United States, with a collection
recognized internationally for its Baroque paintings, including John Paul
Rubens’ Triumph of the Eucharist series. When the state took over the
gift in 1948, it added the exquisite 18th century Asolo Theater
from Asolo, Italy, and the Ringling Museum of the Circus.
Part
of the Ringlings’ generous gift was an impressive array of objects d'art,
circus memorabilia, and the palace Ca’d’Zan (House of John), their winter
residence, whose garden and extensive grounds overlook Sarasota Bay.
Sarasota is not only home to nearly four times as many performing artists
as any other part of Florida, but stage actors from around the globe come
to train at the Asolo Theater Festival, while the Ringling School of Art
and Design turns out numerous sculptors and painters.
ART
FILMS
Sarasota Film Society - Burns Court Cinema
Sarasota Film Festival
BALLET
The Sarasota Ballet
LIVE
THEATRE
Asolo Theatre
Banyan Theater Company
Florida Studio Theatre
Golden Apple Dinner Theatre
The Players of Sarasota
Venice Little Theater
West Coast Black Theatre Troupe
OPERA
The Sarasota Opera
SYMPHONY/MUSIC
Florida West Coast
Symphony
The Gloria Musicae Singers
Jazz Club of Sarasota
Key Chorale
Sarasota Concert Band
Sarasota Folk Club Inc.
Sarasota Pops
La Musica
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
The Venice Symphony
MUSEUMS
John and Mable
Ringling Museum of Art
Museum of Asian Art
South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium and Parker Manatee Aquarium
Sarasota Classic Car
Museum
See Also: Golf,
Boating &
Fishing,
Parks & Attractions,
Shopping,
Dining,
Tennis
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