Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

Call to artists!

Calling all Artists!

Icons is a visual exploration of figures, symbols, and moments that shape culture, influence society, and transcend time. From historical legends to contemporary trailblazers, this exhibition examines what it means to be iconic—whether through fame, influence, or artistic interpretation.

Artists are invited to submit works that engage with the idea of "icons" in any form: portraits of cultural figures, symbolic imagery, or conceptual reflections on power, legacy, and myth-making. Whether celebrating, critiquing, or reimagining icons, this exhibition seeks bold and thought-provoking perspectives.
Submission Deadline: July 19th!

: spoke with CEO Brian Hersh about the sector’s role as both an economic engine and a cornerstone of community identity.

🎭 “Arts issues are community issues, and community issues are arts issues,” Hersh said. 🎨

Check out the full article here:

Spotlight On: Brian Hersh, CEO, Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County - caa | Capital Analytics Associates Brian Hersh discusses arts funding, workforce housing, and Sarasota’s role as a cultural and economic hub.

Innovative workforce housing initiative targets Sarasota's artists The planned Artscape project would create 75 artist apartments at affordable rates in downtown Sarasota.

After our second annual Arts Summit at Asolo Repertory Theatre in May, I ran into a local artist, and she said something I won’t forget. She told me that sitting in that room, hearing what was being said, she felt heard…

Read more at the link in the comments.

Stop letting people think the arts are just “nice to have.”

They are essential to who we are.
From economic impact to community identity, this article breaks down what so many of us already feel:

The arts aren’t extra.
They’re infrastructure.

Sarasota doesn’t happen without its artists, creatives, and cultural spaces.

If you’ve ever been moved by a performance, a gallery, a piece of music… you already understand why this matters.

💬 What role have the arts played in your life here?

Thanks to ArtsBeat for this coverage of our Annual Arts Summit.

https://www.artsbeat.org/p/arts-alliance-summit-underscores-value-of-the-arts-to-sarasota?fbclid=IwY2xjawRxrOdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzcU1VMkZ6Tk9hSWpsVHhnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo2gZaYdcBH2LsDW19bhQ5x1g1g96VZGRWVYhPpUflyMOGT5fCNGhlmvaSbn_aem_mWA_Cq1-Nlv86Oq31_Q3TA

Second Arts Alliance summit underscores value of the arts to Sarasota Engagement in the arts bolsters health, community connection and the local economy