Art Center Sarasota facts for kids
Art Center Sarasota is a cool place in Sarasota, Florida, where people can enjoy and learn about art! It's a community art center, which means it's for everyone.
Inside, you'll find four galleries that change their art displays often. There's also a special garden filled with sculptures. The center gets its funding from its members, and it offers lots of fun classes, workshops, and programs for both kids and adults.
It first started way back in 1926 as the Sarasota Art Association.
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History of Art Center Sarasota
The Sarasota Art Association (SAA) was the very first art group in Sarasota. It began in 1926. A person named Marcia Rader, who was the Art Supervisor for Sarasota schools, helped get local art fans together. They formed the association. The first official meeting happened in February 1932.
Joining the Florida Art Community
Also in 1932, the Sarasota Art Association joined the Florida Federation of Art. This was a big group that helped art grow all over Florida. It connected artists, museums, and other art places across the state.
In 1941, the Association became a "not-for-profit" organization. This means it uses any money it makes to help its art programs, not to make a profit for owners. Its goal was to "promote the educational and cultural advantages of Sarasota in the field of contemporary art." Many famous local artists helped make the center important for Sarasota's art scene. Some of these artists included Jerry Farnsworth, Elden Rowland, Syd Solomon, and Hilton Leech.
A New Home for Art
The City of Sarasota gave the Art Association land near downtown. In 1948, they started building their current home. The building was designed by T.R. Martin and his son Frank Martin. It was built in a popular style called the Sarasota School of Architecture. The building opened in 1949 with just one gallery, which is now known as Gallery 3.
Art for Everyone
In the 1960s, the association believed that the gallery was important for showing local art. But they also thought it was a great place for people to meet. They saw it as a spot "to make friends and see what is going on in Sarasota." This idea is still a big part of Art Center Sarasota's mission today.
Becoming Art Center Sarasota
In the year 2000, the Sarasota Art Association joined forces with another group. This group was called "Friends of the Arts and Sciences," started by artist Hilton Leech. After they merged, the organization became known as Art Center Sarasota. They then started offering art education programs along with their art exhibitions.
