The Sarasota County Arts Council works aggresively year-round to be the source, voice and advocate for arts and culture in our community, and we need your help and involvement to continue our work for arts and culture in the community.

Show your support for Sarasota County's entire arts and cultural community and assist us in our community advocacy efforts.  There are many ways you get involved...

• Be an advocate!  Check the www.SarasotaArts.org advocacy alerts page often to learn about important causes that need your support.
• Sign up to receive the Arts Council's weekly e-newsletter ARTbeat where you'll find information on everything arts and culture that's happening in Sarasota County.
• Volunteer!  Our local arts and cultural nonprofits - including the Arts Council - rely heavily on the support of volunteers.  The Arts Council can help you find volunteer opportunities throughout the County.
• Or consider joining the Arts Council as an annual member. 

When you become an Arts Council member, you become part of Sarasota County's entire arts and cultural community, allowing us to provide a broad range of programs and services to local artists and arts and cultural organizations, such as:

Advocacy and Awareness

• The Arts Council is the voice for arts and culture with the County and City Commissions, Chambers of Commerce, Tourist Development Council and State Legislators.
• The Arts Council is the only County-endorsed local arts agency for our area, and as your local arts agency it is our job to  make arts and culture part of the daily fabric of our community.

Arts Education

• One of the Arts Council's main areas of focus is arts education.  The Arts Education Task Force - a standing committee of the Arts Council since 1988 - brings together education directors from arts organizations in Sarasota County, Sarasota County School staff, community members and interested citizens to support arts education in our schools and our community.
• In support of the School Tax referendum, the Arts Council planned and produced the first "Celebrate Student Artists" event in collaboration with Sarasota County Schools and the Herald-Tribune Media Group.  This was in addition to an Arts Council Board campaign to also support to referendum.

Events and Outreach

• The 2nd Annual artsEXPO.  Learn more.
• Festival sARTée - Two Counties No Boundaries.  Learn more.
• Celebrate Student Artists (Feb. 08).  Learn more.
• The Arts Council also hosts an Annual Awards Celebration - a special evening that recognizes leadership and excellence in the arts.

Grants and Artist Services

• Each year the Arts Council's work in grants administration helps to deliver over $1 million in much needed support to the local arts and cultural community.

Join our movement to preserve Sarasota’s rich arts and cultural legacy!  We also welcome you to come visit us or contact us to discuss the work of the Arts Council in more detail.