John Ringling Tower Fund Grants

The El Vernona Hotel, designed by Dwight James Baum, who also designed Ca d’Zan, opened in 1924. In 1930, John Ringling bought the hotel and renamed it John Ringling Towers.  This grand building presided over the bay front first as a hotel, then in the 1960’s it was converted to apartments, until it was abandoned by 1995.  Despite vigorous efforts and fundraising, this historic landmark could not be saved.  The building was demolished and the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota hotel now stands in its place. Funds raised to restore John Ringling Towers were entrusted to the Arts and Cultural Alliance as a fund to support individual artists and historic preservation in Sarasota County. 

2025 John Ringling Tower Fund Grant Cycle:

The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County has recently undergone a change in leadership and staff, with exciting new programs and artist opportunities on the horizon. As part of its evolution, the Alliance will be revising the application process for the John Ringling Towers program and the accompanying Hermitage Fellowship. The next application cycle will open in late 2024, to include a Hermitage residency opportunity in 2025. By taking this time to do a holistic appraisal of the program and assessing how to enhance the impact of this initiative for the incredible artists of Sarasota County, we are aiming to build a stronger, more robust program to elevate and enrich the overall experience. All inquiries about the program should be directed to angelica@sarasotaarts.org.

We look forward to continuing to serve the remarkable artists of the Gulf Coast region. Stay tuned for further updates!