Arts Advocates

The mission of Arts Advocates is to preserve Sarasota’s cultural legacy by making its historic collection of works by Florida artists accessible to the public, to raise awareness of arts organizations through programming and exhibitions, and to promote arts education by awarding scholarships to local students pursuing careers in the arts.

Our unparalleled collection of art works by Sarasota Art Colony artists is on public exhibit in our gallery and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. We also own six Florida Highwaymen paintings which are on exhibit in the gallery. The gallery is located inside the Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota; hours are every Saturday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Docent-guided tours of the Van Wezel – “Behind the Curtain: Exploring the Van Wezel from the Art to the Stage” – are offered monthly.

The public is invited to attend our programs, events, monthly luncheons, exhibits, art talks, workshops, and more. Membership opportunities for students, individuals, duos, and lifetime are available and it is these fees that allow us to award scholarships and offer our programs.

For more information, visit www.ArtsAdvocates.org.