Art Center Sarasota Expands 2026-27 Season With Free Family Programs, New Exhibitions and Evening Events
Art Center Sarasota is entering its second century with an expanded 2026–27 season designed to make visual art more accessible to children, families, working adults, experienced artists and people exploring their creativity for the first time.
Following its centennial celebration, the nonprofit arts organization is introducing new educational programs, extended evening opportunities, community outreach projects, outdoor sculpture installations and a full schedule of exhibitions and special events.
The season is organized around three central ideas: Create, Engage and Belong.
Executive Director Katherine Ceaser said Art Center Sarasota wants creativity to become part of everyday life in the community. Visitors can participate by viewing an exhibition, attending an artist talk, taking a class, creating art during a social event or simply spending time in the center’s sculpture gardens.
Located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail near Sarasota’s downtown bayfront, Art Center Sarasota was established as the Sarasota Art Association in 1926. It was Sarasota’s first visual arts organization and has occupied its current location since 1949. The organization completed its 100th-anniversary season during 2025–26.
More Free Art Opportunities for Children and Families
Young people and their caregivers will be a major focus of the new season.
Art Center Sarasota will continue its popular Family Saturdays, offering free, drop-in art activities for children and adults to complete together. Programs are held on select Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. and feature hands-on projects inspired by artists, exhibitions and cultural traditions.
Professional teaching artists lead the activities, and no previous art experience is required. Some sessions also include the Sarasota Children’s Art Museum’s STEAM Machine, which combines art with science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Families can find upcoming themes, dates and registration information on the Family Saturdays webpage.
The center is also launching Start With Art, an early-childhood initiative that brings visual art and early literacy together for young children and their caregivers. The free program is intended to encourage imagination, communication and confidence while helping families build an early connection with the arts.
Additional information about children’s activities, art camps and volunteer opportunities is available through the center’s Youth and Family Programs.
Teenagers can also apply to assist with Family Saturdays and art camps. The experience can help students develop leadership and teaching skills while earning eligible volunteer-service hours.
Grants Help Remove Financial Barriers
At least $35,000 in support identified for the expanded youth and family initiatives comes from four community funding sources:
- The Flower Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: $7,500
- The Leslie and Margaret Weller Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: $7,500
- The Exchange: $10,000
- The Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation: $10,000
The funding will help Art Center Sarasota offer free programs, purchase supplies and reach children and families who might otherwise be unable to participate.
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County manages more than 1,600 charitable funds supporting education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and environmental causes.
The Exchange supports local arts organizations with revenue generated through its Sarasota consignment operation.
New Evening and Weekend Programs for Adults
Adults will have more opportunities to participate outside traditional daytime hours.
Art Center Sarasota is expanding its schedule of evening and weekend classes, workshops, lectures and artist talks. The center’s website currently lists extended gallery hours on select Wednesdays, so visitors should consult the online events calendar before making plans.
One new monthly program, Creative Practice, invites adults of all skill levels to experiment with different materials in an informal, social environment. Materials are provided, and participants do not need an artistic background.
The first announced session, Creative Practice: Collage and Sticker Making, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is listed at $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.
Creative Happy Hours will provide another relaxed way to meet other participants and explore art. Scheduled programming includes figure drawing, music, refreshments and opportunities to work from a costumed model.
Adult class schedules and registration information can be found through Art Center Sarasota’s education programs.
Art Programs Will Reach Assisted Living Communities
Art Center Sarasota also plans to take programming beyond its campus.
A new outreach initiative will bring hands-on visual arts activities directly to assisted living communities. The program is intended to promote creativity, personal expression and social connection among older adults, including residents who may have difficulty traveling to the center.
The initiative complements the season’s emphasis on making art available to people at different ages, ability levels and stages of life.
Full Exhibition Schedule Planned Through Fall 2027
The upcoming exhibition season will feature solo artists, group presentations, juried competitions and work in ceramics, sculpture, painting, mixed media and other formats.
Currently announced exhibitions include:
- October 8–November 14, 2026: Karina Yanes, St. Pete Ceramics, Jorge Blanco and the juried exhibition “Strange Weather”
- December 3, 2026–January 9, 2027: Annual Juried Members Show
- January 21–February 27, 2027: Toryiana Williams, Craig Wood, Silvana Soriano and the juried exhibition “Monochrome”
- March 11–April 17, 2027: David McCauley, Sam Modder, Rebecca Hutchinson and the juried exhibition “No Place Like…”
- April 27–May 8, 2027: North County Spring Art Show
- May 20–July 31, 2027: June Bunch, David A. Bush, Chris Edwards and the juried exhibition “Too Much!”
- August 16–27, 2027: Women Contemporary Artists’ “Conversation Starters”
- September 2–October 9, 2027: “Art of the Wish” and the juried exhibition “Best in Show”
Dates and participating artists may be updated. The most current schedule is available on the center’s exhibitions page.
“Art of the Wish” Explores Aging, Hope and Connection
One of the season’s most distinctive exhibitions will arrive in September 2027.
Created by artists Marn Jensen and Andy Newcom, “Art of the Wish” grew from conversations with people ranging in age from 80 to more than 100. The artists visited senior communities, hospices and caregivers while asking older adults what they wished for the world.
Their responses inspired mixed-media artwork incorporating personal stories and meaningful objects. The resulting exhibition examines aging, memory, hope and the importance of connections between generations.
“Art of the Wish” is a nationally touring exhibition presented through ExhibitsUSA, a division of the Mid-America Arts Alliance. Its Sarasota presentation is supported in part by the Mike and Roxie Jerde Fund and the Catlin Foundation, both administered by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
New Bayfront Sculpture Garden
A leadership gift from Andrew Ford Fine Art will establish the Andrew and Lathrop Ford Bayfront Sculpture Garden on the west side of the Art Center Sarasota campus.
The garden will expand the center’s outdoor art offerings and provide another public space where visitors can experience sculpture while exploring Sarasota’s bayfront cultural district.
The new installation joins the center’s existing Sam and Sally Shapiro Sculpture Garden.
Art Royale, Retro Remix and Holiday Events Return
The season will include several community-oriented special events.
Art Royale will feature artists creating work during a live painting competition. Retro Remix will draw inspiration from the creative culture of the 1970s, including disco, bold colors, experimental art and do-it-yourself design.
The center is also planning artist talks, lectures, Creative Happy Hours and holiday activities.
A Holiday Sidewalk Sale is scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will be able to shop for original artwork, ceramics, jewelry, textiles and other handcrafted gifts while meeting local artists and makers.
Visiting Art Center Sarasota
Art Center Sarasota’s galleries are generally open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on select Wednesdays. Gallery admission is free, although donations are appreciated.
Because evening hours and individual program schedules can vary, visitors should verify details through the center’s website at artsarasota.org.
Art Center Sarasota
707 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-365-2032
artsarasota.org
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