Arts Advocates Awards $50,000 in Scholarships to Help Sarasota-Manatee Students Pursue Careers in the Arts
From aspiring dancers and actors to architects, filmmakers, musicians, and designers, 10 talented students from Sarasota and Manatee counties are receiving a major boost as they pursue their creative dreams.
Arts Advocates, one of the region’s leading supporters of arts education, has announced the awarding of $50,000 in scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year, providing $5,000 each to 10 outstanding local students studying a wide range of artistic disciplines.
The annual scholarship program reflects the organization’s long-standing commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists and creative professionals. Scholarship funding is generated through Arts Advocates events, fundraising activities, and donations from supporters who believe in the power of arts education.
At a time when tuition costs continue to rise and arts programs often face funding challenges, these scholarships provide meaningful support for students pursuing careers in fields that enrich communities, drive innovation, and strengthen the cultural fabric of the region.
Investing in the Future of the Arts
Founded in Sarasota, Arts Advocates has spent decades supporting local artists, preserving artistic legacies, and promoting arts education throughout the Suncoast. The organization’s scholarship program recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional talent, dedication, and potential in disciplines that include visual arts, music, theater, dance, writing, architecture, and related creative fields.
The latest awards continue a scholarship tradition that has been featured before on the Suncoast Post, including when Arts Advocates awarded $40,000 in scholarships to eight rising stars in the arts.
“The scholarship committee reviewed every applicant’s personal essay, talent submissions, and references to select the best of the best,” said Jane Sheridan, chair of the Arts Advocates scholarship team. “We are so pleased to support these 10 artist scholars as they continue their education in pursuit of a career in the arts.”
Meet the 2026-2027 Scholarship Recipients
Trenton Bardi – Englewood
A junior architecture major at the University of Florida, Bardi has already gained valuable hands-on experience through internships in construction and urban planning. He hopes to continue expanding his knowledge through an architectural firm internship this summer as he works toward a career in architecture and community design.
Emmalee Bunnell – Venice
Bunnell will enter her junior year at Marymount Manhattan College as a dance major. She has been accepted into the prestigious Springboard Danse summer intensive program, where she will focus on professional choreography. Her long-term goal is to create opportunities that make dance education more accessible to aspiring performers regardless of financial or personal barriers.
Vivianna Coppa – Bradenton
A junior musical theater major at Jacksonville University, Coppa hopes to build a career as both a stage and screen performer while also pursuing filmmaking. Her vision centers on storytelling that celebrates perseverance, creativity, and meaningful human connections.
Sean Jenkins – Sarasota
Currently studying film at Ringling College of Art and Design, Jenkins specializes in cinematography, editing, and sound design. His talent earned him recognition as Best Freshman Cinematographer in 2025. He plans to pursue a professional career in the motion picture industry.
Isabella Juliano – Bradenton
A senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, Juliano is an accomplished competitive dancer and has served as captain of the school’s dance team for two years. She plans to major in dance at the collegiate level and ultimately pursue a career as a choreographer.
Spencer Schurawel – Sarasota
Schurawel studies in the digital design and arts pathway of the International Baccalaureate Career Program at Riverview High School. She intends to major in graphic design and build a career in product design, brand development, marketing, and visual communications.
Michael Snyder – Venice
A freshman at Ringling College of Art and Design pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in entertainment design, Snyder has already developed an impressive portfolio through theater set and prop design work and community projects, including his Eagle Scout project. His dream is to help create immersive attractions and environments for Universal Destinations & Experiences.
Kila Sons – Sarasota
A senior in the Visual and Performing Arts theater program at Booker High School, Sons has dedicated herself to musical theater since childhood. Through years of training in acting, singing, and dance, she is preparing to continue her artistic journey at the collegiate level this fall.
Samantha Tanelli – Sarasota
Entering her senior year at Ringling College of Art and Design, Tanelli earned recognition in 2025 when her work was selected as Best Interior Painting in Ringling’s juried “Best of Ringling” exhibition. She hopes to illustrate children’s books and establish an inclusive art studio that encourages creativity among young artists.
Danae Tran – Bradenton
A violin performance major at Stetson University, Tran performs with both the university’s symphony and chamber orchestras. This summer she traveled to Germany as co-concertmaster with the Stetson Chamber Orchestra. Her future plans include earning a master’s degree in violin performance and securing a position with a professional orchestra.
Why Arts Scholarships Matter
Arts education contributes significantly to both individual development and regional economic growth. According to national arts organizations, students involved in the arts often demonstrate stronger academic performance, enhanced problem-solving skills, greater creativity, and improved communication abilities.
The Sarasota-Manatee region has long been recognized as one of Florida’s premier arts destinations, home to world-class institutions such as The Ringling, Sarasota Opera, Asolo Repertory Theatre, and numerous galleries, theaters, and performing arts organizations. Programs like the Arts Advocates scholarship initiative help ensure that the next generation of creative professionals continues to thrive in the region. The local education pipeline also includes programs such as OLLI at Ringling College’s summer 2026 semester, which keeps arts, history, and lifelong learning active across the community.
As these 10 students prepare for another year of artistic growth and educational achievement, the scholarships provide more than financial assistance-they represent an investment in the future of the arts on Florida’s Suncoast.
For more information about Arts Advocates, membership opportunities, programs, and future scholarship initiatives, visit Arts Advocates.
Photo Caption: Scholarship recipients recognized by Arts Advocates for the 2026-2027 academic year. Pictured (L-R): Sean Jenkins, Trenton Bardi, Spencer Schurawel, Kila Sons, Isabella Juliano, Samantha Tanelli, and Michael Snyder.