Sarasota Arts Organizations Come Together For Unified Approach To Safety Measures

March 12, 2021 – Sarasota

Since the beginning of the pandemic, leaders from nine of Sarasota’s major arts organizations have been discussing best practices as they prepare to bring audiences back to their performance spaces. Together, they are collectively drawing from their shared experiences and research to move forward with #SafeArtsSarasota guidelines, a unified approach to safety that includes mask requirements and capacity limitations to allow for social distancing. The group includes representatives from Asolo Repertory Theatre, Circus Arts Conservatory, Florida Studio Theatre, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Orchestra, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. These venues also work together in collaboration with the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, which is hosting a web page, SarasotaArts.org/SafeArts, featuring information about the initiative, photos and links to the websites of the participating organizations.  

In a joint statement, leaders from the aforementioned organizations said: “The pandemic has truly shown us that while we are different, we are all one. Each arts organization wants to return to ‘normal’ so that we can go back to doing what we love to do—providing access to high quality entertainment as we enrich the lives of our beloved community. We know that this return to ‘normal’ won’t be an overnight process, but we believe that standing together behind mask policies and social distancing guidelines is an important step in the right direction.”

Performing arts organizations, like many businesses, have faced unprecedented challenges in light of the pandemic. Collectively, they are striving to create safe environments for the audiences, performers, musicians, cast, crew, artists, and venue staff as they bring live entertainment back in their own ways. Many shows, concerts and programs throughout the past year have been canceled, rescheduled, postponed, or modified, and the groups must manage current and future seasons in an ever-changing landscape. While these organizations have all worked to stay connected to their audiences virtually and in modified live events, the true power of live performance is the feeling of unity in a shared experience. The arts community is a major economic driver for the Suncoast, and the leaders of these organizations are working collaboratively to ensure that everyone in our community can safely experience the uplifting energy in the air that is unique to the live performance experience. 

With the evolving nature of the current times, these organizations are prepared to respond to updated guidelines as they are received.  At this time, all participating arts organization in this initiative are requiring audiences to wear masks and maintain safe social distancing. More information on each organization’s individual procedures and specific practices can be found on each organization’s website or ticketing correspondence. See below:

• www.AsoloRep.org
• www.CircusArts.org
• www.FloridaStudioTheatre.org
• www.HermitageArtistRetreat.org
• www.SarasotaBallet.org
• www.SarasotaOpera.org
• www.SarasotaOrchestra.org
• www.VanWezel.org
• www.WestcoastBlackTheatre.org

For more information, visit SarasotaArts.org/SafeArts.