Education Matters | Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

By Reno Gomez | February 2025

Sarasota is known as Florida’s Cultural Coast, boasting a vibrant array of galleries, museums, live performances, and more. Since 1986, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County has served as the voice of the art sector, not only bringing community together to indulge in the local arts-powered economy, but also advocating for its future, which starts in our classrooms.

The Sarasota County Arts Education Partnership (SCAEP), formerly known as the Arts Education Task Force, brings together art educators from some of the area’s arts and cultural organizations, Sarasota County Schools staff, and members of the community who are passionate about arts education to monitor the health of the arts in our schools. Amidst drastic budget cuts to arts education in the early 1990’s, this long-standing committee advocated for the arts as an essential part of a complete education. Following the success in its major campaign in the 1995-1996 academic year, art instruction was restored in our schools, and continues to improve.

The committee has supported and advocated for the mileage referendum, allowing schools to continue funding direct art instruction from full-time, professional educators. Though this funding has been in place since 2002, SCAEP’s tirelessly advocacy contributed to passing with 84% of the vote, the widest margin across the state of Florida. Funding has enabled the school district to hire and retain certified educators, invest in the newest technology, and continue to support the arts.

SCAEP meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month and are open to the public. These meeting are hosted by local arts organizations, such as The Ringling and The Sarasota Ballet, and allow educators and the community to network and share information. Sample agendas can include updates from The Alliance and the school district. The host organizations also use the meetings to highlight the ways they work in schools, and to touch base on their upcoming initiatives. This allows for the community to take part in professional learning opportunities to expand their skillset, proving that art education extends beyond the classroom. To learn more, or to be added to the SCAEP newsletter for the latest, contact education@sarasotaarts.org.

While classroom education can set the stage for many students, expanding their knowledge and interest through experiential learning opportunities is possible with EdExploreSRQ. This web-based search platform allows teachers of all grade levels to find opportunities for their students to engage with the local community through visits and classroom experiences, taking advantage of Sarasota’s abundant science, culture, and arts resources. The hundreds of offerings by local non-profits and individual teaching artists are reviewed and approved by school district staff to ensure connections to educational standards. The Alliance encourages educators to take advantage of this resource, and aspires for every student to experience at least one Exploration every year.

One of the many experiences that can be found through the program is a school tour through the Patriot Plaza, generously provided by The Patterson Foundation and located within the Sarasota National Cemetery. Private tours are managed by the Alliance, and their incredible roster of tour guides, many of whom are veterans. Educational visits cater to Grades 4-12 and provide students with the opportunity to learn about Civics, American History, Visual Arts, and Language Arts through docent-led tours of the 2,800-seat amphitheater and artworks featuring content aligned to the Florida Standards. The Patterson Foundation has partnered with The Collaboratory at Ringling College of Art and Design to create an opportunity for Florida middle school civics classes, as well as the public, to experience Patriot Plaza virtually. 

The EdExplorerSRQ initiative is made possible through the partnership of The Alliance, The Patterson Foundation, Education Foundation of Sarasota County, The Science and Environmental Council, and The Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Brian Hersh, CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County since June 2023, previously served as Program Director of Any Given Child in Sarasota County Schools, and is excited to bring that initiative to The Alliance. The goal of the Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child initiative is to “create full access to and equity in arts education programs and resources for all students.” This collective impact relies on collaborative efforts from the community to ensure arts education is an essential element of a complete education.

In partnership with the Kennedy Center, The Alliance is able to pool resources from the national network of educators to learn best practices and apply them to Sarasota County Schools. Much like SCAEP, Any Given Child collaborates with policymakers and leaders to influence strategies for arts education in the school district.

“Beyond the scope of education, we know that art brings a certain quality of life to this community. We want to make sure our students have those same opportunities, and they have a great quality of life in school. Art helps keep students engaged, bring light to their day, and improves other academic areas,” says Hersh. “Arts aren’t just special; they’re essential.” 

As the Sarasota area continues to grow in population, it is imperative to support the ecosystem of the arts to keep it accessible for our students and the community. Getting involved can be as simple as a donation to an arts organization like The Alliance, subscribing to their ARTbeat newsletter for the latest updates and information, or volunteering for one of the many experiential learning opportunities available in the area. The most important way to support artists, both inside the classroom and beyond, is to attend where you can, and share the experience with others.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, please visit www.sarasotaarts.org.