• Center Stage Conversations

    Join us for a series of relaxed, community-focused gatherings about the Performing Arts Center project.

    RESERVE YOUR SEAT
  • Children reading books together during an outdoor educational activity, promoting early literacy and community engagement in a fun, inclusive environment.

    Mr. Stevey & Friends: Remember your Roots, Celebrating Black History Month | Feb. 14 at 1:30 p.m.

    Mr. Stevey & Friends is a FREE community program geared towards pre-school and elementary school aged children and their families to engage in mindfulness activities and create art in all its various forms!

    Reserve Your Seat

  • ArtSELF: Music For Healing (Music Workshop) | Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m.

    This FREE series of one-hour workshops will offer our community a much-needed space to relax, rejuvenate, and manage stress, all while exploring creative self-care practices.

    RSVP HERE

Our Story

The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation (formerly known as the Van Wezel Foundation) was founded in 1987 and has deep roots in the rich cultural history of Sarasota.  For more than half a century, we’ve partnered with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall through its owner, the City of Sarasota, to provide extraordinary cultural and educational experiences that open a world of new possibilities!

Today, the Foundation continues to advance this mission while leading the vision for a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center in partnership with the City of Sarasota.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO
News & Press
Performing Arts Center Renderings Unveiled
Performing Arts Center Renderings Unveiled

We’re pleased to share the latest renderings for Concept 2.0 for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center project. The updated concept presents a refined, financially sustainable, and unified design shaped by community and City Commission feedback while preserving the project’s original vision.

Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Announces 2026 Appleton Award Recipients
Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Announces 2026 Appleton Award Recipients

Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Appleton Awards, recognizing educators in the Gulf Coast region who integrate the arts into their classrooms to deepen learning and strengthen community. The winners will be recognized at the Foundation’s Annual Gala on March 6, 2026.

Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Recognizes Jim and Susan Travers with Patron of the Arts Award
Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Recognizes Jim and Susan Travers with Patron of the Arts Award

The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation has named Jim and Susan Travers as the recipients of the 2026 Patron of the Arts Award, honoring their extraordinary leadership, generosity, and enduring commitment to expanding access to the arts across the Sarasota community. The award will be presented on Friday, March 6, during the Foundation’s annual gala at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.