FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PROJECT OVERVIEW & IMPACT

  • In January 2018, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously adopted a Climate Adaptation Plan (CAP), which was completed to evaluate climate threats to public infrastructure and to understand how sea level rise, storm surge, extreme precipitation, and extreme heat might impact the City of Sarasota’s transportation networks, stormwater management, water supply, wastewater systems, public lands, and critical buildings. The adopted CAP identifies Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall as the City’s most vulnerable asset, from the perspective of climate impacts.

    The City of Sarasota then directed The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC) to incorporate recommendations from the Climate Adaptation Plan into planning for The Bay Master Plan. In response to this directive and based on feedback received by the City and BPC from over 300 community workshops and stakeholder meetings, BPC developed The Bay Master Plan, which includes a new performing arts center as the cultural anchor of the new park.

    The Bay Master Plan was unanimously approved by the Sarasota City Commission in September 2018. An updated Master Plan reflecting additional learning and community feedback was approved by the City Commission in November 2023.

    In an agreement executed April 18, 2022, Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and the City of Sarasota mutually committed to planning, designing, constructing, and funding a new performing arts center. As the City's cultural partner in this endeavor, the Foundation is working closely with project partners, community stakeholders, and advisors to advance the vision for Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

  • The vision for Sarasota Performing Arts Center is to celebrate community, culture, and nature. Our goals are to surprise and delight audiences, empower learners of every age, nurture artists, and create extraordinary, shared experiences. We aspire to break down barriers of access to the arts – to be an arts center for all.

     The performing arts center will be:

    • A PUBLIC SQUARE for both casual visitors and patrons of the arts, offering welcoming public spaces and year-round programming.

    • A 21ST CENTURY HOME for arts and culture, designed to meet the expectations of contemporary audiences and attract the best performers in the world.

    • A LEGACY for future generations, designed to be adaptable, universally accessible, environmentally sustainable, and coastally resilient.

  • The full project aspiration includes:

    • Public Spaces – Lobby, Roof Terrace, Café/Pre-performance Dining

    • Hospitality Spaces – Visitor & Patron Services, Restrooms, Food & Beverage, Patron Lounge

    • Performance Spaces

      • Large Theater for Broadway and commercial productions (capacity: 2,500–2,700)

      • Multipurpose Room for intimate performances, film screenings, artist residencies, and a variety of events and rentals (capacity: 200 – 300)

    • Educations Spaces – Learning Lab, Content Creation Studio

    • Support Spaces – Backstage, Receiving & Storage, Building Services, Administration

  • Based on initial projections, Sarasota Performing Arts Center is anticipated to generate $194 million in annual economic activity, 1,550 permanent jobs with $68 million in annual wages, and nearly 3,700 temporary jobs with $192 million in temporary wages during construction.

     These projections are based on an economic impact study completed by HR&A Advisors, a firm with over 40 years of experience advising on complex real estate & economic development projects in cities across the world.

  • The project’s proposed Total Project Cost (TPC) is $365 million, inclusive of Hard Costs, Soft Costs, Furniture Fixtures & Equipment, Owner’s Items, and Project Contingency. As we await a recommendation from the Purple Ribbon Committee, the proposed TPC does not include the Medium Theater or its associated support spaces.

    The Total Project Cost will be funded through a 50% contribution from private philanthropy and a 50% contribution from public funding sources. 

  • Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s future use will be informed by the Purple Ribbon Committee (PRC), a body convened by the City of Sarasota to make recommendations to the City Commission concerning the most viable and financially sustainable options for future use, purpose, lease and/or operation. The work of the PRC is ongoing with a recommendation from the PRC anticipated in 2025. The work of the PRC is a parallel, but separate effort from the planning and design effort for Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

USE & OPERATIONS

  • Yes! We aspire to welcome local arts organizations and community groups from across Sarasota. The Medium Theater and Multipurpose Room will be perfectly suited to host local and regional arts organizations.

  • Yes, tickets will be available at more affordable price points for a range of program and event types. Breaking down barriers of access to the arts is a foundational project goal. With 2,500-2,700 seats, the Large Theater will have a substantially higher seating capacity than Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, enabling greater affordability for existing and future patrons.

  • The Foundation team is working closely with AEA Consulting and a working group of local arts community leaders to develop a business plan for Sarasota Performing Arts Center that is financially sustainable, programmatically vibrant, unique within the region and the nation, and forward looking – a performing arts center for the 21st century

PROJECT TEAM

  • Projects of this size and complexity require a large, multi-disciplinary team of expert including architects, designers, engineers, and specialty consultants. The design team for Sarasota Performing Arts Center is being led by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), a world-renowned architecture firm with extensive experience designing and executing cultural projects. Throughout the life of the project, they will lead a team of over two dozen experts to execute this vision.

  • Yes, there are Sarasota-based firms on the design team, including Sweet Sparkman and Associates (executive architect) and Kimley-Horn and Associates (civil, planning, and landscape architectural services).

DESIGN

  • The design process includes five phases: Concept Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration. The project is currently in Concept Design.

  • Yes, the design of Sarasota Performing Arts Center will be consistent with the 1999 View Corridor Easement Agreement, also referred to as the “Renaissance View Corridor Easement.”

  • Absolutely! A better patron experience is one of the project’s key goals including ample restrooms, center aisles, and better food and beverage offerings.

  • Yes, Sarasota Performing Arts Center is envisioned as a high-performance building, serving to enhance and elevate the community's quality of life. With a firm commitment to environmental stewardship, the project aims to be mindful of its ecological impact during both construction and ongoing operations.

    In recognition of the challenges posed by its waterfront location, the building's design will prioritize long-term coastal resilience. While the waterfront situation promises an exceptional experience, it also necessitates meticulous planning to address issues such as extreme weather events, climate variability, and rising sea levels. Throughout the project's lifecycle, these factors will be carefully considered and incorporated into the planning and design phases.

  • Yes, the vision for the project is to embody full accessibility for all audiences, guided by the principles of universal design. With equitable, flexible, and intuitive spaces, Sarasota Performing Arts Center aims to lead in inclusive design practices, accommodating the diverse needs of audiences, artists, and learners alike. 

    Every aspect of the building, from front-of-house to back-of-house spaces, will be thoughtfully designed to be fully accessible to individuals with varying physical, social, and neurological needs. In surpassing ADA standards, Sarasota Performing Arts Center will ensure an environment that is not only compliant but goes above and beyond, fostering a comfortable, safe, and inviting atmosphere for all who engage with it.

PARKING & MOBILITY

  • The City of Sarasota, The Foundation, The Bay, and other stakeholders will collaborate to develop a parking and mobility strategy to ensure convenient access to ample parking within a 5 to 7-minute walk, safe ways to cross Tamiami Trail (US-41), accommodations for valet and rideshare services, and connections to public transit. Ultimately, the parking and mobility strategy must be holistically considered as part of the arrival sequence to Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

    The City and the Bay Park Conservancy previously commissioned two parking studies to evaluate parking demand at buildout of the park and new performing arts center. The results recommend approximately 1,100-1,300 spaces. The team is also studying a pedestrian overpass to cross Tamiami Trail at 9th Street.

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

HOW TO SUPPORT

  • Gifts to enable this once-in-a-lifetime initiative can be made through the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation here.