Arts groups receive record $1.9 million

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Thanks to Sarasota County’s ever-increasing popularity as a vacation destination, Sarasota County Commissioners approved a record $1.9 million in Tourist Development Cultural/Arts grants Monday night to support 33 area arts and cultural groups in 2017.

“Fortunately, because the strength of tax collection dollars is at an all-time high, we received the highest amount we’ve ever received from the TDC tax,” said Jim Shirley, executive director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, which administers the grant program. “We are keeping our fingers crossed that things continue to look good so that trend will continue.”

The Ringling Museum received a 2017 TDC grant for $92,573, slightly less than the amount it received last year. / Courtesy photo

The Ringling Museum received a 2017 TDC grant for $92,573, slightly less than the amount it received last year. / Courtesy photo

Last year’s grants totaled $1.8 million (up from $1.58 the previous year) and were distributed to 33 area organizations. The grants are generated from a portion of the bed tax out-of-town visitors pay when they stay overnight at local hotels, and are matched by funds raised by each receiving organization.

The only new group included on this year’s list was the Siesta Beach Festival, better known as the Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival, which received a grant for $22,118. Notably missing from the list of last year’s recipients was the Banyan Theatre which, according to Shirley, had initiated a grant application but withdrew it after the death of founder Jerry Finn and the subsequent closure of the organization’s operations in March.

The Asolo Repertory Theatre and the Sarasota Ballet, which share a home at the FSU Center for Performing Arts, each received 2017 TDC grants, for $94,482 and $95,436 respectively. / Photo courtesy Sarasota Ballet

The Asolo Repertory Theatre and the Sarasota Ballet, which share a home at the FSU Center for Performing Arts, each received 2017 TDC grants, for $94,482 and $95,436 respectively. / Photo courtesy Sarasota Ballet

Grants ranged from $5,690 for the Sarasota Pops Orchestra to $95,436, which was granted to each of eight organizations -- the Circus Arts Conservatory, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine Laboratory, the Sarasota Ballet, the Sarasota Film Festival, the Sarasota Opera, the Sarasota Orchestra and the Van Wezel Foundation. Several groups were approved for two grants, each designated for a different project or program, including Florida Studio Theatre, the Ringling College of Art and Design and The Players Theatre. The funding ceiling for each group is determined by the organization’s annual budget, but most have come to count on this major assist from the county’s support.

“All of the arts and cultural groups are extremely thankful to the public for voting a part of the tax to be used for the arts and to the board of county commissioners for their approval,” Shirley said. “It means a lot to be able to put out the quality of art that we have in this community and it does have a significant economic impact on our area.”

2017 Sarasota County Tourist Development Grants for Arts and Culture (2016 grants in parentheses)

Art Center Sarasota $51,263 ($50,031)

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota $50,556 ($38,702)

Asolo Repertory Theatre $94,482 ($98,211)

Avenida de Colores (Chalk Festival ) $50,172 ($50,985)

Circus Arts Conservatory of Sarasota $95,436 ($96,590)

Coexistence, Inc. (Embracing Our Differences) $53,990 ($50,985)

Florida Studio Theatre, two grants, $93,528 ($93,791)

Gloria Musicae $14,243 ($19,726)

Gulf Coast Heritage Association $49,627 ($49,105)

Jazz Club of Sarasota $15,484 ($14,350)

Key Chorale $23,204 ($21,227)

La Musica di Asolo $19,882 ($17,872)

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens $95,436 ($93,300)

Mote Marine Laboratory $95,436 ($95,756)

New College Foundation $51,808 ($19,032)

Perlman Music Program/Suncoast $54,535 ($52,837)

Players Theatre, two grants $53,990 ($52,192)

Ringling College of Art and Design, two grants $51,917 ($49,470)

Ringling Museum of Art $92,573 ($95,756)

Sarasota Ballet $95,436 ($92,466)

Sarasota Concert Association $40,083 ($24,217)

Sarasota Contemporary Dance (formerly Fuzion) $11,331 ($10,955)

Sarasota Cuban Ballet School $24,083 ($5,566)

Sarasota Film Festival $95,436 ($90,354)

Sarasota Opera $95,436 ($96,590)

Sarasota Orchestra $95,436 ($96,590)

Sarasota Pops Orchestra $5,690 ($6,095)

Siesta Key Crystal Classic $22,118 (no previous grant)

Van Wezel Foundation $95,436 ($96,590)

Venice Art Center $42,373 ($30,402)

Venice Syphony $52,300 ($42,551)

Venice Theatre $94,482 ($93,300)

West Coast Black Theatre Troupe $54,535 ($54,717)

 

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Carrie Seidman

Carrie Seidman has been a newspaper features writer, columnist and reviewer for 30 years...and a dancer for longer than that. She has a master's degree from Columbia University Journalism School and is a former competitive ballroom dancer. Contact her via email, or at (941) 361-4834. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
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