Immerse yourself in the unique experience of our pre-festival party, 'The Living Arts Festival Fete'.   Held at the Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota, this event offers a rare 'behind the scenes' glimpse into our festival, the Performing Arts and Culinary Arts.  Have you ever wondered how our festival started? Step into ‘the room where it happens’ and be part of the magic! Enjoy live performances by Azara Ballet, The Indigenous Dance Troupe and Kathryn Parks!  Help us elevate the arts in our region!  Tickets available for $100.00.  Sponsors and donors of $100.00 or more are complementary.

Our Living Arts Festival officially begins with this FREE eclectic opening night party.  In the lobby of Art Ovation Hotel experience a global perspective of our incredible arts and culture offerings.  Officially titled “A World of Entertainment” it's a fusion of international and local arts.  Imagine our world-class Chalk Festival on the streets below and music from Renesito, a one man cuban band that will set the tone for world-class entertainment at our doorstep.  With the support of our generous donors, we present a glimpse of the unbelievable week of arts programming, from theater and dance to fine art and music, all with an inclusive world beat. Enjoy LIVE performances by: Sarasota Jewish Theater, Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota, a premiere dance performance by Tania Vergara’s Endedans Contemporary Ballet and more!  Let’s come together to applaud the potential in all of us to elevate our cultural coast.

Main Festival Events

Our family-focused FREE arts exposition at the civic green near the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium brings all of our cultural and creative families together with the explicit goal of fostering arts engagement among our area youth.  Both indoor and outdoor stages proudly provide opportunities for our area schools and local educational organizations to place their unique energy on a stage for the world to see.  Area dance schools, performing arts schools, and our area public and private schools will be working, playing, and growing together. Students from: The Ovation School of Musical Theater, Booker Middle School, Rowlett Elementary, Jump Dance, Manatee School for the Arts and more!  The performing arts aren’t the only shining star.  Hands on mask making, creative drawing, Improv workshops, Acting classes and an opportunity to own an original piece of art from an area artist at our 5X5$5!  Arts and crafts and performances all day long!  Today is about learning and growing, emphasizing children of all ages and from all backgrounds.  Let’s amplify the impact of the arts for the next generation of creatives and leaders.

The week continues with an explosion of arts in our neighboring city of Venice!  The city of Venice is coming together for an entire day of arts immersion.  Visit incredible organizations like: The Venice Arts Center, The Downtown Association, Venice Mainstreet, the Venice Symphony and Venice Theater!  We readily support their takeover of their downtown for the arts!  This area-wide celebration of the arts will include area businesses by highlighting their arts groups, their individual artists, and their unique missions.

Wondering what will help put The Living Arts Festival – Sarasota on the map? Look for surprise events that help brand Sarasota as the cultural coast and arts hub. Discover unique pop-up surprises and ‘happenings’ to help celebrate downtown with live acts, food, and spirits! By infusing the event with our festival’s unique theatrical flavor, we will engage those members of the community who may not consider themselves “arts aficionados” and show them the arts are for everyone!

The mission of our festival is to help build cultural tourism and assist in helping our community cherish the arts groups we proudly boast as members of our arts community. What better way to do this than to indulge in what we call ARTS ROULETTE! All day long, we will be out in the community, letting members of our community spin the wheel to win tickets to the many organizations participating in our festival, and giving them the opportunity to experience the arts!

Art comes in many shapes and sizes and we are very proud that the folks at Lifeline Productions are helping the festival with a special film premiere.  “Clowns Like Me” is a one man show by local actor Scott Ehrenprise telling the heartfelt story of his struggle with mental illness…in the most comical of ways.  Thank you to friends at Burns Court Cinema for hosting this 10:00 AM showing of the taping of the Off Broadway production.  Tickets are $25.00 and the proceeds for this event come right back to support the Living Arts Festival.  An informal talk back with the actor will be moderated after the film.

What’s a festival without entertainment, prizes, and a mammoth performance at the Circus Arts Conservatory?  On the Festival's last day, we all come together and celebrate by offering an exceptional opportunity for the education wings of area arts organizations to bask in our spotlight with Sarasota Rising - A Celebration of Youth.  Imagine the stage filled with up-and-coming singers, dancers, musicians, and thrill-seeking circus acts! Students of all ages from our community come together to celebrate their passion for the arts.  
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Imagine an arena full of students from:
The Venice Symphony Youth Orchestra, Sarasota Young Voices, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, Rise Above Performing Arts, The Sarasota Youth Opera, Venice & Riverview High School Choirs, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and Trainees, Key Chorale and the Student Scholars, Circus Arts Conservatory, Sailor Circus, and Sarasota Music Conservatory.

We are blessed to be giving them this opportunity to shine onstage!