Sarasota For The Art Lover
Sarasota has long been a traditional destination for great beaches, what is less known is the thriving community of artists. Throughout the year the Sarasota arts district hosts several art events, typically in the fall months, but our summer visitors also have great opportunities to still get to enjoy our arts community.
Florida embraces the art culture
The Rosemary District
As one of the oldest neighborhoods in Sarasota, the Rosemary District has many historic homes and buildings dating back to the 1890’s. In 2003 the Rosemary District was added to the National Register of Historical Places and in recent years has been coming a thriving area for not only the artist community but also known as a hipster haven. This mix is bringing together small business and restaurants creating one of the areas most dynamic neighborhoods.
Rosemary District shopping and dinning
Architecture and design businesses, retail, and boutique restaurants make up the backbone of the Rosemary District. For interior design fans, the showroom at Home Resource is a must-visit, even if only for a day of window-shopping. Sarasota Architectural Salvage offers one man’s trash is another man’s treasure in the warehouse-style shop. Sarasota Architectural Salvage has garnered national praise for its upcycled furniture and art. Items are largely crafted by from materials that are salvaged from historic structure demolitions and renovations around the greater Sarasota and Tampa Bay region.
Sarasota is a haven for artists in many mediums
Towles Court
Tucked away in “Old Florida”-style bungalows on narrow brick streets is the Towles Court Artist Colony. Located in downtown Sarasota, it was established in the 1990’s as a unique experiment to bring artists together in a live-work, studio-driven neighborhood. The community has evolved into a unique collective of artist studios and galleries. A self-described “free-style” community, the Towles Court art association recommends calling before visiting specific sites. A great way to sample many different artistic disciplines and have a chance to make purchases to bring home.
Towles Court Artist Community
The Historic Downtown Village in Gillespie Park also features a monthly Art Walk throughout the entire year, on the 4th Friday of each month. Village shops stay open for extended hours and offer live entertainment.
Art can happen anywhere
