Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design has received a pair of grants from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to expand its community engagement initiatives. The funds will be used to launch two initiatives: a new outdoor play space and Access for All, Every Day, an initiative designed to connect people with disabilities to meaningful experiences at the Museum. The play space is being developed in partnership with The Urban Conga, an international multidisciplinary design studio known locally through their Portal and Coral installations at The Bay. Local parents and families will have the opportunity to provide input during the conceptual phase of the project to inform a design that reflects our community and its children. Lead support for the play space comes from Karen and Barry McClure, Sarasota Art Museum supporters who are passionate about the importance of art and play in children’s development. A celebratory opening is planned for summer 2025. The Access for All, Every Day initiative will initially focus on serving residents who face systemic barriers due to vision loss and impairment, physical disabilities, and/or cognitive challenges, including autism. The initiative will generate Museum enhancements such as audio descriptive tours, materials and tools that adhere to universal access best practices, autism communication and comforting items, art studio equipment modifications and upgrades, and accessibility training for staff and volunteers. The Museum will work with partners such as Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center, Easterseals of Southwest Florida, The Haven, and Oak Park School to reach people with recognizable and hidden disabilities, in addition to visitors with disabilities that visit the Museum independently. The initiative’s first phase will culminate in an exhibition of artwork created by Access for All, Every Day participants on view in Sarasota Art Museum’s Community Gallery.