Pictured: Students explore Afro-Cuban dance and drumming with Sarasota Contemporary Dance through EdExploreSRQ. Discover more at the Arts in Education Celebration on Nov 1 at Sarasota Art Museum. Photo courtesy of Sarasota Contemporary Dance.

Every day, in classrooms across Sarasota County, students are discovering new ways to think, communicate, solve problems, and understand themselves through the arts. Our community has long recognized something profound: arts education isn’t extra. It’s essential.

Last year, voters overwhelmingly supported the referendum that helps fund critical educational priorities such as arts instruction. That investment drives real opportunities for students to develop their talents and expand their horizons. It ensures that every child can access high-quality arts learning that fuels both academic success and lifelong fulfillment.

We now have the chance to show exactly what that support looks like in action.

On November 1, in partnership with Sarasota County Schools and the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County invites families and students to the Arts in Education Celebration, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sarasota Art Museum. This free community event will bring arts learning to life through student performances, vibrant art exhibitions, and hands-on creative activities. Several EdExploreSRQ providers will be on site to share their experiential learning programs, ensuring teachers and families can connect with opportunities for artists and cultural organizations to visit classrooms or welcome students into theaters, studios, and more.

This gathering is joyful, yet it also carries a powerful message. Arts education is one of the key differentiators that contributes to Sarasota County Schools’ long-standing success as a highly rated district. The arts keep students in school, help them succeed academically, and equip them with the critical skills to thrive in work and in life. Those aren’t just inspiring talking points: decades of research affirm that students engaged in the arts show stronger attendance, improved test scores, and greater long-term outcomes.

There’s also something very powerful about gathering in a place where learning once happened, and art now thrives. It perfectly reflects what arts education does—it transforms spaces, people, and possibilities. Education and creativity aren’t separate worlds; they ignite each other and shape what’s next for our community.

The Arts in Education Celebration honors not only student creativity, but also the dedicated arts educators who inspire curiosity, confidence, and self-expression every day. These educators encourage students to take risks, to collaborate, to imagine new futures, and to see the world through a broader lens.

Supporting arts education means investing in the leadership, innovation, and cultural vitality that define Florida’s Cultural Coast. We are proud to celebrate the extraordinary arts instruction happening in our schools and grateful to our voters, partners, and teaching artists who help make this work possible.

The arts are where learning comes alive. Visit SarasotaArts.org to learn more about Arts Education in Sarasota County.

 Brian Hersh is the CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.

Pictured: Students explore Afro-Cuban dance and drumming with Sarasota Contemporary Dance through EdExploreSRQ. Discover more at the Arts in Education Celebration on Nov 1 at Sarasota Art Museum. Photo courtesy of Sarasota Contemporary Dance.