Provided photo.

The end of the year can feel hectic, almost like a race to the finish line. For me, it’s a time when Sarasota’s stages, galleries, and creative spaces come alive with the energy of the season. Our community gathers to celebrate, reflect, and connect – in the midst of the holiday rush. The arts invite us to slow down and truly feel a connection.

At the Arts and Cultural Alliance, that spirit of connection is what inspired our Arts & speaker series. This monthly series taps into expert panelists and explores how the arts intersect with vital topics shaping our region, from healthcare and empowerment to aging, early learning and education advocacy. Each Arts & conversation shines a light on what often goes unseen – the intrinsic reasons people participate in the arts and the profound impact that participation has on our lives. These are the qualities that keep us engaged, keep us healthy, and keep us connected to one another.

By bringing together artists, organizations, and audiences around shared experiences, Arts & bridges gaps, sparks conversation, and builds empathy. In December, that message feels especially important. Amid the busy calendar and endless to-do lists, art offers space to pause and connect. Visiting a gallery, hearing live music, or attending a show can ground you in the present moment.

The Arts & speaker series, particularly this month’s topic, Arts & Aging, showcases how creativity supports lifelong vitality. It reminds us that the impulse to create and connect doesn’t fade with time; it grows richer. Art allows us to share wisdom, memory, and imagination across generations, strengthening bonds that make Sarasota such a vibrant place to call home.

As we head into a new year, I invite you to take time this December to experience art not as an event to attend, but as a way to connect with our community, with others, and with yourself. The arts offer us a chance to listen, reflect, and renew.

That’s the power of Arts &. It’s not just a speaker series it’s an ongoing reminder that creativity is at the heart of a thriving community.

Visit sarasotaarts.org/creative-expression-arts-aging/ to explore upcoming Arts & topics and join us in celebrating the ways art continues to connect and inspire us all.

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

Provided photo.