June 19 marks a seminal date in American history. Officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, or Juneteenth, the holiday commemorates the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation at the end of the American Civil War in Texas in 1865. While Juneteenth has been celebrated around the country ever since, it only became a federal holiday in 2021.

The celebration of this holiday is alive in well throughout Sarasota, particularly at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s (WBTT) Juneteenth Arts Festival, held on June 19 and 20. The two-day festival, the fourth of its kind at WBTT, has only grown in scale since its inception. The arts festival was created by WBTT education department as one, an opportunity for local Sarasotans to celebrate the holiday, and two, to grow awareness of WBTT as a platform for young performing artists. “Our goal when we started this festival was to let people know in Newtown, St. Pete and Tampa, that in addition to having wonderful main stage performances here at Westcoast, we also have a robust education department that puts on programs for the community,” says Peterly Jean Baptiste, education and outreach associate at WBTT. “We offer dance classes, acting classes, a summer camp—we’re all about education and fostering a community.”

This year’s Juneteenth Arts Festival begins on Friday evening, where attendees can view the Juneteenth Arts Gallery, which features artifacts from The African-American Cultural Resource Center, digital illustration works from Tampa Bay artists Yosnier Miranda and African face jugs from local ceramicist Osa Atoe. The night continues with a performance on WBTT’s mainstage, Beats, Words & Movement. Directed and hosted by WBTT founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs, the presentation showcases local talent through a variety of mediums including song and spoken word poetry. “We’ve been engaging with some of the local talent, trying to encourage a younger generation to come into the theater and know that it's available for them as both a place to see shows and to perform,” says Jim Weaver, director of education/assistant artistic director. “We have a combination of people that are performing spoken word poetry, vocalists singing original songs, an African drumming group and some dancers.”

Saturday’s festivities feature performances from student and mainstage performers at WBTT as well as screenings of short films from local filmmakers. The evening will conclude with a special performance of WBTT Brian L. Boyd’s ENIGMA.

WBTT Juneteenth Arts Festival, Free and open to the public, June 19 and 20, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave., Sarasota. 

African drumming group Fethiou Thiossane will be featured once again during WBTT's upcoming Juneteenth Arts Festival. Provided photo.

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Photographs are, as the theorist Roland Barthes wrote, “certificates of presence,” verification that a moment, a person or a place existed. From the adoration of a loved one or the wonder felt before nature to the hardship of labor or the devastation of war, photographs can be imprinted with the totality of human experiences. On view October 18– April 4, 2027 at Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder embraces that totality, examining the deeply humanistic history of photography through seven thematic sections. More at SarasotaArtMuseum.org.  

Pictured: Melonie Bennett (American, b. 1969). Suzie, Bahama Beach Club, Portland, Maine. 1996. Gelatin silver print, 16 x 20 in. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Promised Gift from the Judy Glickman Lauder Collection, 25.2001.1. Courtesy of the artist.

The Pops Orchestra is proud to collaborate with the Florida Cultural Group Education Department to present “Camping with The Pops: It's the Pits!", a summer music camp made possible through the generous support of the Manatee Community Foundation and The Hecht Foundation. Following the tremendous success of last year's collaborative camp production of Disney's Mary Poppins Jr., which drew standing-room-only audiences, this year's presentation of Newsies Jr. promises another incredible showcase of talented young musicians and performers.
Tickets for either performance can be purchased at ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com or by calling the Box Office at 941-748-5875. 

Only about one in three Sarasota County voters cast a ballot in the last two primary elections. The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County (LWVSRQ) decided to do something about it. They contacted Ringling College of Art and Design. In a first-time collaboration, LWVSRQ partnered with Ringling College’s INDEX Center, a program that places students in real-world design roles for nonprofit and community clients, to create a social media get-out-the-vote (GOTV) campaign for the August 18, 2026, Sarasota County primary election. The result is a strategic visual campaign designed from the ground up by Ringling students, shaped by original research, and built to reach the voters most campaigns never reach. 

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Celebrate "Summerween" with an early Halloween treat. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall welcomes The Vampire Circus to Sarasota on Sunday, October 25, at 6 p.m. Tickets for this unique performance go on sale Friday, June 12 at 10 a.m. EDT. Tickets can be purchased at VanWezel.org, by calling 941-263-6799. 

Spend an evening at the MFA with after-hours gallery access, live jazz by Chaunces Trio, Café Clementine’s L’Apéro hours, and a special raw bar pop-up from Lost Coast Oyster Co. With music, fresh oysters, drinks, and art, Art After Dark is the perfect summer night out.

Art After Dark + Jazz Night with Chaunces Trio, Cafe Clementine Hosts Lost Coast Oyster Co., Thu, June 11, 5pm–8pm. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is pleased to announce that its popular summer cabaret Leaving on a Jet Plane: A Folk Journey has been extended through July 19, 2026 in FST's Goldstein Cabaret. Featuring the unforgettable music of the folk revival era, this uplifting musical celebration has captivated audiences with its rich harmonies, timeless songs, and heartfelt storytelling. Tickets and subscriptions are available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling (941) 366-9000. 

For nearly two decades, The Circus Arts Conservatory and The Ringling have partnered to bring world-class circus artistry to Sarasota audiences through the beloved Summer Circus Spectacular. A cherished tradition on the Suncoast, this family-friendly production has become one of the area’s must-see summer experiences, delighting locals and visitors alike with extraordinary talent, thrilling performances, and unforgettable entertainment. All performances run Friday, June 12, through Saturday, August 8. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 12 and under. 

What happens to the things we leave behind? What stories linger in a single shoe abandoned on the roadside, a weathered shell collected on a beach walk or a forgotten object rescued from obscurity? Artists Barbara Gerdeman and Elizabeth Goodwill will explore those questions and more in "Lost & Found," a one-week exhibition in the Studio at Art Ovation Hotel, June 23-28. The exhibition blends photography, creative writing, installation and assemblage, inviting viewers to discover beauty, mystery and meaning in objects often overlooked or discarded. The artists will be in the studio Tuesday through Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m., with a public reception Friday, June 26, from 5 to 8pm. 

Pictured: Detail of Bioluminescent by Elizabeth Goodwill is featured in Lost and Found on view June 23–28, in the Studio at Art Ovation Hotel. Provided photo.

The Tampa Museum of Art today announced a transformative gift from longtime Museum leaders and supporters Maureen and Doug Cohn, establishing the Maureen and DougCohn Gallery. The Cohns’ generous contribution is the latest in a history of investment in the Tampa Museum of Art and represents yet another milestone in the Museum’s Centennial Campaign for Renovation and Expansion. For tickets and information, visit TampaMuseum.org  

Pictured:Contemporary artwork gifted to the Tampa Museum of Art by Maureen and Doug Cohn in 2015. Mabel Poblet (Cuban, b. 1986), Simplemente Bellas (Simply Beautiful), 2013. Mixed media (plastic flowers, bicycle wheels, electric motors) on acrylic panels.

Our Summer Performance Series has officially launched, and we invite you to join us this Friday for an exciting In the Round performance! Featuring three rising choreographers Olivia Cassady, Mary Armstrong, Mandy Lainer, alongside our June Summer Intensive participants, this unique evening offers audiences an inside look at the creative process.Don’t miss this inspiring and interactive celebration of emerging talent and new work!

In The Round A: June 12, 7pm. 

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Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota (ASC) is pleased to announce the 24 concerts scheduled for the 2026-2027 season. The 31st season – sponsored by Jan and Bill Farber, and Paul and Sharon Steinwachs – runs from October 11, 2026 through May 17, 2027. Discounted tickets are available through August 31. For more information and tickets, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call (941) 306-1202. 

Pictured: Atlys Quartet. Provided photo.

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort unveils The Gilded Gulf: A Legendary Semiquincentennial Celebration, the most exceptional and unforgettable way to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime historic milestone from one of the most prolific new resorts in the United States. Toasting to America’s 250th is best done from Florida’s House of Celebration, also known as The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, where a singular celebration will be reserved on a first-come, first-served bases for one exquisite traveler—a traveler whose name becomes part of the town’s fireworks, is monogramed throughout the sprawling Presidential Suite, and whose five-night stay is designed to be a cultural moment—not just a weekend away. 

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