Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation Inc

THE VAN WEZEL FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN A VIBRANT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, ADVANCE EDUCATION, AND ENRICH COMMUNITIES BY INSPIRING MINDS THROUGH THE POWER OF THE ARTS. THE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH THE VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL SINCE 1987 TO SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION THROUGHOUT OUR REGION, SERVING MORE THAN 50,000 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY WITH ENRICHING ARTS-BASED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MORE THAN 400 TEACHERS ACROSS FIVE COUNTIES. THE VAN WEZEL FOUNDATION IS LEADING THE VISION TO BUILD A NEW SARASOTA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BAY PARK CONSERVANCY AND VAN WEZEL HALL.

THE FOUNDATION USES THE ARTS AND ARTS EDUCATION TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND ECONOMIC WELL BEING IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS REACH OVER 50,000 STUDENTS AND TRAIN HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS IN ARTISTIC AND ACADEMIC LITERACY AND CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS ACROSS FIVE COUNTIES EACH YEAR. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FUNDING FOR TICKETS AND BUSING FOR OVER 30,000 STUDENTS TO ATTEND SCHOOLTIME PERFORMANCES EACH YEAR; FUNDING FOR TEACHERS TO SUPPLEMENT THE STUDENTS' EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM USING ARTS INTEGRATIVE LEARNING TECHNIQUES; FUNDING FOR MASTER CLASSES FOR TEACHERS; AND FUNDING FOR YOUTH, FAMILIES, SENIORS, MILITARY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO SEE, EXPERIENCE AND PARTICIPATE IN LIVE SHOWS AND EVENTS.ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2018, THE SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION APPROVED THE BAYFRONT MASTER PLAN WITH A NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT THE HEART OF THE BAY PARK THAT WILL BECOME THE NEXUS OF PERFORMING ARTS IN OUR REGION FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THE FOUNDATION AND THE CITY OF SARASOTA HAVE HAD A THRIVING CULTURAL PARTNERSHIP FOR OVER THREE DECADES. ON APRIL 4, 2022, THE FOUNDATION'S PARTNERSHIP ROLE EXPANDED WITH THE SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION APPROVED THE EXECUTION OF A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR THE PLANNING, FINANCING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SARASOTA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. TOGETHER, BOTH PARTIES HAVE LAID THE NECESSARY GROUNDWORK-SURVEYS, FEASIBILITY STUDIES, ENGINEERING STUDIES, AND COST ESTIMATES. THE NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WILL BE MORE THAN A BUILDING. AS A FINANCIALLY ROBUS, YEAR-ROUND CIVIC ASSET, SARASOTA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WILL ENHANCE SARASOTA'S REPUTATION AS A REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL DESTINATION. THE BUILDING PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBILITY AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN THAT CAN BE USED BY EVERYONE AND WILL INCLUDE A 2,200-SEAT MAIN STAGE INCLUDING CENTER AISLE(S), 300-SEAT FLEXIBLE PERFORMANCE SPACE, EDUCATION AND LIFE LONG LEARNING SPACES, MULTIPLE OUTDOOR PUBLIC PERFORMING SPACES, AND TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL ALLOW PERFORMANCES TO BE SIMULCAST INTO THE PARK.

ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO THE VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND MAIN STAGE SPONSORSHIPS.