Our Mission
To create and sustain a vibrant performing arts center, advance education, and enrich communities by inspiring minds through the power of the arts.
OUR STORY
The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation (formerly known as the Van Wezel Foundation) was founded in 1987 and has deep roots in the rich cultural history of Sarasota. For almost 40 years, we’ve partnered with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall through its owner, the City of Sarasota, to provide extraordinary cultural and educational experiences that open a world of new possibilities!
Today, the Foundation continues to advance this mission while leading the vision for a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center in collaboration with the City of Sarasota, The Bay Park Conservancy, and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Together, we’re planning to build a state-of-the-art, inclusive, and resilient Performing Arts Center, with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall continuing as part of the cultural campus it inspired.
OUR VALUES
PASSION. We are inventive catalysts for artistic exploration.
INCLUSIVITY. We seek out diverse perspectives and foster cultural equity across our programs.
COLLABORATION. We build forward-thinking partnerships to extend the impact of our mission.
STEWARDSHIP. We operate with integrity and transparency to expand our rich history of culture-building and philanthropy.
Tony Award®-winning artist Kristin Chenoweth
OUR VISION
To be a preeminent destination for the performing arts in the nation by offering extraordinary cultural and educational experiences that open a world of new possibilities for all.
