FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • The Sarasota Performing Arts Center has been designed to serve artists and performers, audience members and patrons, as well as students and community members across the region. Consistent with the City’s 2023 Request for Proposal (RFP), Concept 2.0 of the project includes:

    • A 2,200-seat main theater

    • A 250–300 seat multipurpose/flex theater

    • Indoor and outdoor lobby spaces

    • A community/donor lounge

    • An education center/learning lab

    • Back-of-house and artist support space

    • Patron services and concessions

  • Concept 2.0 is a refined design framework for the proposed Performing Arts Center. It reflects feedback from the City Commission, community members, and key stakeholders, while maintaining the original vision for a next-generation performing arts venue integrated within The Bay.

    Concept 2.0 is not a final design. It represents an important milestone in aligning the project’s scope, site, cost, and community priorities.

  • Following substantial reviews and community feedback, the City, the Foundation, and BPC used a collaborative approach to:

    • Align the Performing Arts Center site with the original 2018 Bay Park Master Plan

    • Improve integration with surrounding public spaces

    • Strengthen flood and storm resilience

    • Ensure fiscal responsibility by reducing total project cost

    • Preserve a best-in-class patron experience

    The result is a unified concept that balances ambition with financial discipline.

  • Concept 2.0 places the facility on the originally planned site south of the Centennial Park/10th Street canal, consistent with the 2018 Bay Park Master Plan. This location enhances integration with The Bay and supports coordinated parking, circulation, and operational efficiencies. 

  • Concept 2.0 is designed to be fully integrated within The Bay, including: 

    • Seamless pedestrian circulation from parking and park spaces into the facility 

    • Enhanced pedestrian connectivity 

    • Coordinated structured parking 

    • Shared loading and back-of-house functions 

    The goal is to create a cohesive experience that strengthens The Bay as a destination for residents and visitors. 

  • Concept 2.0 incorporates: 

    • Added elevation that aligns with overall increase in grade planned for The Bay, which provides resiliency protection for the facility and the community as a whole 

    • Dry floodproofing measures 

    • Compliance with view corridor height limitations 

    Resilience has been a priority throughout the refinement process. 

  • The design process includes five phases: Concept Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration. The project is currently in Concept Design.

Project & Design

Funding & Cost

  • Funding would come primarily from donations, with robust public support, mainly through tax increment financing (TIF) district funding. Sarasota has a strong history of philanthropic support for arts and cultural institutions, which is expected to play a major role. The plan will include a TIF mechanism, which uses a portion of future growth in property tax revenues within a defined area and does not increase existing tax rates – a financing tool that was created for projects like the Performing Arts Center and Bay Park.

    A TIF district is an economic development tool applied to a specific geographic area. It works by capturing the increase in property tax revenues generated by new development in the district and redirecting those funds to help finance other development projects. 

  • No increase in tax rates is anticipated. The use of TIF relies on future increases in property values rather than higher taxes on existing residents. Any decisions related to funding would be made through the City Commission process, with full participation and discussion by the Commission. 

  • The estimated Total Project Cost (TPC) for Concept 2.0 is $260–$295 million. This includes: 

    • Hard construction costs 

    • Soft costs (design, project management, legal, insurance, permits) 

    • Furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) 

    Independent international cost estimators are validating hard cost projections as part of due diligence. 

  • The intent was to reduce overall cost without sacrificing quality or core programmatic elements. Cost refinements were achieved through: 

    • Site alignment with the original Master Plan 

    • Scope refinements aligned with the 2023 RFP 

    • Operational efficiencies through integration with The Bay 

    • Value engineering across construction and soft costs 

  • The project will move forward in alignment with funding availability and formal City agreements. Construction would not proceed without an established financial framework in place. Formal governance and implementation agreements will outline responsibilities and safeguards. 

Programming & Use

  • No. The Foundation is proposing the Performing Arts Center function as part of a unified cultural campus alongside the existing Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. 

    Each facility serves different programming, scale, and technical needs. The long-term vision supports a strengthened cultural district that expands access and programming capacity for the region. 

    During the planning and construction of the Performing Arts Center, discussions and efforts would take place to identify appropriate future uses for the Van Wezel.  

  • The size is being planned to meet today’s needs and those of the coming decades. Sarasota and Manatee counties together are approaching a population of one million, and demand for performances, education programs, and community use has grown significantly since the Van Wezel was built. The goal is a right-sized hall that balances efficiency and flexibility while maintaining an intimate audience experience and complementing the Van Wezel. 

  • No. The nature and size of the new hall would allow education to take on an even more important role. In addition, the envisioned 300-seat flexible event space would provide a multitude of use possibilities, supporting student programs, school partnerships, workshops, lectures, rehearsals, local performances, and other community and educational uses alongside larger productions.  

Community Impact

  • The arts and cultural sector is one of Sarasota’s largest employers and a key reason people are attracted to Sarasota and choose to stay. A new performing arts center would create ongoing jobs in operations, programming, education, and event support.  

    The Performing Arts Center would serve as an anchor institution for The Bay, providing opportunities for arts and cultural experiences for residents and visitors, while also supporting economic growth in the area by attracting more patrons to the area. New restaurants planned to be connected to the Performing Arts Center would generate further activity and economic benefits.  

    Education programs would serve students, families, and lifelong learners across the community. Together, these benefits help sustain Sarasota’s national reputation as an arts and cultural destination and support ongoing economic activity that benefits the broader community. Additionally, the construction of the new facility will help with environmental resiliency for the entire community. 

  • Inaction has real (though often less visible) costs. 

    While flood risks at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall can be mitigated, they cannot be fully eliminated, and the facility remains vulnerable. Maintenance and repair costs will continue to rise, and many touring productions now require modern technical capabilities the Van Wezel cannot fully support. As a result, Sarasota risks being bypassed more frequently as shows route to cities with more contemporary venues. 

    Over time, this means more than the loss of individual performances. Fewer touring shows reduce cultural options for residents, diminish Sarasota’s appeal to visitors, and gradually weaken the city’s standing as a leading arts destination — along with the economic activity that accompanies it. 

    Inaction also affects the future of The Bay. The Sarasota Performing Arts Center is intended to serve as a cultural anchor that activates the park year‑round through performances, education, and community engagement. Without that anchor, The Bay remains a beautiful public space, but with fewer opportunities to generate consistent cultural activity and economic vitality. 

    Choosing not to move forward does not preserve the status quo. Instead, it risks a gradual loss of cultural competitiveness and missed opportunities to invest in a resilient, future‑ready facility that serves the community for generations. 

Timeline

  • While no formal timetable has been set, a project of this scale would likely take about four to five years from planning through construction. This would include design, fundraising, approvals, and building the facility. All is subject to City Commission review and approval. 

Parking & Mobility

Stay Involved & Get Informed

  • The community can: 

    • Submit questions <directly to the Foundation> 

    • Sign up for email updates and our monthly newsletter 

    Community engagement is a critical part of the process and is ongoing. Outreach is occurring now, and as planning and design concepts evolve, there will be additional opportunities for public input and discussion. 

  • Gifts to enable this once-in-a-lifetime initiative can be made through the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation here.

  • The City of Sarasota, The Foundation, The Bay, and other stakeholders are collaborating to develop a parking and mobility strategy that ensures convenient access to ample parking and ensure visitors have a quality experience.

    The City and the Bay Park Conservancy previously commissioned two parking studies to evaluate parking demand at buildout of the park and new performing arts center. The results recommend approximately 1,100-1,300 spaces. The team is also studying a pedestrian overpass to cross Tamiami Trail at 9th Street.