Sarasota is a small city by South Florida’s standards but it is a secret gem in what is America’s arts industry. People who live and work in Sarasota are very product of its art culture. Sarasota houses an orchestra, a ballet company, several fine professional theaters, an opera company, a film festival and finally, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art on 66 acres of beautiful landscape.

From October 7th to the 11th, the museum partners with New York’s Baryshnikov Arts Center to celebrate the inaugural Ringling International Arts Festival. The intention of the Ringling International Arts Festival is to share what has been Sarasota’s well-kept secret of the arts. The Ringling International Arts Festival will open with an opening night gala and concert and follow with four days of performances. You can expect to see young artists pushing boundaries and several free performances and panels. Performances will each last about an hour and feature various forms of arts and revolutionary aesthetics. Thanks to a multiyear $1.5 million grant from the state of Florida, ticket prices start at $10 and go up to $30 for performances.

Sarasota’s arts culture is seasonal. It starts in late fall and runs throughout spring. They chose the aforementioned dates for the Ringling International Arts Festival to kick off Sarasota’s arts season and attraction international attention. There are plenty of Sarasota vacation rentals ready to accommodate international visitors. They also do not want to compete with or distract from Sarasota’s existing arts culture. The Ringling International Arts Festival also serves as what they hope will be the first of a biennial event they hope will expand. The Ringling International Arts Festival hopes to attract other South Floridians to drive up from places such as Miami or Fort Lauderdale to spend a night in Sarasota vacation rentals and see up to six performances.