Public Art Plan
Adopted in August 2023, the Public Art Plan 2030 sets a bold vision for the future of public art in Sarasota. Building on the City’s rich artistic legacy, the plan expands opportunities beyond downtown, bringing inspiring and meaningful public art to neighborhoods, parks, and community spaces. It envisions a future where public art enhances everyday life, fosters a sense of place, and reflects the unique voices of our community.
With thoughtful strategies for growing and maintaining the City’s collection, Public Art Plan 2030 ensures that creativity remains at the heart of Sarasota. By integrating art into public spaces, engaging artists and residents, and strengthening Sarasota’s identity as a cultural destination, this plan will guide the evolution of the Public Art Program for years to come—making art more accessible, impactful, and celebrated throughout the city.
The purpose of the Public Art Plan is to:
- Honor the City of Sarasota’s treasured cultural heritage
- Maximize the potential for impactful and transformative public art in Sarasota
- Recognize possibilities for extended programming, activated spaces, and integrated experiences
- Provide an overarching vision to encourage the implementation of appealing and thoughtful placemaking opportunities through elevated urban design projects
- Provide art opportunities that are impartial and accessible
- Connect to Sarasota’s vibrant cultural groups and neighborhoods
- Outline Sarasota’s Public Art Program development, administration, and funding
Goals and Strategies
The following 10 goals and associated strategies are identified within the plan to support the overall success and longevity of the Public Art Program:
- Position Sarasota as a Leading City for Public Art Experiences
- Build on Sarasota’s Strong Partnerships to Serve the Community Through the Arts
- Provide Opportunities for Public Art Engagement, Education, and Collaboration through the Creation of Supportive Learning Environments
- Establish a Deeper Connection with the Development Community to Further the Program’s Vision for Sarasota
- Emphasize Sarasota’s Cultural and Ethnic Identity to Enhance Community Pride and Civic Engagement
- Promote Public Art as a Vehicle for Public; Health and Enhanced Community-Building
- Identify Sustainable Funding Sources and Systems for Supporting and Maintaining the Public Art Program
- Integrate Public Art into Urban Design Projects to Promote Cultural Tourism, Creative Placemaking, and an Enhanced Quality-of-Life
- Provide Sufficient Programmatic Infrastructure to Advance and Maintain the Public Art Collection
- Implement Public Art Policy which Informs, Includes, and Streamlines Public Art Projects for a More Efficient and Impactful Program
Planning Process
The process for creating the Public Art Plan 2030 involved over 175 individual meetings with community stakeholders, engagement exercises with the business, arts, and overall community, and various fact-finding exercises such as the Public Art Plan general survey, web tools, and neighborhood association presentations. A public survey was made available online and received 768 responses.
Public art staff coordinated all engagement efforts throughout this plan with the assistance of community leaders and the development and design community. Additional support was provided by the members of the Public Art Committee and various arts leaders who were generous with their time and support of the goals and vision of this plan.
Throughout the process, multiple opportunities for public art and cultural programming were identified for Sarasota’s future evolution. Utilizing internal collaborations to obtain a higher expectation for urban design, planning, and placemaking will be crucial to the importance of public art and community-building.
For information regarding the inspiration, process, and goals of the Public Art Plan, please follow the links below:
To view previous Public Art Plan meetings, follow the links below: