Public Art in City Buildings

The City of Sarasota’s Public Art Program places artworks throughout municipal facilities to expand access to cultural experiences and strengthen connections to Sarasota’s history, identity, and creative community. This work aligns with the Public Art Plan, integrating meaningful cultural content into civic spaces and enriching everyday public interaction with art.

City Hall Cultural Heritage Exhibit

Petticoat Painters Exhibit with Luma Cloud
Florida-Highwaymen-Exhibit-at-City-Hall.jpg
Petticoat-Painters-Exhibit-1-39.jpeg
City-Hall-Exhibit-Tour-and-Lecture.jpg
Petticoat-Painters-Exhibit-1-38.jpeg
Petticoat-Painters-Exhibit-1-68.jpeg

The City Hall Cultural Heritage Exhibit is a rotating program that highlights Sarasota’s cultural, civic, and artistic history through curated displays of artwork, photography, and historical narratives. Exhibitions activate City Hall as a welcoming civic space and introduce visitors to Sarasota’s heritage in an accessible, visually engaging format.

Current Exhibit: "Echoes of Sarasota"

"Echoes of Sarasota" features large works by artists Regan Dunnick and Frank Hopper, along with complementary pieces curated by Arts Advocates. Together, the exhibit presents over a century of Sarasota’s cultural history—from early communities and recognizable landscapes to themes reflecting the region’s heritage. The installation includes additional pieces located at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. 

Free Docent-Led Art Tours

Docent‑Led Tours

Free monthly docent‑led tours of the Echoes of Sarasota exhibit are offered at both City Hall and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Tours run from October through April and alternate between the two venues. Visitors are guided through the artworks, themes, and historical narratives represented in each location.

Tours are led by Barbara Sanders (Van Wezel) and Diane (City Hall), and supported by the Johnson Singer Arts and Education Fund. Click here for more information.

 

A yearlong Florida Highwaymen exhibition is installed on the second floor of the One Stop Shop, featuring vivid mid‑century Florida landscapes from the “From the Street Corner to the Smithsonian” collection. These expressive works introduce Florida’s cultural heritage into one of Sarasota’s busiest civic buildings, allowing residents to encounter museum‑quality art during everyday City business. Click here for more information. 

The exhibition is presented on loan from the Roger Lightle Collection and is on display now through August 2027.

Back to top