Historical highlights of the progression of the Sarasota Museum of Art/SMOA

October, 2005
SMOA became a division of Ringling College. Together, we are working on transforming historic Sarasota High School.

Fall, 2006
Ringling College and SMOA launched an Architectural Design Competition to select an architectural firm for the Visual Arts Education Center/VAEC. The Jury for the competition was a panel of professionals from various cities. The ADP Group of Sarasota was selected as the winning firm.

2007
Working with the Ringling College and SMOA Building Committee the architectural design firm completed the schematic designs as well as the design and development drawings. In addition, a Virtual Tour was created to show how the 3-story, 57,000 sq ft building will be repurposed.  The renovation includes: outdoor sculpture garden, outdoor patio and indoor café, 110-seat auditorium, ADA access, elevators and a 3-story contemporary addition. 

November, 2008
During a momentous official ceremony, SMOA and Ringling College received ‘the keys’ to the Sarasota High School from the Sarasota County School Board. That same day multi-colored banners adorned the building and a large sign ‘the Future Home of SMOA’ was unveiled on the front lawn.  

2009
As a ‘museum in the making’ SMOA launched its ARTmuse Program. The interesting and diverse ARTmuse programs offer people a preview of what is to come once SMOA is up and running in landmark Sarasota High School. Another highlight of the year was the arrival of a detailed 8’ x 6’ model of the proposed renovation and the installation of a 10’ x 20’ realistic mural of the interior walkway into the new addition. Both are on display at Sarasota High School.

2010
Our commitment to educational programming was showcased with visiting world renowned artist Judy Pfaff for SMOA’s ARTmuse Program. During this 2-day program there was an actual print making demonstration. Judy and her Master Printmaker, Andy Rubin from Tandem Press of Madison, Wisconsin and Jill Lerner, Master Printmaker and Faculty Member at Ringling College who pulled a proof of an oversized 6’x 8’ print. It was an amazing learning experience for all to see.  Many thanks go to PNC Wealth Management for sponsoring this program.  This same year Dr. Stephen Brown, Assistant Curator from the Jewish Museum of New York, gave an interesting presentation on ‘Action/Abstraction’.  New banners were unveiled announcing that we are halfway to our fundraising goal.

2011
Sarasota Magazine and PNC Wealth Management hosted a party for SMOA aboard the luxury art megayacht 'SeaFair' which was docked at Marina Jack’s. This was a celebration for SMOA’s achievements and to support SMOA in our effort to reach our final destination. SMOA’s ARTmuse Program featured glass sculptor Seth Randal who is a master of the lost wax process. He demonstrated how he makes his one-of-kind glass sculpture pieces. Fundraising accomplishments – we are more then halfway to the goal.

2013
Patrick Dougherty was brought to Sarasota for 21 days in January as part of SMOA’s ARTmuse Program. Patrick and over 100 volunteers created a magical sculpture, entirely out of crape myrtles at the future home of SMOA.

Sarasota Magazine, Best of 2013 - May Issue: Best New Work of Art, 'Out in Front'. Sarasota Museum of Art scored a hit with Patrick Dougherty's newest 'stickwork' sculpture, 'Out in Front,' on the grounds of the old Sarasota High School, where thousands pass by every day on U.S. 41. Park your car and stroll around this intriguing fusion of nature and craft. Best part: Eager local volunteers got to help Dougherty create it.

In addition, SMOA had a Docent Program and a Sticks and Clicks Photo Contest in which children and adults were eligible and won prizes.

Plus, SMOA’s Inaugural BASH was the hit of the Sarasota Season as stated in the Herald Tribune, Style Magazine 2012-2013 by its editor. In her words, “one of my personal favorites was January’s Sarasota Museum of Art/SMOA Inaugural BASH. Co-Chairs (and Board Members) Brooke Callanen and Dottie Baer Garner tapped into the community’s excitement about the new museum, attracting more than 700 guests to the event. Patrick Dougherty’s large-scale environmental sculpture was a huge hit, as was the food from the Sarasota-Manatee Originals and one of the best bands of the year, Tampa’s Ace Factor. And the amazing thing was, it never felt crowded. You could move through the old Sarasota High School with ease, with many guests reliving all of those high-school memories."

SMOA was the talk of the town in 2013 with unprecedented media coverage. Please stop by the high school and walk through Patrick’s 239th sculpture that he created for SMOA and Sarasota. We’re 71% toward the fundraising goal…working hard to reach the finish line.

Today
SMOA and Ringling College continue to focus on ’fundraising’ while planning for the renovation and operation of this new vibrant visual arts destination with SMOA, the modern and contemporary art museum as its centerpiece. 

This unique cultural destination will be a place where people can look forward to learning, enjoying and participating in a broad range of art offerings from exhibitions, visiting artist programs, workshops and classes.

We are proud to be restoring and repurposing the historic Sarasota High School, an icon of Sarasota’s architectural heritage.

People in this community have been wonderful, showing their belief in this project and bringing us closer and closer to turning the dream into a reality.

 

To help support SMOA, click here to get started.