Local Art Events

Our charming little island of Anna Maria and surrounding areas have always been big on art. So it should come as no surprise that there is an abundance of local art events taking place throughout the year. Below is a list of art events on Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, and Sarasota.

Anna Maria Island

. Winterfest:
If you’re free the second weekend of December, head over to Winterfest, a Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts Show taking place at City Hall Field in Holmes Beach. This event is sponsored by the Anna Maria Island Art League and features food, drinks, live music, and of course some arts and crafts you can purchase from local artists.
Plus, admission and parking are free!
Where: 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217
When: Second weekend of December (Saturday and Sunday)
Time: 10am – 4:30pm

. Springfest:
Springfest (just like Winterfest) is a Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts that takes place in Holmes Beach every March. This weekend event features art, activities, food, drinks and live music! Proceeds will benefit the Anna Maria Island Art League which offers scholarships and other art education programs to local students.
Where: City Hall Field (5901 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL, 34217)
When: Second weekend of March (Saturday and Sunday)
Time: 10am – 5pm

. Holmes Beach Art District Art Walk
Every year, local art galleries and retail businesses participate in the Holmes Beach Art District Art Walk. The locations participating in the event will be featuring local art exhibits, complimentary refreshments, music, and lots of fun! The Art Walk is a wonderful way to explore and view art from local artists we know and love.
Where: There are different Island businesses that participate every year. You can check the Island Chamber of Commerce website to find what locations will participating in the Art Walk, for the year you ill be attending.
When: Begins the second Friday of January, and takes place every SECOND Friday of the month, until the second Friday of April.
Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Bradenton

. ArtSlam:
“A Celebration of Youth & Creativity!” is exactly how the Realize Bradenton website describes the event ArtSlam. It is a day where local students and artists get the opportunity to take their art from the classroom/studio, and out on Old Main Street in Downtown Bradenton. It is a chance where the community gets to observe and celebrate Manatee County’s talented and creative youth.
Where: Old Main Street in Downtown Bradenton (400 12th St W, Bradenton, FL, 34205)
When: First Saturday of March
Time: 9am – 4pm

. Mixon Farms Antique Arts and Crafts Fair:
Mixon Fruit Farms in Bradenton hosts a arts & crafts fair every 4th Saturday from April, through September. The fair features local vendors, and is sure to be a fun day for the whole family.
Where: Mixon Farms, 2525 27th Street E Bradenton, FL 34208
When: Every fourth Saturday, from April through September
Time: 10am – 3pm

. Mainly Art
If you love art and a good ole farmers market, then you should check out Mainly Art in Downtown Bradenton. It is an event where local artists/craftspeople are able to display and sell their work. Aside from the arts & crafts, there is also live music, and food. The best part is that Mainly Art connects with the farmers market on Main Street.
Where: Main Street, Downtown Bradenton, FL
When: Every third Saturday from October to May.
Time: 9am – 2pm

. Fine Arts Festival of Manatee County:
A 2 day event full of spectacular works of art in all different forms is exactly what you’ll find at the Fine Arts Festival of Manatee County! Yet another art event taking place in Downtown Bradenton, this event showcases; ceramics, digital media, drawing, glass, jewelry, leather, acrylic, oil, watercolor, photography, and so much more.
Where: Riverwalk, Downtown Bradenton, FL, 34205
When: Last weekend of February (Saturday and Sunday)
Time: 10am – 5pm Saturday and 10am – 4pm Sunday

Sarasota

. Chalk Festival:
The International Chalk Festival is four day event that takes place typically in Sarasota Florida, or Venice Florida. Watch the largest gathering of extremely talented, and famous pavement artists create masterpieces from start to finish. Other featured activities include food trucks, beer gardens, live music, and interactive art areas.
Where: After six seasons of taking place in Burns Square in downtown Sarasota, the 2017 and 2018 events have taken place at the Venice Airport Fairgrounds. (675 Airport Ave East, Venice, FL 34285)
When: Begins the second Friday of November, and runs until the following Monday.
Time: 8am – 6pm

. Sarasota Spring Fine Arts Festival:
If you’ve been needing a new art piece for your home, or enjoy collecting art, you want to visit the Sarasota Spring Fine Arts Festival. The event is hosted by Sarasota Downtown Merchants Association and features; paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber and wearable art, mixed-media, woodworking, etc.
Where: 33 Gulf Stream, Sarasota, FL 34236
When: Second weekend of March (Saturday and Sunday)
Time: 10am – 5pm

Kids art workshop at the Anna Maria Island Art League

Holmes Beach – The Anna Maria Island Art League is hosting a three day kids art workshop called “Exploring Creativity’, taught by Marie Garafano. The class will be taking place from Monday, March 30th through Wednesday, April 1st from 1:30-3:30pm.

During the class children will elarn how to paint with watercolors as well as experiment with colalge to create expressive pictures. Marie Garafano is a watercolor painter and former illustrator/designer who also illustrated the children’s book “Ginger Goes on a Diet”.

The cost for the class is $50 per child and supplies will be provided. Classes are limited to 10 people and children should dress comfortably in clothes they are okay getting paint on.

For more information or to register for the class, call 941-778-2099 or visit the gallery itself in Holmes Beach at 5312 Holmes Boulevard, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-2pm.

2015 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Cortez – The 33rd annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is this Saturday and Sunday, February 14th-15th from 10:00am – 6:00pm. Art, music and seafood will bring scores of people to the historic Cortez fishing village and you won’t want to miss it!

Admission – $3.00 for Adults – Children 12 under free

To find Cortez Village on a map, locate Bradenton which is about 50 miles south of Tampa. Find State Road 684, known locally as Cortez Road or 44th Avenue, and go west to the beaches.

Remote Parking for the Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Every year there is a something new at the Festival. Festival goers will want to note that there is a remote parking area in west Bradenton. You can avoid the traffic and enjoy the bus ride with your friends to the Festival ($2.50 round trip). The new parking site is located at G. T. Bray Park (5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton, 34209). Just turn east off of 59th St. onto 33rd Ave. W. You can’t miss it.

As in past years, this same shuttle service is being provided from the remote parking area located at Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island. Island folks can take the free trolley to the parking site.

Also, the parking area just east of the village off of Cortez Road has been expanded again this year. But get there early or later in the day as this parking area tends to fill up quickly. Parking spots open up later in the day.

Another option is to park in the western part of town. Many folks manage small parking areas throughout the village with some charging a fee depending on how close they are to the village.

The Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is organized entirely by a volunteer committee of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.), a Florida not-for-profit corporation.

February happenings at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island

Holmes Beach – February brings us new happenings at the Artists’ Guild Anna MariaI. Joey Long is an expert on the use of Keetons newest and most innovative art products. Join her for endless fun with a Gelli™ Plate, rubber brayer, acrylic paint, and an array of textural tools. Create stunning prints loaded with color, texture and design. Learn to layer prints to produce some BOGGLING results! It’s addictive, and the more you experiment the more you’ll want to try. Take home beautiful – or funky-prints you can frame, or use for collage, journaling, gift paper and more.

The cost is $35 Artists’ Guild members and $50 non-members.

Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island — Joey Long with an array of Gelli™ supplies.

Chinese Brush Painting with instructor Renee Vickery

Wednesday, February 11, 9:30-12:30

Explore this traditional Chinese art form with Renee, who lived and studied in Asia for fifteen years. Learn about the materials used; practice Chinese characters and traditional Chinese motifs; and have the chance to experience painting with an orchid/bamboo brush and pigments. You will leave with at least one rice paper painting, a greeting card and a sheet of gift paper.

The cost is $45 for Artists’ Guild members and $60 for non-members. For more information call the Guild Gallery at 941-778-6694. You may register on-line by going to www.amiartistsguildgallery.com.

Island Players 2014/2015 Season

Anna Maria – Imagine what the Island Players Theater house has seen season after season, play after play; ballet recitals, concerts from many genre’s, hurricanes, actors polishing their craft, a school room, a church, the Anna Maria Garden Club and Women’s Club meetings, a service club during WWII, town hall meetings and tourists.

The actual building was brought by barge to the island in 1912 and it became the home of the Island Players organization in 1949. Originally the home was built in Parrish for the William Gillette family and floated down the Manatee River and set right where it still stands on the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue. With termites threatening the historic building in the 1970’s, the Players took on the project of not only saving the building from these ravenous bugs, but to preserve it’s historical value and making improvements that benefitted all who come to enjoy our little community theater.

What a great night out! Come see what this season has in store for patrons. For a mere $20 you can lose yourself in drama, comedy and the small town feel that is part of the magic of Anna Maria. Click HERE for their season schedule.

The Galleries of Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island – Anna Maria Island is not only a place to take in the natural beauty, but the man made beauty as well. No need to go to a big city to view many different local artists. A few names you may have even heard of such as Emerson, Sue Lynn Cotton or Barbara Hines. You can either go to one of many local galleries, or gift shops on the island to find local work. Some of our local artists can even be found in many of our vacation rentals. Take a stroll through one of the galleries, and see if you recognize anything.

Art Space Deborah Webster — Dancing Water by Deborah Webster owner of Art Space Anna Maria.

Here are the local galleries for you all to enjoy. Please click on the names below which will take you to their web site for phone numbers, hours and what collections are available for viewing throughout the year:

Artists Guild of Anna Maria Island – 5414 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Anna Maria Island Art League – 5312 Holmes Boulevard Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Anna Maria Island Historical Society – 402 Pine Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216

Island Gallery West – 5368 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Studio at Gulf and Pine – Corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216

Artspace Anna Maria – 101 South Bay Boulevard Anna Maria, FL 34216

Emerson Studio Store – 317 Pine Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216

Some of these galleries will allow traveling artists to display/sell some of their pieces as well. If you have some great pieces, and will be on the island for a while, this may be the perfect opportunity for you.

Sometimes you just need to slow the pace, enjoy life around you, and even experience it through someone else’s eyes. This is not hard to do when visiting the many fabulous galleries around Anna Maria Island.

2014 Food and Wine on Pine – Anna Maria Island Festival

Anna Maria – The 4th annual 2014 Food and Wine on Pine is taking place on May 3rd on historic Pine Avenue in Anna Maria. Featuring the very best in food, win art and music on the island, you won’t want to miss this unique event.

2014 Food and Wine on Pine

Twenty five local restaurants will feature their unique cuisine. This is all while you taste at least thirty upscale wines. Craft and domestic beers will also be available! Approximately 40 juried artists, more than 30 musical acts and more will line Pine Avenue.

New for this year is a Kentucky Derby Tent. Here you can watch the spectacle on big screen tv’s called the Pine Avenue Downs. There will be other derby related events including betting on the race, a bar serving up Mint Julips and more. It’s almost as good at being in Kentucky!

This event is popular among locals and visitors, and is well attended every year too! While this event grows in popularity, it always offers something new each year.

Food and wine on Pine is organized by the Chiles group of restaurants. They will also be among the vendors list of participants.

Stay tuned to the Food and Wine on Pine website for more information!

This Weekend on Anna Maria Island – December 20th-22nd

Uh oh! Looks like these events are just fun memories now.

But don’t worry! There are tons of exciting activities and events taking place on Anna Maria Island all year long, every year!

Take a look at some of my favorites below:
Cortez Fishing Festival Blog
Halloween Events Blog
Local Art Events
Local Festivals

Island Gallery West 2014 Art Demonstrations

Anna Maria Island – Island Gallery West, a vibrant co-operative gallery located in the Holmes Beach S&S Shopping Place, offers free art demonstrations throughout the year. Taking place through the spring every Saturday from 10am to noon, here is the list of Spring 2014 Art Demonstrations:

Jan 4 Dee Pastorius – Painting on Glass
Jan 11 Brenda Alcorn – Gyotaku (fish printing)
Jan 18 Caroline Whitmore – Watercolor
Jan 25 Betsy Kennedy – Jewelry
Feb 1 Patricia Sorg – Color with Oils
Feb 8 Carole Dougherty – Mixed Media TBA
Feb 15 Roger Rockefeller – Watercolor
Feb 22 Robert Reiber – Watercolor
Mar 1 Shirley Rush Dean – Polymer Clay
Mar 8 Anne Abbgott – Watercolor
Mar 15 Barbara Hines – Watercolor
Mar 22 Don Pulver – Oil Painting

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall | Sarasota, FL

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Hosting numerous performances throughout the year, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is a top of the line live entertainment venue. Music, dance, theater, and comedy can all be found within the spacious walls and lush acoustics of the Van Wezel. Remodeled in 2000, the Van Wezel hall can now seat 1736 guests in the concert hall. A 6000 square foot Grand Foyer was also added which can comfortably seat up to 350.

The Van Wezel also has many community outreach programs that teach about the arts. Performances are often held for school children to begin to engage them in the creative thought process of the arts.

Ticket prices vary depending on the event, but you can expect it to be reasonably priced for the quality. Student and teacher tickets are available on the day of the event for $15.00 per person with valid ID. Group discount options start with groups of 20 or more.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
777 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34236
Box Office 941-953-3368
Toll Free 1-800-826-9303
Administrative Office 941-955-7676

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