Any Interest in Forming Sarasota Downtown Arts Assn to Promote Galleries?

[Richard Stewart]

Seems to me that Sarasota is ripe for a downtown arts association similar to St. Pete's. It's not affiliated with city government. The membership is made up of representative from the city's art galleries located within a defined downtown area. The galleries pay dues to finance the printing of a gallery map/brochure and advertising to promote the monthly gallery walk. A loop trolley, which is also paid for by the association, transports art lovers from gallery to gallery all evening. Tourists love it. In Sarasota, the map/brochure would be devoted strictly to galleries, not dilluted with restaurants and other businesses who also open for the First Friday events. I'm a photographer who recently became affiliated with Art Uptown on Main Street. I was surprised to learn that an association devoted strictly to promoting the downtown art galleries doesn't exist. Is there any interest among gallery owners to get one started?

[Judy Dean]

Beverly ... I work with many non-profits and small businesses - I don't see any reason why an association cannot be formed without a non-profit status. If I understand correctly, it would simply be a group coming together to promote one another and create awareness for your businesses - much like the Downtown Merchant's Association. I don't know if they are a non-profit or not - but they are all "for-profit" businesses as well so I rather doubt it. Just a thought ... Judy

Beverly A. Smith said:

Hi,
After reviewing the St. Pete's Art Association today I decided that I don't see anything they are doing that we are not doing. I discussed this with the President of the Towles Court Association and the Treasurer. I do not think Towles Court would preside under a 'non-profit' premise, as we are, for profit. We don't do any outside volunteer program with young peole, we aren't education oriented, and we don't have a museum here to be part of our association. The only thing I could really see at this time that St. Pete has is the Trolley Car. I believe in the past Towles Court has used a Trolley Car in conjuction with other businesses in town to enable tourist to maneuver from one area to the next. Although Towles is pretty close to down town.
This does not mean that we are opposed to any ideas in the future. Towles Court is regrouping and making a strong come back. Several new galleries have opened within the last few months.

Let's keep the lines of communication open,

bev smith

and thanx for the motivation

[Richard Stewart]

I'm not sure where the non-profit aspect came from. All the galleries in the St. Pete group are regular, for-profit businesses. In Sarasota, I think that a group existing for the sole purpose of promoting the downtown art galleries, not teaching or anything else, would raise awareness of the city's status as an art destination. The printing of a brochure/map devoted strictly to art galleries would serve to bring more people into our galleries. It could be distributed up and down the coast, in hotels, restaurants and other places literature-hungry visitors gather. A website would provide information about all the member galleries and serve as the communications hub of the group. Group advertising would promote the Arts Walk to the benefit of all the members. The brochure map would list only art galleries. In that way it would be different from the current 48-page Shopping & Dining Guide "Discovering Downtown Sarasota," which also lists restaurants, boutiques, realty offices and other businesses in the area. The galleries get lost in that booklet. I'm just saying that a loosely formed association of galleries, with each contributing an affordable fee to finance the printing and advertising costs, could do a lot to introduce new prospective art buyers to what we offer. The common goal: getting more people into our galleries. Nothing more.