Woman’s Exchange Awards $20,000 Grant to Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County’s InspireSarasota!

Woman’s Exchange Awards $20,000 Grant to Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County’s InspireSarasota!

Sarasota, FL – The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County has received a $20,000 grant from
the Woman’s Exchange to support the 2017 InspireSarasota!, a 12-day long celebration of our
community’s arts and culture held from October 23 – November 4, 2017.
“The Alliance is grateful for the tremendous support provided by the Woman’s Exchange. They are truly
outstanding community partners who appreciate and treasure the area’s arts and culture just as much as we do,” said Jim Shirley, Executive Director of the Alliance.

The official kick-off event for InspireSarasota! was the Alliance’s annual free, open to the public
Celebration of the Arts event held on October 23, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
Hosted by Alliance Executive Director, Jim Shirley the evening brought together the community to
recognize grant recipients and leading advocates for arts and culture. Guests were also treated to special
performances by Choral Artists of Sarasota, Michael Mendez, The Circus Arts Conservatory’s Sailor
Circus, and Venice Theatre. Following the on-stage ceremony, a complimentary wine and dessert
reception was held in the grand foyer.

The Alliance also held The Arts Mean Business Luncheon, a partnership event on October 26, 2017 at
11:30 a.m. at Michael’s On East, between the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County and the
Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County. Regional statistics were reported demonstrating the outcome of the Arts & Economic Prosperity V Study to the community. Featured speaker was Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research and Policy for Americans for the Arts. A panel included Jeff Hazelton, CTO of Sharecare Reality Lab, and Jennifer Putnam, Coldwell Banker Regional Vice President. The luncheon was a part of the 12-day InspireSarasota!.

Up next and culminating the 2017 InspireSarasota! is the InspireSarasota! Festival on November 4, 2017
from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota. The festival will feature
performances by youth and cultural groups, booths with information from arts and cultural organizations on their upcoming seasons, a free book give-a-way for children, food, activities for all ages, and more.

For more information on InspireSarasota! and partnering events, please go to:
https://sarasotaarts.org/programs/inspiresarasota/2017-inspiresarasota-events/
For more information on the InspireSarasota! Festival, please go to:

2017 InspireSarasota! Festival

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The Arts and Cultural Alliance is a member-powered organization that serves as an advocate for arts and culture in Sarasota County. Founded in 1986 by a group of committed citizens, the Alliance has administered more than $20 million in grants to area artists and arts organizations. The
Alliance works to ensure arts and culture remain essential to the continuing development of a vibrant, creative community. This is achieved through arts advocacy, education and community outreach. For more information about how you can join the Arts and Cultural Alliance, please visit our
website at www.sarasotaarts.org or call (941) 365-5118, extension 313.