Sarasota Museum of Art Holds Annual Directors Meeting

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SARASOTA MUSEUM OF ART (SMOA) ANNUAL DIRECTORS MEETING
Year Reviewed, Incumbents to Serve Second Term

Sarasota, FL– Sarasota Museum of Art spokesperson and President, Wendy Surkis, announced today that the recent annual Board of Directors meeting for the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum resulted in a re-election of all officers and directors to a second term. The election extends Surkis’ term as President, Dottie Baer Garner will continue as Vice President, Irene Kauffman will serve another year as Secretary and Peppi Elona will again perform the task of Treasurer. Continuing to serve on the Board of Directors are Linda and Dick Dickinson, Robert Garner, Tom Germain, William Hartman, Mark Kauffman, Elaine and Ed Keating, Liz and David Kruidenier, John Meyer, and John Wilkes.

At the annual meeting the group also reviewed its myriad accomplishments and progress toward opening the doors of Sarasota’s first museum to focus on modern and contemporary art. “This has been a remarkable and exciting year for us,” said Surkis. “We truly went from a whisper of an idea, a dream really, to what is going to be one of Sarasota’s most treasured cultural and educational assets.”

In a collaborative effort, SMOA joined forces with the Ringling School of Art and Design (RSAD) to establish the Visual Arts Education Center. Last October, the Sarasota County School Board voted unanimously to award the historic and currently vacant 1926 Collegiate Gothic-style Sarasota High School building to SMOA and RSAD. “Our plan is to restore the building’s façade to its original design and re-adapt the interior space to house the Museum on the first floor with the second and third floors reserved for RSAD’s ever growing need for classroom and studio space,” explained Surkis. The site will establish RSAD’s south campus.

John Belle, noted architect and driving force behind the incredible renovation of Ellis Island from a dilapidated eyesore to the extraordinary National Museum of Immigration, visited Sarasota in May to offer the RSAD Class of 2005 commencement words of encouragement and wisdom. At a luncheon for SMOA/RSAD project supporters, Belle shared his insight on the project. “It’s going to be hard—-but you’ll be leaving a legacy for the community. You need to take the risk and do it,” he emphasized.

About Sarasota Museum of Art

Fifty years ago, Sarasota was Florida’s visual arts center. Today, while widely considered the “Cultural Capital of Florida,” the city’s strength is concentrated in the performing arts. In January 2004, the Sarasota Museum of Art Founding Committee was formed with a vision


to strive to regain Sarasota’s reputation as a visual arts destination and a mission to “exhibit, collect and preserve Modern and Contemporary art works of the highest quality; serve as an aesthetic, intellectual and educational asset to the community; and create a lasting legacy of cultural richness for the future of Sarasota.”

For more information about how to become more involved with SMOA, contact Wendy Surkis at 941-309-4729.

Financial Impact on Sarasota County

According to a report conducted by the organization Americans for the Arts, the economic impact to Sarasota County from the nonprofit arts industry was $122.9 million in 2002. The Arts provided 2,956 full-time jobs, $83.6 million in resident household income, $5.6 million in local government tax revenues and $9 million in state government tax revenues. Each attendee spent an average of $34.29 for ancillary items such as parking, refreshments, restaurants, hotels and souvenirs, etc. The report reinforces the idea that, when a community attracts cultural tourists, it stands to gain significant economic rewards.

In a report about the economic effect of non-profit arts organizations and their audiences funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and American Express, Ken Fergeson, president of the American Bankers Association said, “As Chairman of the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce, I have visited almost every city and town in the state. There are visible differences in places with an active cultural community. I see people looking for places to park, stores staying open late, and restaurants packed with customers. The business day is extended and the cash registers are ringing.” Art means business.



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