The Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to support the annual Ringling International Arts Festivals (RIAF), a gathering of world-renowned artists, actors, dancers and musicians.
Each October, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the Baryshnikov Arts Center of New York will again team up to bring a breathtaking array of performers and creators to the Ringling grounds along Sarasota Bay. RIAF took place from October 11-16 in 2011 and will take place around the same time in 2012. Check back for dates and details in the coming months!
Circus great John Ringling and his wife Mable made Sarasota their home during the winters of the 1920s. In 1931, construction was completed on the Museum of Art. When Ringling passed away in 1936, he left the museum to the people of Florida in hopes that art could be used as a form of education for all. His contribution and legacy helped earn Sarasota its reputation as a cultural destination.
The Baryshnikov Arts Center, located in Manhattan, is a performance space and laboratory for dancers and other artists from around the world. Established in 2005 and incorporating the Baryshnikov Dance Foundation founded by Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1979, the center strives to bring contemporary and original art to the public for little or no cost.
At RIAF, these powerful creative forces come together to bring those in Sarasota five days of innovative art in all forms. Single performance tickets range from $10-$30 and Festival Passes are also available. For a preview and to purchase tickets, visit www.ringlingartsfestival.org or call the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office at (941) 360-7399.
RIAF now runs concurrently with Festival sARTée, a celebration of visual and performing events that spans several weeks and features events all across Sarasota and Manatee counties. For more information, read on here: http://www.sarasotafl.org/article/festival-sartee-a-celebration-of-the-arts.
