AREA GUIDE / MUSEUMS, ARTS & EXHIBITS
Museums, Arts & Exhibits worth the trip
Museums, Arts & Exhibits across the Sarasota Gulf Coast — the full regional list, wherever it takes you.
Sarasota
The Ringling
Museum & Cultural CampusFlorida's state art museum and a 66-acre cultural campus with art, circus history, gardens, theater and the Ringling mansion.
Sarasota
Ca' d'Zan
Historic HomeThe Venetian Gothic mansion of John and Mable Ringling, located on The Ringling campus.
Sarasota
Circus Museum
MuseumMuseum devoted to circus history, including artifacts, railcars, costumes and the Howard Bros. miniature circus.
Downtown Sarasota
Sarasota Art Museum
Contemporary Art MuseumSarasota's contemporary art museum in the restored historic Sarasota High School complex.
Downtown Sarasota
Art Center Sarasota
Art Center & GalleryLong-running community art center offering rotating exhibitions, classes and events.
Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy
Art MuseumA playful museum celebrating colorful, imaginative and uplifting art in a distinctive setting.
East Sarasota
Big Cat Habitat Conservation and Education Center
Wildlife SanctuaryA nonprofit zoological sanctuary with more than 300 animals, educational presentations and reserved encounters.
Bradenton
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
Science & Natural History MuseumA regional science and natural-history museum featuring a planetarium, Florida history and a manatee rehabilitation habitat.
Bradenton
Florida Maritime Museum
Maritime MuseumA museum in historic Cortez preserving Florida Gulf Coast fishing, boatbuilding and maritime traditions.
East Sarasota
Myakka Elephant Ranch
Animal EncounterA reservation-based educational elephant experience focused on close observation and conservation learning.
Sarasota
Ringling College Galleries and Exhibitions
GallerySeven on-campus galleries at Ringling College with rotating student, faculty, alumni and visiting-artist exhibitions and events.
Venice
Venice Art Center
Art Center & GalleryCommunity art center with rotating exhibitions, public gallery access, classes and programs in Venice.