SARASOTA – An Oak Park teacher uses his class to teach special needs students more than just how to sing and dance. They’re learning academic and life skills. “Best teacher on Earth,” Mr. Shane’s student, Caleb F. said.He’s talking about Mr. Shane Swezey, an Oak Park School teacher who is the

The Van Wezel Foundation has appointed Tracey Long Beeker as its new director of communications and community engagement. In her new role, Beeker will be responsible for informing and engaging audiences to learn about and take part in the foundation’s mission to enrich the lives of children through the performing

The Van Wezel foundation seeks to create an elevated experience for the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center By Annette Gutierrez, SNN TV SARASOTA – The master plan calls for a new hall to sit on stilts. What is a parking lot now, will soon become a Bayfront park with, what

by: David Conway Deputy Managing Editor, Your Observer Plans for a new bayfront performing arts center include a 2,250-seat main hall, but details on cost estimates are still forthcoming. Eighteen months ago, representatives for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Van Wezel Foundation announced their intention to pursue

Sarasota City Commission also approved the basic elements to a new district that would help pay for The Bay project Conceptual designs for the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center call for a three-story single structure on stilts that can accommodate approximately 200 parking spaces underneath and could help to protect

The Van Wezel Foundation is thrilled to announce that it will launch its 2020 season with a matching campaign, thanks to the generosity of the James and Maryann Armour Family Foundation. The Armours will match each new donation dollar for dollar up to $25,000 in support of the Van Wezel

The Van Wezel Foundation is thrilled to announce that it will launch its 2020 season with a matching campaign, thanks to the generosity of the James and Maryann Armour Family Foundation. The Armours will match each new donation dollar for dollar up to $25,000 in support of the Van Wezel

Involvement in the arts is a long-running thread throughout the Sarasota area community, and support for arts education programs is crucial to keeping that involvement healthy. One of the biggest supporters: the Van Wezel Foundation, which just announced that it provided grant support of more than $600,000 to underwrite arts

With the purple cow put out to pasture,  all eyes turn toward its effective replacement, The Sarasota Performing Arts Center, and the woman placed at its helm, Van Wezel Foundation CEO Cheryl Mendelson. Former executive vice president with the Harris Theatre in Chicago, Mendelson brings “the speed of the east coast

The Van Wezel Foundation announced expansion of its board of directors and the election of chair Jim Travers. This new leadership sets the stage for the Foundation as it enters a new chapter and extends its mission: to create a world-class performing arts center that enriches the community, supports arts