The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the former Sarasota High School.
The project was initiated by a group of local citizens who formed the Sarasota Museum of Art in 2003.
The interior renovation preserved original architectural details like the high school's original auditorium and staircases.
The museum serves as an extension of the Ringling College of Art and Design campus.
The site includes a bistro named Bistro, located in the original high school cafeteria space.
The Sarasota Art Museum is a contemporary art institution housed within the repurposed 1926 Sarasota High School building. It functions as a non-collecting museum, focusing exclusively on rotating exhibitions, site-specific installations, and contemporary commissions. The design integrates the historic Collegiate Gothic architecture of the original school with a modern glass and steel pavilion. It serves as an educational division of Ringling College of Art and Design. The site features the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza for outdoor installations and a curated bistro. Exhibition spaces span several floors within the renovated classrooms and gymnasiums.
The glass-enclosed outdoor courtyard staircase against the original historic masonry facade.
Visit the sculpture garden in the central courtyard for large-scale outdoor installations.
Check the online exhibition schedule before arrival as the non-collecting format means displays change frequently.
Dine at the on-site bistro to see the contrast between the historic school architecture and modern design.
Do not mistake it for the nearby Ringling Museum, which is a separate institution with a different focus.
Closed on certain major holidays; check for temporary closures between major exhibition rotations.
Photography is permitted for personal use without flash; food and drink are restricted to designated cafe areas.
