RINGLING’S “ART OF OUR TIME” INITIATIVE TO TRANSFORM FLORIDA’S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
Sarasota, FL —Oct. 13, 2012 — With yet another enthusiastically attended Ringling International Arts Festival wrapping up, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art announced today the 2012-13 Art of Our Time season, which is supported by a $50,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The third year of the initiative will feature three art exhibitions, 100 stage performances and 40 film screenings. All the works presented are by leading contemporary artists from around the U.S. and world. The Museum anticipates reaching 185,000 patrons and estimates generating more than half-a-million in revenues for these programs and exhibitions.
“As a result of Gulf Coast’s strategic investment and our broad range of partnerships with arts organizations, museums, and academia around the state and country, the Ringling Museum has produced its most ambitious ‘Art of Our Time’ season to date,” said Steven High, executive director for The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. “This collective of the ‘Art of Our Time’ aims to change the cultural landscape of Florida by creating a deeper awareness and engagement for Museum patrons with living artists transforming the visual and performative arts. It also represents a wonderful opportunity to enhance our appeal with our youth, building on the highly successful ‘Beyond Bling: Voices in Hip Hop and Art’ exhibition last year.”
On the final day of the 2012 Ringling International Arts Festival (Sat. Oct. 13), Dwight Currie, Associate Director of Exhibitions and Programs, and Dr. Matthew McLendon, curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, shared Art of Our Time: A Look Ahead in the Johnson-Blalock Education Center. They previewed the New Art, New Artists, New Collections and New Stages coming to the Ringling Museum in 2012-13. The highlights include the presentation of The Artists of Our Time from The Hermitage Artist Retreat; New Stages: Narrative in Motion; and Summer Circus Spectacular, a partnership with Circus Sarasota in the Historic Asolo Theater. In the Museum of Art galleries, the schedule includes special exhibitions, such as The Warren J. and Margot Coville Photography Collection; Herb Ritts: L.A. Style; and Sarasota in the Age of the American Moderns.
"One of Gulf Coast's priorities is better leveraging and coordinating the arts to benefit both our region's economy and its cultural life," said Teri A Hansen, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. "This ambitious effort to bring contemporary and emerging artists to our State Museum of Art fits perfectly. Not only will the Ringling Museum's 'Art of Our Time' provide an economic impact, but it will also give members of our community cultural opportunities we have never had before."
The 2012-2013 Art of Our Time partners include Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Baryshnikov Arts Center, RIAF sponsors, Hermitage Artist Retreat, MAPP International Productions, Circle of Eleven, National Dance Project/New England Foundation of the Arts, Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography, J. Paul Getty Museum, Brooklyn Museum, and Circus Sarasota. The Museum is also working closely with academic circles and local organizations to make the programming affordable and accessible to students and members of the community. The organizations include, but are not limited to, Florida State University, New College of Florida, Ringling College of Art and Design, University of South Florida, State College of Florida, and the Sarasota/Manatee Dance Alliance.
The Ringling’s Art of Our Time launched in 2009 with the inaugural Ringling International Arts Festival. It showcases contemporary visual and performing art by artists that are profoundly influencing culture. Art of Our Time features the Museum’s on-going presentation of its permanent contemporary art collection, including Joseph’s Coat, the largest Skyspace created by internationally renowned artist, James Turrell. It also includes a rotation of special exhibitions, lectures, films, literature and performing arts, such as music, dance and theater.
“The presentation of contemporary art at the Ringling dates back to its first executive director, A. Everett Chick Austin, Jr., who helped transformed the arts in America in the twentieth century and the Museum with the addition of the Historic Asolo Theater and Circus Museum in the late 1940s,” noted High. “Chick advocated that, ‘the function of a museum is more than merely showing pictures….it is the place to integrate the arts and bring them alive.’ The Ringling Museum is building on his legacy and that of John and Mable Ringling. With the ‘Art of Our Time,’ we hope to enrich our community through the exploration of rich ideas and art forms at play today and in the future.”
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About The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation. It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Ca’ d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Historic Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.
About Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Together with our donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation transforms our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Gulf Coast is a public charity that was created in late 1995. Since we began making grants in 1996, we have funded more than $124 million in the areas of arts and culture, health and human services, education, civic affairs, and the environment. Gulf Coast is the largest community foundation in Florida.