Sarasota, FL – October 5, 2020 – The Sarasota Art Museum ofRingling College of Art and Design is pleased to announce the relaunching of the monthly Pay What You Can (PWYC) day at the Sarasota Art Museum and the hiring of multilingual Visitor Experience Associates (VEAs) and to enhance diversity and inclusion training to offer an enriching experience for all museum guests.
Through the support of Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, PWYC day will begin again on Sunday, January 3rd and every first Sunday thereafter, providing friends and family from the community, the region, and around the world with equitable access to the resources of the Sarasota Art Museum to gather, learn, be inspired by, and experience the power of art to transform society.
The Museum will expand the Visitor Experience Associate team to include multilingual VEAs, and they will receive a comprehensive training program designed to create experiences of inclusion that both serve our broader diverse community and create entry-level positions toward potential new careers paths. The Museum will seek input from leaders in under-served communities to help maximize this program’s impact.
“We are honored to partner with Barancik Foundation to expand access within our community to the humanizing influence of the arts,” said Larry R. Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design. “This grant will not only enable more families and visitors to experience the reflection and discovery that comes with a visit to the Sarasota Art Museum, but also provide a workforce initiative focused on early career path training and arts-related job opportunities for our community. We are so thankful to the Barancik Foundation and look forward to launching this program.”
“Museums are wasted spaces if they do not represent and serve the entire community they exist in,” says Teri A Hansen, President | CEO of Barancik Foundation. “Our Board saw an opportunity to not only help families overcome barriers to access, but also create more meaningful experiences.”
Beginning on October 1, the Ringling College Museum Campus, including the new Bistro, the Shop, and the Grounds will be open to the public. Museum members will have exclusive access to the exhibitions from October 1 to October 15. Although no reservation will be required, members will need to show their Museum membership card to gain entry. After October 16, the exhibition galleries will be open to all.
About Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
The Charles and Margery Barancik family has long believed in the power of philanthropy to shape our world and enrich the lives of all people. It was the expression of this belief that led them in 2014 to establish the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation—a private, family foundation located in Sarasota, Florida. The Barancik Foundation creates initiatives and awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical research. VisitBarancikFoundation.org to learn more.
About Sarasota Art Museum
The Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design is a resource for learning about global art discourse and deepening appreciation for 20th and 21st century art and artists through exhibition gallery spaces, an auditorium, an outdoor sculpture garden, and extensive grounds for performance, sculpture, and gatherings. The Sarasota Art Museum is an ideal “third space” for friends and family from the community, the region, and around the world to gather, learn, be inspired, and experience the power of art to transform society. Learn more athttps://www.sarasotaartmuseum.org
About Ringling College of Art and Design
Since 1931, Ringling College of Art and Design has cultivated the creative spirit in
students from around the globe. The private, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offers
the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in twelve disciplines and the Bachelor of Arts in two.
The College’s rigorous curriculum employs the studio model of teaching and
immediately engages students through a comprehensive program that is both specific to
the major of study and focused on the liberal arts. The Ringling College teaching model
ultimately shapes students into highly employable and globally aware artists and
designers. For more information, please visit www.ringling.edu.