Patron Saints: Joan Armour Mendell

The Observer’s video series, Patron Saints, features the “saints” of Sarasota who financially support area performing-arts organizations. These people make Sarasota the arts city it is. This week’s spotlighted venue is Asolo Repertory Theatre and the patron is Joan Armour Mendell.

Joan Armour Mendell donated Asolo Repertory Theatre’s scenic shop inside of the Koski Center, which gave the theater greater capability and space for building scenery; and it created more revenue for the organization because other national theaters and local arts organizations outsource their set building to Asolo Rep.

Mendell thinks arts are important because they enrich people. As a little girl she was taught to give her money and share. “No matter what you have, you have to give a little bit of what you have,” she says. 

Click here to view more patron saints videos.