Sarasota arts venues play it safe

Hurricane Helene had wreaked havoc on Sarasota’s barrier islands the day before, but all seemed in order on Friday, Sept. 27,  at Holley Hall, where the Stiletto Brass was scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m.

However, at 6:30 p.m., ticket holders received an unexpected email: The much-anticipated concert of the female quintet, which was to be accompanied by Bradenton virtuoso trumpeter Vince DiMartino, was canceled.

The email from Robyn Bell, music director of the Pops Orchestra, the show’s sponsor, explained the power had gone out at Holley Hall. “Your Pops Orchestra Team is waiting at Holley Hall just in case you didn’t get this email,” the missive read. “We love you all and are so sorry we didn’t get to relax with wonderful music tonight.”

For Sarasota arts organizations and their patrons, Hurricane Helene brought mostly disappointment, not devastation. The exceptions were those cultural venues with waterfront exposure, such as Marie Selby Gardens Botanical Gardens downtown, Selby’s Spanish Point campus in Osprey, and John Ringling’s historic C’a d’Zan on the grounds of The Ringling at 5401 Bay Shore Road.

The 36,000-square-foot mansion, built by the circus magnate in 1926, sustained flooding to its basement and damage to tiles on its waterside terrace. Owned by Florida State University after being left to the state’s citizens in Ringling’s will, the chateau is closed to the public and all tours are suspended until repairs can be made.

The rest of the Ringling complex, including the John and Mable Art Museum and the Tibbals Learning Center and Circus Museum, remained open to the public last week.

Parts of Selby Gardens’ downtown campus near its waterfront mangroves were cordoned off after Hurricane Helene, but the facility was able to open its 2024 Orchid Show, titled “Purple!” to the public on Saturday, Oct. 4.

At Spanish Point, a seawall collapsed and a small bridge was damaged. Its annual “Lights at Spooky Point” exhibition, originally set to open Oct. 9, is now scheduled to go live on Oct. 12. That is, if Hurricane Milton doesn’t get in the way.

By the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 6, some Sarasota arts groups were playing it safe and announcing closures ahead of the hurricane heading toward the Tampa Bay area.

The Sarasota Art Museum will close from Monday, Oct. 7, through Friday, Oct. 11, out of “an abundance of caution for the approaching tropical storm.”

The Sarasota Ballet announced plans to reschedule the 100th anniversary tour of the Martha Graham Dance Company scheduled for Oct. 11-13 at FSU Performing Arts Center.

More closures and cancellations are sure to follow as the track and force of the storm become apparent.

Even if you don’t receive emails or texts with cancellation or closure notices, arts patrons are still advised to check websites or telephone to find out whether their destination is open or a performance is still happening.

It goes without saying that ticket holders should stay home if they have to travel through dangerous conditions to reach a performance or an exhibition. The arts bring joy, but they are not worth risking one's life for.