Spotlight On: Brian Hersh, CEO, Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

Key points:

• • Sarasota is expanding affordable workforce housing for artists, reinforcing its position as Florida’s Cultural Coast.
• • More than $2 million in grants is helping fuel dozens of arts projects across the county.
• • Local leaders are working to elevate Sarasota’s reputation as a national hub for artistic excellence.

June 2026 — Invest: spoke with Brian Hersh, CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, about the sector’s role as both an economic engine and a cornerstone of community identity. “Arts issues are community issues, and community issues are arts issues,” Hersh said.

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How is the Alliance embedding itself into the community to be an economic driver?

I always say that arts issues are community issues, and community issues are arts issues. Within the last few months, we’ve announced an initiative in affordable housing for the creative community. We are partnering with One Stop Housing to launch workforce housing for our creative community, with over 75 units for individual artists and employees of arts and culture organizations in Sarasota. That is probably one of the biggest things to happen within the last year. 

What’s really important when taking something like this on is building trust within the community. It takes both philanthropic and business support, so the fact that we’re able to put this forward demonstrates the community’s acknowledgement of the need and its desire to provide support.

How are your grant-making programs evolving, and what impact are they having on Sarasota’s cultural ecosystem?

Ultimately, these grants put Sarasota on the radar for people who might not otherwise know what’s thriving here. In partnership with Sarasota County, the grants support over 30 projects with more than $2 million allocated. What sets Sarasota apart is the breadth, depth, and range of its artistic excellence, and that’s why the support from these grants is unbelievably significant for not only the sector, but for the community.

What are the key objectives of the 2026 Arts Summit, and how will it shape the region’s cultural trajectory?

We see ourselves as a connector in the community by creating space to bring our stakeholders together and talk about the purpose of arts and culture. 

We focus on three areas: the arts and the economy, how the arts impact quality of life, and arts in education. For example, the superintendent from Sarasota County Schools will come and share what education looks like going forward, because if people live and work in a region, they want to make sure there is great public education.

This summit is also about reminding creators of their role and their importance in the region. The Summit provides an environment to learn from one another, be part of inspiring performances, and create a vibrant community. 

How is the Alliance addressing barriers such as affordable housing and livable wages for artists?

We want to make sure Sarasota is a home, not just a destination for artists. That is why we are stepping forward with initiatives like workforce housing.

We also need to address wages. When you go to a performance, you are seeing the result of hours and hours of work. Not just the performers, but the musicians, the people building the sets, the costumes, everything that goes into it.

The reality is that ticket prices do not cover the full cost, because we are looking at a lifetime of work that someone has put in. We have to look for other support networks. That is why the philanthropic community is so important.

We also need to demonstrate value. Research shows that people who engage in the arts live healthier lives. This is not just about economics; participating in the arts contributes to the quality of life and overall well-being.

What trends are shaping the arts landscape, and how is the Alliance adapting?

The human element is the most important factor. Arts bring people together in a shared space. That is something unique that cannot be replicated.

While there are hybrid elements, especially for unique performances, the focus is on what arts do best — human connection. There are opportunities to livestream or broadcast certain performances, particularly when they are rare or highly specialized, but the core value is still the in-person experience.

What are the most pressing challenges facing the sector, and how can organizations respond?

Funding is a challenge, and it does not always keep up with inflation. Our role is to advocate and maintain strong relationships with elected officials at every level. There are sometimes obstacles that are larger than us, so we need to take a long-term view. It is easy to be discouraged in the short term, but there are cycles, and we need to be patient.

Advocacy today requires a more thoughtful approach. Arts bring people together and create common ground, and there is more that we share in common than what divides us. That is an important focus.

What role does Sarasota’s arts sector play in the broader regional economy?

Sarasota is known as Florida’s Cultural Coast. If you are looking for arts and culture in this region, Sarasota has it all.

We have over 85 arts organizations, which is significant. There is no shortage of things to do. Arts and culture have always been a key sector in attracting visitors, and once people visit, they are more likely to move here.

Arts and culture play both an economic role and a quality-of-life role, and they are a key part of the region’s identity.

Looking ahead, what are your priorities for the next three to five years?

There is so much happening here, but a lot of it feels hidden. One of our goals is to increase recognition nationally and internationally, so Sarasota is seen as a home for artistic excellence.

Looking back, Sarasota was once a place where artists came to live and create. We want to be that place again. We want creative people to feel they can do their work here and build a life here.

We also need to get better at telling our story. There is incredible work happening, and we need to make sure people know about it. The goal is to support artists locally while also expanding awareness of Sarasota as a cultural hub.

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