Learn

Program Guide

Weekly Programs

Highlights Tour

Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 12 pm

Your Wednesday Playdate

Wednesdays 10 am-12 pm

Free Second Sundays

Second Sundays 11 am–5 pm

Quick Links

Performances and More

Movement

All programs by date

Events

Art on Film

Put the art world in focus with Art on Film at SAM. Join us for award-winning documentaries, short films, and biopics that highlight some of our favorite artists, reveal untold histories, and explore what it takes to make it as an artist today. Each screening will include opportunities for discussion and connection among audience members.

• Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 2 pm

• Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 2 pm

• Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 2 pm

• Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 2 pm

• Tuesday, January 26, 2027 | 2 pm

• Tuesday, February 23, 2027 | 2 pm

• Thursday, March 25, 2027 | 2 pm

• Thursday, April 22, 2027 | 2 pm

• Thursday, May 27, 2027 | 2 pm

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Bistro Pop-Up Nights

Enjoy an after-hours gallery tour and a 4-course dinner.

Dinner reservations are available for 6:30 pm. Private tour will begin one hour prior to dinner, at 5:30 pm.

• Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Wednesday, January 6, 2027 | 5:30 pm

• Wednesday, February 3, 2027 | 5:30 pm

• Wednesday, March 3, 2027 | 5:30 pm

• Wednesday, April 7, 2027 | 5:30 pm

• Wednesday, May 5, 2027 | 5:30 pm

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Uncorked

Celebrate the art of wine at Uncorked, SAM’s monthly wine tasting series. Each event features six exciting wines paired with gourmet cheeses, followed by a guided presentation led by 99 Bottles Owner Mark Tuchman.

• Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Tuesday, November 17, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Tuesday, January 12, 2027 | 5:30 pm

• Tuesday, February 9, 2027 | 5:30 pm

• Tuesday, March 9, 2027 | 5:30 pm

• Tuesday, April 13, 2027 | 5:30 pm

Cocktails + Culture

Discover the art of craft cocktails at these intimate demonstrations and tastings led by Spirits Educator, Mixologist, and Owner of N8 Hospitality, Brad Coburn. Enjoy light bites and two artful cocktails inspired by the global influences behind SAM’s exhibition Chie Fueki: Painting the Floating World. Additional beverages will be available for purchase.

• Monday, November 2, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Monday, March 1, 2027 | 5:30 pm

Inside the Art World

Meet in the Wendy G. Surkis & Peppi Elona Lobby
Sarasota Art Museum

Join art appraiser and advisor Elana Rubinfeld as we discuss the latest art world news, trends and gossip. You’ll gain an enriched perspective on the narratives shaping today’s artistic landscape with discussions that promise to be both enlightening and informal. Your presence and insights will be a major contribution to the vibrant tapestry of our discourse.

• Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 11 am

• Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | 11 am

• Tuesday, January 5, 2027 | 11 am

• Tuesday, February 9, 2027 | 11 am

• Tuesday, March 9, 2027 | 11 am

• Tuesday, April 6, 2027 | 11 am

• Tuesday, May 4, 2027 | 11 am

Museum Architecture Walking Tour

Meet in the Wendy G. Surkis & Peppi Elona Lobby
Sarasota Art Museum

Explore the iconic architecture around the Sarasota Art Museum campus in this walking tour led by Public Programs Coordinator Ella McIver.

• Monday, November 16, 2026 | 1 pm

• Monday, December 14, 2026 | 1 pm

• Monday, January 18, 2027 | 1 pm

• Monday, February 15, 2027 | 1 pm

• Monday, March 15, 2027 | 1 pm

• Monday, April 12, 2027 | 1 pm

• Monday, May 10, 2027 | 1 pm

Art at Noon

Meet in the Wendy G. Surkis & Peppi Elona Lobby
Sarasota Art Museum
Third Tuesdays | Noon

Come enjoy discussions with specialists and artists covering a variety topics related to Sarasota Art Museum’s exhibitions, architecture, and areas of interest.

• Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 12 pm

• Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 12 pm

• Tuesday, November 17, 2026 | 12 pm

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Quotable Talks

Thomas McGuire Hall
Sarasota Art Museum

Get inspired. Be empowered. Become quotable.

Sarasota Art Museum presents an inspiring lineup of great writers with great stories to tell through its annual author series. Hear directly from authors, artists, and contemporary creatives who are sparking new ways of thinking about art, culture, and creative practices. For those who appreciate remarkable creativity, a pioneering spirit, or are in search of inspiration, we invite you to join us and become quotable.

Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 1 pm

This Is Not a Book Club!

Explore the intersection of art and literature at This Is Not a Book Club! Moderated by Certified Art Appraiser Elana Rubinfeld, each gathering will dive into one new release or art world classic – offering in-depth insights into the people, places, and ideas that shape contemporary art, and illuminating your understanding of this complex and entertaining universe.

• Tuesday, January 12, 2027 – Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees, By Lawrence Weschler

• Tuesday, March 23, 2027 – Night Studio, By Musa Mayer

• Tuesday, May 11, 2027 – The Future of the Art World: 38 Dialogues, By Andras Szanto

Mindfulness and Art:
A Collaboration of the Senses

Slow down, breathe, and experience art in a whole new way. In this four-part series, explore how mindfulness can transform the way you look at and engage with contemporary art. Each session begins with a brief introduction in the classroom, followed by a guided visit to the galleries, and ends with time for reflection and conversation.

• Thursday, February 4, 2027 | Seeing Beyond the First Glance

• Thursday, March 4, 2027 | Engaging the Five Senses

• Thursday, April 1, 2027 | Contemplation as a Creative Practice

• Thursday, May 6, 2027 | Finding Your Story in the Art

Performances and More

Jazz Thursday

Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza
Sarasota Art Museum
Second Thursdays | 5:30–8 pm

Join us for live jazz at Sarasota Art Museum, hosted by the Jazz Club of Sarasota, with extended hours in the galleries, Bistro, and SHOP!

• Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 5:30 pm

• Thursday, December 17, 2026 | 5:30 pm

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After Hours

Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza
Sarasota Art Museum
Last Tuesday | 5:30–7:30 pm

Join us on the last Tuesday of the month for live music and dancing, with extended hours in the galleries, Bistro, and SHOP! Each month features a different musical genre and style, so you can listen to new sounds and learn new moves. Relax and just enjoy the music, or join in on the dance floor!

• Tuesday, November 24, 2026 | Motown Hits

• Tuesday, January 26, 2027 | Country Line Dancing

• Tuesday, March 30, 2027 | Latin and Salsa Dancing

Movement

Move Through

In The Galleries
Sarasota Art Museum

Join us for a joyful hour of movement and human connection. This class will invite close looking and a deeper exploration of the art on view in SAM’s galleries through creative expression.