DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF CREATIVITY AT SUNCOAST BLACK ARTS COLLABORATIVE ART GALLERY

  Under the founder and leadership of Michele Redwine, Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative was formed in 2018 with a small group of like-minded friends interested in advancing greater exposure to artists of African descent who were not represented in museums or galleries in the Suncoast.  The early achievements and programming hosted:

• Art Salon with Victoria L. Valentine, Founder and Editor of Culture Type (culturetype.com); a very innovative and important website supporting the works of African American artists.
• Reception for photographic artist, Carrie Mae Weems;
• Primary sponsor for the reception and exhibition of works by the artist Charles      Williams, February 2, 2019, at The Polk Museum in Lakeland, Florida;
• Co-sponsored the reception and talk by visionary artist Bill T. Jones in conjunction with The Hermitage Artist Retreat;
• Art Salon with speaker Nigel Freeman, Director of Swann Auction Galleries, New York  - the largest auction house for African American Fine Art;
• Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative was credited with bringing together Pamela      Joyner, ‘activist’ collector and champion of artists of African descent and Nigel Freeman, Director of Swann Auction Galleries for a collaborative Art Salon held by the Sarasota Art Museum;
• Lead sponsor for Atlanta artist Horace Impotem with Art Center Sarasota.      Collaborated with The Association for the Study of African American Life      and History )ASALH);
• Co-sponsored the 2020 ASALH Black MUSE hosting an evening for twelve seasoned artists in a juried exhibition. The event attracted over 300 guests.        Arranged for four of the artists to visit Sarasota high schools.

Recognized in 2021 by Sarasota Magazine as “The Best Organization in Sarasota County promoting and advocating for Diversity in the arts.”

Since 2021 the organization has created a movement in Sarasota/Manatee Counties with unique value propositions and a track record advocating for artists of African descent and art education for under-represented youth. 

• Five major events in the Arts and Racial Justice Discovery Series – Arts as an      Education and Communication Tool. (2020 to 2023)
• Syllabus of Color – Visual arts education in under-represented cultural communities. (2021 to 2024)
• Cultural      Arts in Motion – Arts organizations collaboration celebrating music,      dance, theatre and visual arts for under-representative youth and families. (2024)
• Four consecutive years advancing exhibition opportunities in galleries for emerging college students, generational, and professional artists in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The 2023 Visions in Black annual juried exhibition hosted A 3-part gallery collaboration and crosspollination featuring 54 generational and professional artists of African descent from Tallahassee to Maimi exhibiting 98 artworks.  This ground swell of artists and hundreds of viewers who experienced the exhibitions and artists talks creates a passage for SBAC to construct Beyond  Regional Boundaries inspiring a new vision for the Suncoast.