SPAACES Foundation, Inc.

About

SPAACES envisions Sarasota as a recognized destination for contemporary visual art and creative innovation. As a unique artistic microcosm, SPAACES operates from an industrial space just northeast of downtown Sarasota that includes affordable art studios and a professional exhibition venue. The gallery presents museum-quality exhibitions and dynamic opening night events that bring the community together around contemporary art and dialogue. SPAACES delivers its mission through four core programs:

1. The Art Studio Program, which offers below-market-rate studios to local artists, fostering professional development and community through peer support and public studio tours;
2. The Contemporary Visual Arts (CVA) Program, which features experimental work by regional and national artists and generates income through equitable sales commissions;
3. The Research and Lecture Program, which invites artists, curators, historians, and critics to share their practices and ideas with the Sarasota community; and
4. The Community Art Program, which partners with neighborhoods—particularly underserved and minority communities—on collaborative art projects and provides space for civic gatherings like the Park East Neighborhood Association Board meetings.

SPAACES is especially committed to addressing gender inequality in the arts, reserving at least 70% of its studios and exhibition slots for women artists. All of its current studio artists are women, and the majority of exhibiting artists identify as women. The organization also runs an Adjusted Rate Studio Program, offering income-based rental rates to ensure access for low-income professional artists. SPAACES believes that the arts play a critical role in community well-being, cultural literacy, and creative expression. By supporting working artists, fostering dialogue through contemporary exhibitions, and building bridges between neighborhoods and the arts, SPAACES is helping position Sarasota as a thriving, inclusive center for contemporary visual art.