Arts Advocates Announces December 2025 Events

Arts Advocates is pleased to announce its schedule of December events, which includes a tour of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe on December 2; a Van Wezel tour on December 8; and Gilded: The New Icons exhibit by Alicia Brown and Elisabeth Trostli. Unless otherwise indicated, registration is required at ArtsAdvocates.org.

Arts Advocates offers a unique tour of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe on December 2, 10:00 a.m. to noon. The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) has been entertaining audiences for 25 years under its founder, Nate Jacobs. On this tour, Jacobs and WBTT’s executive director, Julie Leach, present a Q & A. A short film about the theatre will be viewed, followed by a tour of the backstage and theater building. One of WBBT’s talented singers will perform for the group. Tickets are $25 for Arts Advocates members and $28 for nonmembers; registration closes November 24.

The Arts Advocates Gallery, located in the Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, hosts monthly exhibits by member artists. Shows run from the first Saturday to the last Saturday of each month. Gilded: The New Icons features the works of Alicia Brown and Elisabeth Trostli, from December 6-27, Saturdays only from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Drawing inspiration from Renaissance, Baroque, and Pre-Raphaelite traditions, Brown, through oil painting, and Trostli, through digital collage, explore how history, culture, and personal narratives shape the way women are portrayed in art. While their mediums differ, their works converge in reimagining contemporary icons of diversity and inclusivity. Every Saturday there will be an informative talk by one of the artists. Admission is free; registration is not required.

The Behind the Curtain: Exploring the Van Wezel from the Art to the Stage tour takes place on December 8 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. The art in the Van Wezel, 777 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, was created by noted Florida artists and is part of the Arts Advocates collection. A docent leads a tour of the paintings and sculptures including those by Robert Chase, William Hartman, Eugene White, Ben Stahl, Thornton Utz, Frank Colson, and others. Participants then step onto the stage where a Van Wezel guide shares stories and anecdotes about the colorful world of show business. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at the Van Wezel box office or by calling (941) 263-6799. Presented in partnership with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, proceeds benefit the education/outreach programs of Arts Advocates and the Van Wezel.

The Arts Advocates’ collection of Sarasota Art Colony and Florida Highwaymen works is on permanent display in the Arts Advocates Gallery, which is open every Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. Free docent-guided tours are available for gallery visitors who wish to learn more about the art and written information is available for self-guided tours.

To learn more about or become a member of Arts Advocates, or to register for events, visit ArtsAdvocates.org.