Van Wezel Family Backs Sarasota Performing Arts Center Initiative

A New Era for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center

The legacy of the Van Wezel family continues to shape the cultural landscape of Sarasota, as their grandchildren, Dr. Anthony (Tony) Van Wezel Stone and Katherine Van Wezel Stone, have announced their support for the upcoming Sarasota Performing Arts Center project. This initiative represents a significant step forward in the city’s commitment to fostering the arts and ensuring that future generations can benefit from the same cultural opportunities that defined the community for decades.

The project is part of a public-private partnership between the city of Sarasota and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, which was previously known as the Van Wezel Foundation. This collaboration aims to create a unified cultural campus that honors the original vision of Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel, who gifted the community with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall over 50 years ago.

Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, CEO of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, emphasized the importance of this new development. “More than 50 years ago, Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel gave Sarasota a gift that shaped its cultural identity,” she said. “Tony and Katherine are ensuring their family legacy lives on through a new, inclusive, and resilient Performing Arts Center built for the next century of creative excellence, with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall continuing as part of the cultural campus it inspired.”

Community Input Shapes the Project

Over the past year, the scope of the project has been refined based on input from the community, including the Van Wezel family, and feedback from a March 2025 City Commission meeting. The Foundation is now prepared to steward multiple venues as part of a unified cultural campus, where the updated Van Wezel Hall will continue to host artistic performances and educational opportunities.

The Van Wezel family expressed their appreciation for the evolving nature of the project, stating that the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will continue to serve the city as a venue for the arts in harmony with and alongside the new Performing Arts Center. This alignment reflects shared values centered on education, access, stewardship, and long-term community benefit.

“Our Grandfather and his wife, Eugenia, loved Sarasota and believed in the power of the arts to strengthen community and bring people together,” the family said. “After meeting with the Foundation, we are pleased that the Performing Arts Center project will build on their vision while ensuring our family’s legacy continues to serve our community.”

Concept 2.0 and Future Plans

The city of Sarasota and the Foundation are working to ensure the proposed Center meets the needs of the community and expect to share updated project concepts in the spring. Concept 2.0 relocates the new Performing Arts Center to the south side of the Centennial Park canal and aligns the cost and seating capacity to the original Request for Proposal issued in 2023.

The Van Wezel family will participate in upcoming community engagement efforts, including the Center Stage Conversations series, an informal event series open to the public about the Performing Arts Center project. These events aim to foster dialogue and ensure that the voices of the community are heard throughout the planning process.

Castroverde Moskalenko expressed her gratitude for the support of Tony, his wife Sandra, and Katherine. “We are deeply thankful to Tony, his wife Sandra, and Katherine for thoughtful, productive conversations rooted in shared values and mutual respect,” she said. “Their support reflects a shared belief in honoring our legacies while embracing our future.”

Looking Ahead

As the Sarasota Performing Arts Center moves forward, the goal is to create a space that not only honors the past but also inspires the future. With the continued support of the Van Wezel family and the broader community, the project is poised to become a cornerstone of cultural life in Sarasota for generations to come.

For more information about the Sarasota Performing Arts Center project and upcoming events, visit PerformingArtsFoundation.org.