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Art Community Mobilizes Against New College's Land Transfer Plans
A coalition of artists, alumni from the University of South Florida (USF), and local leaders is rallying together in Sarasota to oppose a controversial plan that aims to transfer valuable land to New College of Florida. This land, a crucial part of the local cultural landscape, hosts significant institutions such as The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.
Concerns Over Transparency and Management
At a recent gathering attended by about 300 individuals, former board chair of The Ringling Museum, Nancy Parrish, voiced fears about what the hidden agenda of state politicians might be. With an alarming lack of communication from Florida lawmakers and no formal documentation surrounding the proposed real estate deal, community members are left questioning the implications of such a transfer.
“The community is up in arms at this proposed transfer of The Ringling Museum of Art and USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College,” Parrish said. Her concerns underscore that New College, which currently has about 750 students, lacks the infrastructure to manage complex academic and cultural institutions.
A Call to Action
The coalition is urging local residents to vocalize their objections to the plans by contacting their legislators—an action seen as essential to protecting this vital coastal corridor. Instead of yielding to pressures behind closed doors, they are focused on preserving the legacies of their beloved cultural institutions, which have been effectively managed by Florida State University for over twenty years.
As discussions progress and the Florida state budget comes into focus with this contentious issue on the agenda, the art community stands firmly united, ready to protect its cultural heritage. The time is now for citizens to raise their voices against what many perceive as an unprecedented land grab—one that has put the future of Sarasota's rich artistic landscape at risk.
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