Pride in Arts
& Entertainment
Ask the Locals: Brian Craft
RYAN WILLIAMS-JENT As Director of Marketing and Communications for Realize Bradenton, the
nonprofi t which promotes redevelopment and growth through community
engagement, Brian Craft understands the value of the arts. The organization
oversees events like the Bradenton Blues Festival, Music in the Park, Bradenton Farmers’
Market, ArtSlam and more.
Craft, a Milwaukee, Wisc. native who’s lived in Sarasota
for five years, initially moved to the area on contract with
the Florida Studio Theatre. “I knew absolutely no one,” the
actor recalls. “I fell in love with Sarasota’s indisputable
support and love for the arts and its infectiously engaging
and welcoming community of artists.”
He channeled that love into work with community
theaters like the Manatee Performing Arts Center, Venice
Theatre and The Players Centre for the Performing Arts. He
also produced performances to benefit organizations like
the Trevor Project, which focuses on suicide prevention for
LGBTQ youth.
It was easy to do because Sarasota’s arts and
entertainment scene is full of inclusivity, unity and support,
he says, which only strengthens its quality. “I have heard
time and time again that patrons can’t tell the difference
in quality from the professional theaters to the community
theaters,” Craft explains. “Many theaters bring in
performers and artistic teams from larger talent pools, and
Sarasota is also very unique in that local talent is made up of
many seasoned professionals.”
Craft shares some of his favorite Arts & Entertainment
hotspots in Sarasota below. Check them out and be sure to
head to our Business Directory on page 30 for even more!
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