Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/180498
Sarasota News Leader September 27, 2013 Page 50 Patterson said it was unrealistic for the South Shirley characterized the annual celebration County entities to have the fears Robinson ref- of each year's grants winners, conducted at erenced. the Van Wezel, as an opportunity for people "It's hard to calm somebody's fears," Robinson representing arts and cultural organizations all over the county to approach him and his responded. staff. "Throughout that evening, we're talking "We need to somehow get away from this dis- to everyone there about the availability of cussion of territorialism," Barbetta told his these grants," he pointed out. "It is a way of colleagues. "We're all in this as a county. … I reaching people." don't think it's a quid pro quo [situation]." Hines concurred with Robinson that it was Then Robinson asked Shirley for clarification of some of the documentation he had provid- not appropriate for Shirley to document that ed regarding meetings over the past year with Van Wezel gathering as a meeting for South South County arts and cultural group repre- County groups. "Have [a session] in South sentatives, especially a countywide orienta- County," he told Shirley. "That may be extra tion session held at the Van Wezel Performing work, but it's a long drive" for South County Arts Hall in Sarasota. groups to come to Sarasota. Banyan Theater, whose 2013 series included Heroes, won a 2014 fiscal year arts grant to support its next summer season. Photo courtesy of Banyan Theater