Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/227385
ADDING UP THE ARTS' IMPACT Internationally renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman conducts a student orchestra as part of the Perlman Music Program/Suncoast every winter in Sarasota County. Contributed photo by Barbara Banks SARASOTA COUNTY CONTINUES TO SEE TOURISM GROW, THANKS TO THE WIDE VARIETY OF CULTURAL EVENTS SUPPORTED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor Arts and cultural events supported by grant Fifty-four percent of the people who attended funding from Sarasota County generated those events in the 2013 fiscal year were tour$25,865,090 in revenue ists, Jim Shirley said, during the past fiscal an increase from the year and saw about We're always open for that, and I 42-percent mark of a 5 percent increase would like to state for the public that no the 2012 fiscal year. in total attendance, group in this county should ever feel "Now that's return on the executive direc- intimidated to come for anything. … We investment." tor of the Sarasota are here to serve them. Shirley added, "I'm County Arts and sure that has a lot to Jim Shirley Cultural Alliance told Executive Director do with the arts orgathe Sarasota County Arts and Cultural Alliance nizations and Visit Commission this Sarasota County Sarasota County." week.