Museums & Cultural Institutions · Sarasota
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
- Parking available
- Free parking
- Wheelchair accessible parking
Compiled from publicly available information and may change — please confirm directly with the business or organization.
- Since
- 1927
- Location
- Sarasota
- Languages
- English
Story
Overview
The Ringling — the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art — is the official State Art Museum of Florida, set on a 66-acre bayfront campus in Sarasota. Its charter was officially established in 1927 as the legacy of circus magnate John Ringling and his wife, Mable. Today the museum is under the stewardship of Florida State University, with the support of the John & Mable Ringling Museum Foundation, and is one of the largest college arts complexes in the country.
The Estate
The Ringling brings together five venues. The Museum of Art holds a collection ranging from ancient to contemporary art. The Circus Museum, with the Historic Circus Galleries and the Tibbals Learning Center, presents historical and present-day circus arts. Ca' d'Zan, John and Mable Ringling's 1920s mansion, offers a glimpse into their lives. The Historic Asolo Theater was created in 1798 in the great hall of an Italian palace and has been at The Ringling since 1952. The Bayfront Gardens surround them all.
Architecture
In 1924, John and Mable Ringling commissioned American architect Dwight James Baum to design Ca' d'Zan as their winter residence. Mable Ringling closely oversaw its interiors, which combine European styles with comfort and detail; colored glass panes in every window catch the light off Sarasota Bay. Ca' d'Zan and the Museum of Art were completed in John Ringling's lifetime. Visitors still pass through the 1926 terra cotta and wrought iron gatehouse that once served as the entrance to the Ringlings' private estate.
Visiting The Ringling
The Ringling is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry 30 minutes before closing. On Thursdays, the Museum of Art and Bayfront Gardens stay open until 8 p.m. with discounted admission. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Parking is free on both sides of the drive approaching the Museum of Art, including the FSU Center for the Performing Arts lot; accessible spaces are on the northern side near the Visitors Pavilion.
Respectful attire is expected, including shirts and shoes; bathing suits are not permitted. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the 66-acre grounds, and a light sweater for the galleries. Picnics are welcome in designated areas, but rolling coolers, bicycles, scooters, and skateboards are not allowed on the estate.
Products & services
Museum Admission
Admission to the Museum of Art, Circus Museum, Bayfront Gardens, and Ca' d'Zan, with discounted Thursday evening admission to the Museum of Art and Bayfront Gardens. Personal care attendants of visitors with disabilities are admitted free.
Guided Tours
Small-group tours of Ca' d'Zan and the Bayfront Gardens; Museum of Art tours Tuesday through Sunday, included with admission.
Historic Asolo Theater
Performances in the 18th-century Italian theater, with its own box office.
Exhibitions & Events
Exhibitions, talks and lectures, performances, classes and workshops, family programs, and special events.
Group & School Visits
Adult and family groups, K-12 school visits with free admission to the Museum of Art, Circus Museum, and Bayfront Gardens, virtual school tours, homeschool visits, and college groups.
Research
An art library, archives, and online art and circus collections.
Dining
The Ringling Grillroom and Mable's Coffee House in the Visitors Pavilion, plus designated picnic areas.
Museum Store
Books, jewelry, toys, and home goods in the Visitors Pavilion, open to the public without museum admission.
Weddings & Venue Rentals
Weddings, receptions, garden weddings, engagements and proposals, and corporate and social events.
Membership & Support
Membership with free museum admission, donations, sponsorship, and volunteering.
Accessibility Services
Accessible parking, courtesy carts and accessible trams, wheelchairs and strollers at each venue, accessible restrooms in or near all venues, audio descriptions in the Museum of Art audio guide, large-print brochures, hearing loop systems, ASL-interpreted and tactile tours with two weeks' notice, and sensory bags.
Location
5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL, 34243
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