Join us for Family Saturdays
We can’t wait to meet the artists of the future!
ABOUT FAMILY SATURDAYS
Family Saturdays are free, drop-in art experiences held every Saturday from 12–3 PM. Designed for kids and grown-ups to enjoy together, each session offers a fresh, hands-on project led by professional teaching artists—drawing inspiration from artists, exhibitions, and cultural traditions. No experience needed, just bring your imagination.
Powered by community partnerships with local artists, cultural organizations, and businesses, Family Saturdays celebrate the vibrant creativity of our Gulf Coast region—from comic books to quilts to pizza-inspired storytelling. Together, we’re building a space where families connect, make memories, and leave a little more colorful.
Family Saturdays are FREE, but you must RSVP for each event.
Let us know you’re coming—RSVP below!
JANUARY: New Year, New You
Intentions, coziness, and calm. From vision boards to pajama parties and stuffed-animal portraits, January invites families to get creative and step into the new year with warmth and wellness.
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Start the year with creativity, color, and a little intention! Families can make vision board collages filled with bold dreams and bright ideas for the year ahead, and personalize a mini intention stone with words or symbols that reflect their goals, values, or hopes for 2026. To make the experience even more special, a musician from Music Compound will be on site, bringing upbeat, feel-good energy through live music, creating an inspiring atmosphere for all ages. It’s all about art that uplifts and sets a positive tone for the year ahead.
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Shake off the winter chill with a cozy day of creativity! Families are invited to wear their pajamas and dive into dreamy art-making stations—create a portrait of your favorite stuffed animal (don’t forget to bring your cuddly sidekick!) and sip warm cocoa while you create. It’s the perfect way to warm up your imagination this January—pajamas encouraged, creativity required!
FEBRUARY: Love to Create
A month of heart-forward creativity. Make sparkling potions, postcards of love, and masterpieces that inspire joy and connection.
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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a touch of sparkle and a whole lot of heart! At our Love Potion Lab, families mix glitter, color, and imagination to create magical “potions”—each one powered by something they love (kindness, bravery, belly laughs… you name it!). Bottle the magic into a mini potion necklace to wear or share with someone special, then channel your inner Cupid and craft a glittery arrow using feathers, foam hearts, and ribbon—perfect for spreading compliments, kindness, or a little extra joy wherever it lands.
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Postcards from the Heart is a joyful, hands-on way for families to spread kindness and connect across generations. Families are invited to turn a postcard into a colorful mini artwork with big heart. Finished postcards will be shared with local seniors through Empath Tidewell Hospice and Senior Friendship Centers—brightening someone’s day in a real way. Kids and families can also slip into Sarasota County’s Aging System Coordination’s Aging Sensitivity Suit to feel how moving, seeing, and using their hands can feel different as we age.
MARCH: Art of the Spectacle
Big ideas, bold visuals, and wow-worthy techniques. From optical illusions to handmade books and other eye-catching artworks, March is a celebration of visual drama and playful impact.
March 7, 14 & 28 (No Family Saturday on March 21—join us for the Beaux Arts Ball!)
APRIL & MAY: Earthwise & Art-Full
Where art meets the planet. Join us for a month of eco-minded creativity as we upcycle, repurpose, and rethink what art can be during Suncoast Remake Learning Days.
April 4, 11, 18, 25 & May 2
HEY TEENS — VOLUNTEER WITH FAMILY SATURDAYS
Need volunteer hours? High School students ages 15 and up can apply to help out with our Family Saturdays.
Assist with hands-on art activities for kids and families
Support teaching artists and lead creative projects
Grow your leadership, teaching, creative, and team building skills
Encourage creativity and artistic growth in young artists
Family Saturdays aren’t just powered by art—they’re powered by amazing volunteers like you!
STAY IN THE KNOW
Want to be the first to hear about new themes, special guest artists, and creative surprises?
Sign up below to get monthly updates on Family Saturdays and other family programs at Art Center Sarasota.
Thank You to Our Partners! Family Saturdays are free thanks to the generosity of The Exchange, The Emily Wood Robinson Fund, The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the Van Wezel, and Michael Saunders & Company Foundation!
If you would like to help support our scholarship, educational or other programs, please make a gift with our thanks on behalf of our students, instructors, artists, and art lovers!