Just south across the Sunshine Skyway between Tampa and Sarasota is Bradenton, a thriving coastal city with a buzzing art scene, rich in creativity and ripe for exploration. Whether it’s the meandering Riverwalk, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature with its state-of-the-art planet-arium, or Village of the Arts, you’ll find an array of public art and murals, along with fine art galleries and live performances sure to recharge your creative batteries this winter.

Colourful Art Walks and Rainbow Villages

Lace up the sneakers and grab your smartphone for an immersive self-guided walking tour experience that’s located in Village of the Arts. Nearly 70 pieces of public art are highlighted in this curated series of walking tours. Mapped routes include themes such as Art Tour Riverwalk, which showcases public art along the Riverwalk, including a new Postcard Tour that features postcards in a quirky hub known as the Village of the Arts. While there, visit healing arts practitioners, artists at their studios, and unique galleries. The village is also home to Florida’s largest live/work art community. You can join an art walk the first Friday and Saturday afternoons of the month and enjoy live music while browsing inside the village’s many galleries.

An Artist Collective

A few blocks north of the Village of the Arts is ArtCenter Manatee, a long-standing local arts incubator that offers a hefty list of art classes from pottery and painting to jewellery and glass making plus more. Arts enthusiasts can also visit the on-site galleries with changing exhibits of local, regional and national artists.

All the World’s a Stage…

Broadway-style shows and inspiring festivals take centre stage at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. Founded in 1947 when the Manatee Players performed the popular Grimms’ fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, the beloved centre has grown from the original Riverfront Theatre that staged performances for 60 years, to its current home that will stage shows for even more years to come.

Get Festive

Bradenton hosts a handful of festivals annually to showcase the city’s creativity. Upcoming art-centric festivals include the Fine Arts Festival of Manatee County (February) and the Bradenton Riverwalk Fine Art Festival (March). Additionally, each spring the Manatee Arts Education Council presents Arts Alive: Manatee’s Celebration of the Arts, a public showcase of arts in the area’s schools.

Travel Planner

For more travel information see bradentongulfislands.com. Seasonal non-stop flights are from Toronto to the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport on Air Canada. Visit flysrq.com/flight-information