Gulf Coast ranks high for arts

Three Gulf Coast locales made a top list of small cities with the best arts destinations in the country, including Sarasota, which ranked No. 1.

Bradenton ranked second and Naples ranked ninth in the poll, a readers survey commissioned by AmericanStyle Magazine. The cities on the list all have populations of fewer than 100,000 people.

For Sarasota, special mention was given to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art's Art after 5 series and St. Armands Circle's first Wednesday art events.

“We are thrilled that Sarasota has received the designation as the number one small city in the nation for the arts,” Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County Executive Director Jim Shirley says in a release from Visit Sarasota County. “This is truly a testament to all the artists, organizations, donors, volunteers and civic leaders who call this wonderful community home.”

Sarasota ranked fifth last year on the list, while Bradenton was 10th and Naples was 18th.