conventions at the arena site (in tents if need be) until the Arena is repaired and able to provide our community and surrounding areas with such a facility.  4,500 seats compared to

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Dear Tito,

 

Thank you for submitting your grant request to assist with funding an independent Feasibility Study.  We have reviewed the request, and Gulf Coast is pleased to provide you with half of the funding.  I will request payment and forward $9,000 as soon as you are able to provide documentation showing that the remaining $9,000 has been raised.

 

Kindest regards,

Kristin

 

Kristin N. Taylor

Project Administrator

Dear Kristin Taylor,

 

On behalf of the Venice Circus Arts Foundation, Inc. we would like to thank you and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation  for approving our grant request.  We believe this is the first major step in validating our very important work.  We will be forwarding all applicable documentation as requested, (in the next week or two).  The study provider has asked for additional information as well which we are currently processing. 

 

Thank you again on behalf of the VCAFI, it is a great day for our Community Organization.

 

Sincerely,

Orlando Bevington

Programs Director VCAFI

Orlando Bevington

Venice Circus Arts Foundation

Circus--so many images come alive with that magic word. Circus was an integral part of this Venice community not so very many years ago when the circus truly came to town, and circus performers trained and learned, created or honed their specialized skills  at the Venice arena. For over 40 years this took place. Since then the arena has fallen on hard times. The Venice Circus Arts Foundation has been trying very hard for two years to get resources necessary to restore that circus arena site. The members of this Foundation and many individuals in our community see beyond the peeling paint and graffiti to the bright lights, music, and complete delight of trapeze artists flying through the air, tigers leaping through rings of fire, or clowns giving young and old precious moments to forget sad things for just a while and simply laugh.

This article is a plea for new members to join the Venice Circus Arts Foundation.  If we have enough members at various levels of sponsorship, we can hope to realistically revamp this arena and make it into a place not only for circus events, but for many other entertainment and civic possibilities.  Because the arena has such a generous capacity--55,000 square feet and 4500 seats--large shows can be accommodated. There is no convention facility in Sarasota county at this time and this arena certainly could be that facility. Smaller venues as well can be planned because the interior can easily be re-structured to allow for a variety of small events. These future events will easily return the money now necessary to save the arena, and when this happens people will not remember this building looking so very unpresentable and will instead simply look forward to the next wonderful event taking place there. 

*On our immediate agenda to raise funds we will again have our Circus Bingo every Saturday at King Solomon's Treasures, 1250 US 41. This will start up again September 8, from 1:00 to 3:00.

The city of Venice designated November as Circus Month in conjunction with their 85th anniversary, as part of the year long celebration of the city of Venice, and with that in mind, several activities are planned for November. 

November 3rd is Family Fun Day which will take place at the Venice arena, 1401 Ringling Drive S from 10 a.m to 3 p.m.  

November 10th, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. a wine and cheese cocktail party will be held at the historic Venice Train Depot, 303 E. Venice Ave. 

November 17th will be a concert by Bill Millner's Venice Concert Band from 3 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. also at the Venice arena.

For more details of these activities, go to venicegov.com.

The Venice Circus Arts Foundation is working diligently with the mayor, city council, all city departments and the airport to save the arena site. In this down economy all municipalities are having to make tough choices as to where tax dollars are spent. We look to the private sector to bring forth the necessary resources to save this site.   We applaud the city and the airport for their willingness to identify state and federal funds to help with support of our project. 

A restored arena is a legacy we hope our city fathers and people of our community will accomplish in the next few years.

Natalie Firnhaber is a volunteer with the Venice Circus Arts Foundation.

(Reprint from the Venice Gondolier Sun, Editor Bob Mudge, September 15, 2012).

The VCAFI is looking for a new home to host our Circus Bingo.  If you have any thoughts on that please contact us.

941-485-7675