With New Land Deal, Sarasota African American Cultural Center Moves Closer to Becoming Reality

This article originally appeared in Sarasota Magazine. To read the original article, click here.

Rendering of the future Sarasota African American Art Center and History Museum in Newtown.

After years of planning and negotiations, the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC) has secured a path forward for its long-anticipated African American Art Center and History Museum. The Sarasota City Commission this week approved an “option to purchase” agreement, allowing SAACC to acquire city-owned land for the project at 1556, 1560 and 1580 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, in Newtown.

Sarasota African American Art Center and History Museum aerial view. The project consultant is Juan Self.

The agreement provides SAACC with a three-year option to buy the 0.86-acre property for $201,000, with an initial non-refundable deposit of $5,000 and an additional $25,000 refundable deposit required upon exercising the option. The new agreement, revised from one approved on Aug. 19 of last year, shortened the original five-year option period and introduced provisions ensuring the city retains oversight. These include a right of first refusal at a 30 percent discount if SAACC opts to sell.

The new center, located next to the Leonard Reid house, is slated to span roughly 10,000 square feet.

But that won’t happen. Instead, next steps are to fundraise and bring it to groundbreaking.

The cultural center, spearheaded by Vickie Oldham, president of the SAACC and founder of the Newtown Alive historic preservation initiative, will be a landmark for African American history and culture in Sarasota. It will house a permanent exhibit on the African American experience, a space for traveling exhibitions, and a performance venue for local artists, poets and musicians. The site will also include a restaurant, with profits potentially contributing to the economic revitalization of the Newtown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA).

The new center will take root next door to the SAACC’s current home in the 1926 historic Leonard Reid house, where exhibits, classes and performances have turned it into a destination for education, Black history and thoughtful conversations.

“This project is life-changing,” Oldham says. “It started with oral history interviews and research, which led to trolley tours, the Leonard Reid House, and now this new center. It culminates years of work to document and celebrate our community’s history.”

Plans include a restaurant.

The Sarasota City Commission first directed staff to explore a formal agreement with SAACC in 2021, following a presentation from the coalition. Over time, various models—including long-term and short-term leases—were considered before settling on the purchase agreement. 

“We have the money to buy [the land] now,” Oldham says. “The option agreement is just a protective measure. It allows us to hold onto the funds and invest them in the meantime. I told the city we could buy the land now, and some commissioners seemed surprised. But we’ve been actively raising money, not just for this project, but also to operate the Reid House and cover ongoing expenses.

“Our donors understand that maintaining this history is necessary, and they’ve stepped up to help,” she continues. “We have supporters at every level, from $20 contributions to $100,000 gifts.”

The SAACC plans to break ground within two years, though a significant fundraising milestone will determine the timeline. Oldham says an estimated $20 million is needed to build the center. “If we secure that sooner, we’ll move full speed ahead,” Oldham says. “In a city known for its generosity, anything can happen—large gifts have transformed projects before, and we’re hopeful. Now is the time, especially with Black history under attack. I think people are paying attention to what’s happening in the country right now. They’re asking what they can do to help.

“I envision a permanent exhibit that tells the African American journey—from Africa, through the transatlantic slave trade, and onto these shores—while also showcasing local history,” she says. “We’ll also have a space for traveling exhibits and a performance venue for local artists—spoken word poets, musicians and dancers.

“We have to take ownership of teaching our own history. And we have to make it welcoming and engaging—especially for school students,” she says. “What I hear most from people is disgust that we even have to debate whether Black history should be taught in schools. When I first started learning about Overtown and Newtown, I had so many ‘aha’ moments. So many white residents, people who come here to vacation and stay on the beach, are just now learning about our community. That’s important. It gives them a different perspective.”

At the Leonard Reid House, she says, “we have real conversations—sisterhood and brotherhood discussions. It’s intimate. That’s how we share Black history—not in an intimidating or judgmental way, but through an exchange of experiences. It makes us more civil, and hopefully, it makes people want to love each other better.”

The State of Florida has roughly 50 African American history museums and heritage centers. Lately, there is more interest in preserving and understanding this history. St. Petersburg’s Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, for example, is undergoing a significant expansion, making it the first landmark museum for Black history in Florida. And last year, a memorial marker recognizing victims of lynching in Sarasota was installed at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Sarasota. 

For Oldham, the SAACC is more than just a building—it’s an opportunity to ensure the past is remembered while also shaping Sarasota’s future. “Too many people, including local residents, are just now learning about this history,” she says. “This space will foster understanding, connection and a deeper appreciation of our shared story.”

To learn more about local Black history, click here.