Leonard Reid House
PHASE 1: THE SARASOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS, CULTURE & HISTORY CENTER
Interiors envisioned by Ringling College of Art and Design students.
CASE STUDY
HISTORY THAT TIME HAS FORGOTTEN
Sarasota has been rated one of the best places to live in the U.S. But, that wasn’t always true for African American pioneers, early settlers and their descendants who call Newtown home. For more
than 100 years, residents of one of Sarasota’s oldest neighborhoods endured the ups and downs of living in a “sundown town.” Residents built churches, homes and opened schools and businesses that
created a self-contained and sustained incubator that cemented cohesiveness. There were turbulent decades when residents fought for equality and other eras of struggle. Through it all, with courage, resilience, dignity and determination, they survived and kept their tight-knit neighborhood intact.
THE TIME HAS COME
The time has come to acknowledge the significant contributions made by African Americans to the
development of Sarasota’s institutions and infrastructure and to the fabric of what makes Sarasota so
special – our unique history and expansive cultural landscape. The time has come to celebrate African
Americans’ rich cultural traditions, history, performing and visual arts, and music that enliven Sarasota and make it an exciting city to visit and live. And, the time has come to inspire Newtown’s resurgence with a thriving center that will fill the gap in historical and cultural offerings available to Sarasota’s diverse residents and visitors. The time has come for the Historic Leonard Reid House to open.
A CENTER FOR ALL TIME AND ALL PEOPLE
In 2018 Vickie Oldham asked a distinguished group of community leaders to join her in forming the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC) to preserve, celebrate and share the cultural, artistic and historical heritage of African Americans in Sarasota and beyond. The first step was to accept as its initial location the Historic Leonard Reid House deeded to the City of Sarasota by a developer. City officials moved the house in May 2022 from Cohen Way to Orange Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 1,400-square-foot house was built in 1926 in Sarasota’s earliest African American community, Overtown, which Leonard Reid helped to establish. The Reid House will be transformed into a new arts, culture and history center that will host exhibits about Black life and history. It will have performance space for Black artists and offer public programs and classes in drawing, painting, photography, writing, health and wellness, leadership and entrepreneurship. Opportunities to mentor Newtown students will be offered. It will be accessible to individuals countywide and, during these polarized times, will provide a safe space for discussions about race, identity, class, social justice, history and culture.
Interiors envisioned by Ringling College of Art and Design students.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
join our cause
Today, many Americans are grappling with the issues of identity, race, equality and nationalism. Your donation to SAACC will open the doors of the Reid House to audiences of all ages and will kickstart the programs and exhibits that will shine a light on the beauty of Sarasota’s diversity. We can’t stop the clock, but with your help, we can rewind it to set a new hour of appreciation and understanding.
