The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art has announced a new collaboration with the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC). The Ringling will be providing guidance and expertise in assisting the SAACC with storage of a recent gift from Michael Berger. Berger, who splits his time between Sarasota and Pittsburgh, recently acquired and donated five Florida “Highwaymen” paintings and pieces by Sam Gilliam and Radcliffe Bailey. These pieces will help build the collection at the SAACC’s forthcoming art center and history museum, which will celebrates Black life, art, history, heritage and culture. The SAACC is currently fundraising to construct the new building.

In addition to The Ringling, the SAACC has partnerships with 35 arts and cultural institutions and organizations and is dedicated to preserving, celebrating and sharing the cultural, artistic, and historical heritage of African Americans in Sarasota and beyond.