Ready to explore the world? The summer semester at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College (OLLI at Ringling College) begins May 10 and runs through July 2.

What’s up this semester? Plenty! The summer semester features dozens of classes and programs covering a wide variety of topics. Highlights include “Segregated Sand: Florida’s Beaches in the Civil Rights Movement,” an exploration into Florida’s struggle to racially integrate public spaces and institutions; “Responding to Grief,” an experiential workshop that invites participants to gain a deeper understanding of the grief process; “Shakespeare in the Time of COVID”; “The Baha’i Faith: A Guide for the Perplexed”; and lots more! Classes cover a rich diversity of topics, including art and music appreciation, health and well-being, global issues, philosophy, religion, culture and travel, and science. Classes and lectures are offered in-person on the Ringling College Museum Campus or via the Zoom platform. The Ringling College Museum Campus is at 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, and masks and physical distancing are required. To register for classes, visit olliatringlingcollege.org, or call 941-309-5111.

Highlights of the summer semester include:

Intro to Improv, with Will Luera. Discover the freedom of spontaneity, and prepare to laugh! This class teaches students to think quickly on their feet, explore creativity, hone their comedic voice, and build self-confidence. This in-person class takes place on the Ringling College Museum Campus; Fridays, May 14–28, 11 a.m.–12:20 p.m. General admission is $60.

Responding to Grief, with Lisa Frechette. This experiential workshop invites participants to gain a deeper understanding of their unique grief process. Practical ways to respond to grief—physically, mentally, and spiritually—provide participants with an array of tools to ease suffering and adjust to painful changes in their lives. This in-person class takes place on the Ringling College Museum Campus; Monday, May 24, 1–4 p.m. General admission is $55.

Shakespeare in the Time of COVID, with Stuart Mushlin. A three-session course exploring King Lear, Othello, and The Tempest. This in-person class takes place on the Ringling College Museum Campus; Tuesdays, May 25–June 8, 9–10:20 a.m. General admission is $60.

Bones, Muscles, and Brains: Your Aging Strong Plan, with Lynsey Duzgun and Paul Moore. A 90-minute program to educate and empower active adults to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, aimed at preventing bone and muscle loss, preserving memory, and improving mental health; all with the goal of maintaining health and independence. This is an online presentation; Monday, June 7, 10–11:30 a.m. General admission is $10.

Segregated Sand: Florida’s Beaches in the Civil Rights Movement, with Josh Goodman. Lunch counters, schools, city buses, and movie theaters were battlegrounds in Florida’s struggle to racially integrate public spaces and institutions, just as in other states. This lecture will feature historical records, photographs, and film from the state archives’ collections to explore this uniquely Floridian chapter of the Civil Rights movement. This is an online presentation; Friday, June 11, 10–11 a.m. General admission is $10.

The Baha’i Faith: A Guide for the Perplexed, with Harvey Garver. This introductory course will provide the circumstances that led to the founding of the Baha’i faith in the mid-1800s. It will include biographies of the founder and subsequent leaders and describe the principal teachings, which stem from the newly revealed spiritual principle: “The Oneness of Humankind.” This in-person class takes place on the Ringling College Museum Campus; Tuesdays, June 15–29, 1–2:20 p.m. General admission is $60.

Ten Foods that Define Florida, with Gary Mormino. The history of the way we eat and ate tells us a great deal about who we were and who we are today. In this illustrated lecture, participants will learn how old tastes and new flavors evolved. This is an online presentation; Thursday, June 17, 3–4:30 p.m. General admission is $10.

About Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College, or OLLI at Ringling College (formerly Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy), offers noncredit educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons, and enrich their lives. Courses cover a wide range of stimulating topics and are taught by scholars, retired faculty members, and professional practitioners in an engaging, collaborative manner. Visit OLLIatRinglingCollege.org.

About Ringling College of Art and Design

Since 1931, Ringling College of Art and Design has cultivated the creative spirit in students from around the globe. The private, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in eleven disciplines and the Bachelor of Arts in two. The College’s rigorous curriculum employs the studio model of teaching and immediately engages students through a comprehensive program that is both specific to the major of study and focused on the liberal arts. The Ringling College teaching model ultimately shapes students into highly employable and globally aware artists and designers. For more information, please visit ringling.edu.