Every season, it holds about nine juried, invitational and traveling exhibitions at its four galleries, many of which are open to non-members. Numerous workshops, lectures and special events are held year-round. Popular annual events include the Beaux Arts Costume Ball and Silent Auction held the Saturday before Halloween and a spring fashion show featuring original jewelry made by local artists. Major emphasis is placed on education for children and adults, with classes on virtually every form of visual arts. It is an exhibit space as well, but our focus is on education.
All instructors are experts in their field, and some are internationally renowned.
During the school year, it partners with the Manatee County School District by getting sponsors to foot the cost of busing students to the Art League. A great untapped resource is the organization's vast library, which contains more than 2,400 arts books. Members can check materials out, while non-members can peruse the books at the library for free. As the Art League enters the new millennium, it's looking at expanding. Richmond wants to open a satellite office in Lakewood Ranch, which has a growing artists' community and was the site of a successful art festival last spring.