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VIDEO: Rich Swier, HuB Sings 'You Raise Me Up'

HuB's Rich Swier Jr. "sings" Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up" to Joey Panek while accepting Arts Leadership Award from Arts and Cultural Alliance.

The HuB knows how to mix viral marketing with the arts, and none was more evident than Monday night when HuB's founder Rich Swier Jr. sang "You Raise Me Up" to Joey Panek. Panek, a success story of the HuB with his contributions of Sarasota Elf, Saratopia, The Art Whisperer among other initiatives, served as the master of ceremonies during the 14th annual Awards Celebration for the Arts and Cultural Alliance at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. It was time for Swier to receive the award for the media category in Arts Leadership for his business incubator, and Swier wasn't sure how to express himself of how much Panek meant to HuB. Cue the music. "I can't take all the credit, and you see for yourself how amazing a talent he is," Swier said.  …

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Photo Gallery: Third Annual S/ART/Q Print Party

S/ART/Q hosted its third annual Print Party at the HuB on Saturday, drawing out hundreds for an evening full of art, music, and fashion.

T-shirts, vests, pillowcases and handbags were only a handful of the textiles that attendees of S/ART/Q's third annual Print Party brought out to the Rosemary District's "business incubator," the HuB, on Saturday. The art collective, which derives its name from Sarasota's three-letter airport code, SRQ, throws the screen-printing party every year to raise money for future S/ART/Q shows and events. The collective was formed in late 2008, and currently consists of 8 artists: Joseph Arnegger, Brian Haverlock, Tim Jaeger, Daniel Miller, Daniel Perales, Jeff Schwartz, Nathan Skiles, Sabrina Small and Tom Stephens. For $5 per item, event attendees could have original designs created by S/ART/Q artists printed on any item that would lay flat and …

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Options for Rosemary Creative Park to be Presented Today

Rich Swier Jr. and the HuB want to turn a vacant lot in the Rosemary District into a "creative park". City staff will present four options for the lot at today's city commission meeting.

In February, Rich Swier Jr. of the HuB presented a plan to the Sarasota City Commission that could turn a vacant property zoned for affordable housing in the Rosemary District into a park – a “creative park”. He said the park could host recreational activities, art in the park and even concerts. All in an effort to bring people to the Rosemary District. After meeting with Swier and members of the neighborhood since the last presentation, city staff will present four options to city commissioners  today about what can be done with the lot. The city staff's four options: 1. A special event permit may be used to allow use of the site quickly; however, this would only provide use of the site for a limited period of time. The zoning code allows…

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susan a. marks

10:19 am on Monday, June 6, 2011

Those "young people, art and music people ' in the parks make the tax payers cringe. Too bad the liberal elites encourage such people in the first place. As usual, they throw them out when they get to close to where they live. I am a conservative, and wouldn't have let them loiter there period. I would still have a bench to sit on, and no panhandlers to spoil my visit.   more ›

Rosemary Rising Celebrates The Arts And Welcomes New Businesses

The summer edition of the popular block party, Rosemary Rising, is taking place in downtown Sarasota's Rosemary District on Thursday evening.

Rosemary Rising, the seasonal block party hosted by businesses in the downtown Sarasota creative district after which it takes its name, will be in full swing on Thursday evening to kick off the summer with style. Madeby Gallery, located at 734 Central Avenue, will be featuring the work of Ringling College students and alumni. There will also be artists on site doing live art demonstrations for the public. Neighboring contemporary furniture store, Home Resource, will be hosting the music of Dean Johannsen, N.I.C.E., Muzak Man,and The Human Condition at their location, 741 Central Avenue. Lourdes Nail & Hair Studio, located at 436 Central Avenue, will also feature music, with acoustic guitarist, Steve McAlllister performing on site. Break …

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5 Things to do in Sarasota This Weekend

Each week Sarasota Patch will give you a heads up on five events worth checking out this weekend.

1. Memorial Day Parade: From 10am - noon on Monday Sarasota will honor fallen veteran's in Downtown Sarasota on Memorial Day. The Memorial Day parade begins on Osprey and Main then continues to J.D. Hamel Park where a ceremony will conclude the events.  2. HuB Day: Celebrating up and coming artists in Sarasota, HuB Day takes place from 6 - 11pm Friday at the HuB, 1413 Boulevard of Arts. Admission is $10. HuB and Blue Strategy+Creative will have their doors opened to the public, with live music from local electro-hip hop acts, Break Fixx and Abnorml Injustice performing at each respective location. Accompanying the music will be an art show featuring the work of local artists such as Tube-Dude, Max Visions, and Pablo Rojas Visual Concepts, …

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What Sarasota Patch is Covering This Week

Each Monday, Sarasota Patch will give you a preview of stories that we are covering this week. Let us know what you think we should be covering.

Tuesday is Election Day in Sarasota. There are nine people running for three seats for Sarasota City Commission. There is only one incumbent in the race, Dick Clapp, as Mayor Kelly Kirschner decided not to run for reelection in District three and Fredd Atkins' (District one) decided to retire.  Sarasota Patch will be at the final Sarasota County Festival Steering Committee meeting Monday afternoon as they try to hammer out a final business plan to present to the Tourism Development Council and the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners.  In what is mostly a light agenda, the Sarasota City Commissioners will meet Monday evening. They will discuss a payment in lieu of parking trust fund. If approved, the money put into the trust will go …

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Creative Park Proposed for Rosemary District

The HuB is proposing the creation of a creative park on Central and 6th Ave to bolster usage and the economy of the Rosemary District.

The creative business incubator, HuB, made a presentation to Sarasota City Commissioners Monday night about building a “creative park” in the Rosemary District. Rich Swier Jr., co-founder of the HuB, asked the commission to delegate city staff time to see if making the vacant lot, located on Central and 6th Avenue, into a park would be possible. Swier said it is “an ideal location, center of a pretty vibrant neighborhood, with businesses, schools and a neighborhood that’s looking for a place to congregate.” The HuB sees the park as a place for outdoor theater, concerts, recreational activities and even “educational outreach.” As the recession continues, Swier said the Rosemary district has seen many businesses close and the park could be a…

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