Ringling Museum to Remain with FSU

SARASOTA — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' proposed transfer of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the State's Official Art Museum, from Florida State University to New College of Florida has not been included in the 2025 legislative budget. The move ends, for now, the governor's more recent effort to enhance New College by controversial means.

The controversy began in February when DeSantis included language in his proposed budget to transfer stewardship of the museum to the state’s smallest public university. FSU's quarter-century stewardship of The Ringling helped transform it into one of America's premier art museums, recognized nationally for visitor experience and financial stability. The museum complex includes the Museum of Art, the Ca d’Zan mansion, the Circus Museum, and the Historic Asolo Theater, all situated on 66 acres of bayfront grounds and historic gardens.

"When nine former board chairs and other key supporters wrote our open letter to the community back in February exposing this disaster in the making, most had little hope we could actually succeed in preventing the Governor and New College President Richard Corcoran from taking over The Ringling Museum complex," said Nancy Parrish, president of Citizens to Protect the Ringling and former board chair of The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation. "But we knew we had to try.

"What we said to each other was, 'Well, the odds are against us, but we need to at least say we did everything we possibly could.' But the community response was absolutely heroic. When the Governor attempted to sneak this transfer through the budget process, our citizens made sure Tallahassee knew we were watching and that we meant business. Hundreds of letters, phone calls, legislative visits, a packed town hall meeting. It was grassroots advocacy at its finest. The organization grew to over 2,500 members who contacted legislators, attended public meetings, and raised awareness about the potential risks to the museum's operations, collections, and financial stability."

The grassroots organization, formed earlier this year by former museum board chairs, trustees, and community advocates, mobilized thousands of citizens to oppose the governor's plan.

"We want to thank Senator Jim Boyd for standing up for both The Ringling Museum of Art and USF Sarasota-Manatee," Parrish continued. "Senator Boyd showed real leadership in publicly supporting what was clearly in our region's best interest. Moving forward, we hope to see our entire Sarasota-Manatee delegation unite publicly with Senator Boyd to work with community leaders and assure residents and donors that attacks on our vital cultural and educational institutions won't happen again. The proposed transfer raised concerns about New College's capacity to manage the complex museum operations, given the institution's recent financial challenges and the resignation of its Alumni Association chair, who cited 'fiscal and operational mismanagement, among other serious academic and enrollment allegations.'"

The Ringling Museum will continue its successful partnership with Florida State University, preserving the institutional expertise, infrastructure, and resources.

"This victory belongs to the citizens who refused to let a world-class cultural institution be put at risk through a backroom deal," Parrish concluded. "They proved that when a community speaks with one voice, even the most powerful political forces have to listen."