Recognition to take place during Indicators & Insights Summit on Nov. 19 at Art Ovation Hotel
“After decades of making creativity synonymous with our region’s identity,” Larry Thompson, president emeritus of the Ringling College of Art + Design, will receive Visit Sarasota County’s inaugural Florida’s Cultural Coast® Legacy Award,” Visit Sarasota County has announced.
The recognition ceremony will take place during the tourism bureau’s Indicators & Insights Summit, which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota, a news release says.
The hotel stands at 1255 N. Palm Ave.
“The Florida’s Cultural Coast® Legacy Award celebrates individuals with a lifetime of distinguished achievements and contributions to Sarasota County, whether the recipient worked directly for the benefit of the tourism industry or by helping shape the destination’s broader cultural identity,” the release explains. “Presented as part of Visit Sarasota County’s Haley Hall of Fame Awards, this distinction differs from the peer-nominated Haleys” in that its recipient is selected by the bureau’s board of directors and staff, the release points out.
“It’s a privilege to celebrate Dr. Thompson, a leader who understands that creativity can define both higher education and a destination’s spirit,” said Erin Duggan, president & CEO of Visit Sarasota County, in the release. “Over the last three decades, as Ringling College’s global reputation strengthened, so, too, did our region’s identity as Florida’s Cultural Coast, which remains one of our strongest drivers of tourism and economic impact,” Duggan continued in the release. “His legacy both on and beyond campus will continue to enrich our local quality of life, and for that, we cannot think of a more fitting leader to receive this inaugural recognition.”
“I am so grateful to Visit Sarasota County for this honor and also for their lasting partnership over the years,” said Thompson in the release. “I have always believed that for creativity to thrive, collaboration is key. I can’t think of a more collaborative partner than VSC as we work together to create a welcoming and inclusive community for visitors and residents along the Gulf Coast,” he added in the release.
Thompson served as president of Ringling College of Art + Design from July 1999 to May of this year, the release notes. Under his leadership, the institution grew from one offering six majors to one with 13, and from nearly 900 students to a peak of 1,700, the release continues. At the end of his term, Thompson received the honorary title of President Emeritus from the board of trustees, “in recognition of his service and indelible legacy,” the release points out.
A lawyer and an educator, Thompson previously served as special assistant to the president of The Ohio State University; CEO of Flint Cultural Center in Flint, Mich.; and the founding executive director of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio,” the release adds. Further, Thompson is the former president of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) and the former chair of the President’s Council of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). He also served on the boards of many local arts and civic organizations.
“Thompson has been the recipient of numerous academic and humanitarian honors and awards for his service as a visionary leader and educator,” the release notes.
The Indicators & Insights Summit, which is Visit Sarasota County’s annual state-of-the industry event, “will invite leading voices from VISIT FLORIDA, sports tourism, and hotel market analytics to help inform businesses of trends heading into season,” the release points out. For tickets and more information, the release says, visit https://bit.ly/VSCSummit.