City of Sarasota and Dream Large finalize new City seal  

Sarasota, FL:  The City Commission unanimously adopted a new City of Sarasota seal during its regular meeting Monday. Designed by DreamLarge with widespread collaboration from the community, the new seal replaces the original which dates back to the City’s incorporation in 1902. The new seal celebrates the natural beauty of the city’s iconic waterfront and features Sarasota’s 120-year-old motto, “May Sarasota Prosper”.

In November 2021, the City partnered with DreamLarge, the first registered benefit corporation on the Gulf Coast of Florida, to activate and engage with the public and better understand how the community sees Sarasota with the overall goal of redesigning the City’s seal and logo.

The seal is stamped on official City of Sarasota documents and differs from the City logo, which currently features a silhouette of the statue of David.

The design selection process included a range of community engagement efforts with a public branding survey which received over 2,600 responses, followed by a public design contest that garnered more than 172 submissions from 148 entries. The top five seal designs were chosen by a panel of diverse community members and featured a number of local artists including Rachel Manzano, Cynthia Clasgens, Sarah Scire, Brooks Tracey, and Bill Greaves.

“It was a thoughtful, inclusive process,” said Mayor Erik Arroyo. “The result is a classic, sophisticated seal that pays tribute to the past while reflecting our standing as a top destination, a natural paradise and cultural hub. This seal represents the Sarasota we know and love and will become an iconic symbol.”

The final seal was a collaboration between DreamLarge and City of Sarasota resident Rachel Manzano, a contest participant whose design was recognized by the City Commission.

“After 120 years, this new seal represents a culturally inclusive approach to furthering the transformation of this community,” said Anand Pallegar. “We trust that together, as a community, we captured the aspirations of our incredible city and cultivated meaningful change for generations to come.”

For any questions, please contact [email protected] or visit www.dreamlarge.org.