An 18-strong shortlist has been announced for the design of the Sarasota Performing Arts Centre in Florida.

A firm called the Paratus Group is helping the task force figure out how to come up with the right people for the job.

More than 40 architectural firms, from around the world, have submitted their qualifications applications to design a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center.

For the selection, City representatives and members of the Van Wezel Foundation winnowed down an initial list of 43 respondents to 18 firms.

Gehry Partners LLP, the firm founded by Frank Gehry, one of the world’s best known architects, who designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, is among the 18 firms that have been invited to submit proposals by the architect selection task force

Adjaye Associates, Foster + Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects have been chosen to submit proposals for a new $300 million performance and arts centre in south Florida

The project in Sarasota, part of The Bay park, received 43 applications.

During its Dec. 4 meeting, the Sarasota City Commission was briefed by staff on the state legislative priorities for the city for 2023. The report, submitted for commission approval, included state appropriations for city projects totaling $5 million.