Month: January 2024

Ignacio Barrón Viela, president and CEO of The Florida Orchestra, takes a few moments to discuss The Florida Orchestra’s coming season, as well as its impact on Tampa Bay’s cultural landscape. 

Please tell us about The Florida Orchestra’s upcoming programs for winter and spring 2024. 

As we ring in the holiday season, it’s prime time for what The Florida Orchestra does best: bringing people together through music. Many families have come to our annual Holiday Pops concerts for generations. 

In the spring, it’s exciting to bring something truly unique to Tampa Bay: Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey. For the first time ever, the celebrity travel expert will join Music Director Michael Francis and the orchestra onstage. 

In the new year, TFO gets to the heart of its 56th season, which explores America’s musical landscape and beyond. 

The Raymond James Pops series puts the full power of the orchestra behind sci-fi movie music from Star Wars and The Mandalorian, Broadway for Valentine’s Day, and music of The Beatles. In all, TFO will perform more than 100 concerts this season in venues throughout Tampa Bay, including the Mahaffey Theater, Straz Center and Ruth Eckerd Hall. 

How do The Florida Orchestra and cultural institutions contribute to cultural tourism and the overall cultural landscape of our region? 

With performances that appeal to patrons of all ages, TFO is a main draw that feeds directly into the local economy with event-related ancillary audience spending (e.g. food and beverage, retail, parking). TFO performances attract cultural tourism and help businesses appeal to clients and attract and retain employees. 

The density of arts organizations and the prevalence of arts events play a role in attracting residents and businesses to (re)locate into a community by improving its image and making it more appealing. Where do you see The Florida Orchestra in this equation? 

A native of Spain, I have lived all over the world as a CEO, engineer, management consultant and professional cellist. I am amazed by all we have right in front of us – especially this orchestra. There is no world-class city without a world-class orchestra. 

How do you believe The Florida Orchestra influences individuals and communities? 

TFO connects people not only to quality music but to each other and their community, and acts as a catalyst for beauty, healing, excellence and positive social impact. TFO musicians visit schools, hospitals, senior living communities and underserved areas. We reach 150,000 people each season with the power of music. 

Can you share a less known, however important, fact about The Florida Orchestra? 

The Florida Orchestra employs 70 professional musicians and conductors who live, work and give back to the Tampa Bay community. This is their full-time job. Positions are won based on talent and merit through highly competitive blind auditions that attract the best musicians from some of the world’s most prestigious conservatories and music schools. 

Visit our website at FloridaOrchestra.org. 

ArtScape is curated by Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts: a proud partner of the Tampa Bay Times. To nominate a local artist for this monthly feature, contact 813-221-2787. 

In a conversation with Michael A. Tomor, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Penny and Jeff Vinik Education Center at Tampa Museum of Art, he shares how much he is looking forward to the coming fall and winter season at The Tampa Museum of Art. 

“It’s an exciting moment when the museum can introduce an extraordinary collection of Impressionist works to Tampa, especially those never before seen in Florida.” Frontiers of Impressionism from the Worcester Art Museum features a cross-section of 19th century western and eastern European paintings by luminaries of the art world, including Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and Cezanne matched with works by North America’s Cassatt, Whistler, and Sargent. 

Also featured are three exhibitions of Haitian art spanning the 20th century — from paintings to sequin textiles — reflecting a large percentage of our community members. In case you didn’t already know, the third most-spoken language in the Tampa Bay community is Haitian Creole; furthermore, Florida is home to the largest migrant population of Haitians in the United States. 

Michael adds, “We are also thrilled to have on view Prelude, Purvis Young: Redux, and Classical Inspiration: C. Paul Jennewein focusing on 20th and 21st century works from the museum’s collection, and Identify in Antiquity and Life and Death in the Ancient World, two exhibitions dedicated to the museum’s celebrated collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art spanning 2,000 years of art making.” 

How do TMA and cultural institutions contribute to cultural tourism and the overall cultural landscape of our region? 

“The Tampa Museum of Art attracts tourists to the community seeking cultural invigoration while visiting throughout Tampa. 

“Situated at Curtis Hixon Park, TMA sits adjacent to the Glazer Children’s Museum, the Straz Performing Arts Center, and Tampa Theatre; all are within a one-block walking radius and provide a cross-section.” 

The density of arts organizations and the prevalence of arts events play a role in attracting residents and businesses to (re)locate to a community by improving its image. Where do you see TMA in this equation? 

“I am always inspired and intrigued by culture, people and storytelling. 

“We all come from many different backgrounds, but still have so many similarities. As an artist, I am inspired by my own experiences as well as others who are brave enough to tell their stories.” 

How do you believe TMA influences individuals and communities? 

“When we see through the eyes of others — through the world of Monet’s gardens of Giverny, the border cities of Mexico and the United States, the Haitian world of Hispaniola, the city streets of Miami, or the waters of the Gulf of Mexico — we become part of a world much larger than the one we created for ourselves.” 

Can you share a less-known, however important, fact about TMA? 

“The Tampa Museum of Art is the oldest cultural asset in Tampa Bay. For 103 years, the museum has been a safe location for all members of all communities around the world and in our backyard.” 

ArtScape is curated by Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts: a proud partner of the Tampa Bay Times. To nominate a local artist for this monthly feature, contact 813-221-2787. 

Gregory Holland is an arts executive, theater administrator, revenue builder and deal-maker with more than 25 years of experience. He became the president and CEO of the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in October 2022. 

Please tell us about The Straz Center for the Performing Arts’ upcoming programs for spring 2024. 

Our Broadway Series will continue with a lineup of Broadway hits such as “Moulin Rouge” and The “Girl From the North Country,” which takes a deep dive into Bob Dylan’s catalog. Opera Tampa’s schedule features two of the form’s greatest works, “Don Giovanni” and “La Traviata” and one that may be its most accessible, Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel.” “Taste” at the Straz will be, as always, massive and delicious. Next Generation Ballet will perform the heartbreaking “Giselle.” We also have a wide variety of entertainment including the off-Broadway comedy “Stranger Sings!” and comedian Daniel Sloss on our schedule. 

How do The Straz Center for the Performing Arts and cultural institutions contribute to cultural tourism and the overall cultural landscape of our region? 

First, The Straz Center brings world-renowned performances to The Straz. Recently, we presented the only North American production of London’s West End musical “The Choir of Man.” As we do this, The Straz Center also partners with local hotels so our visitors will have a price-friendly option when they decide to stay overnight following, say, a Broadway series event. Ideally, these guests spend more time in Tampa and discover some of our other cultural institutions. As for our impact on the cultural landscape, we’ve been a major part of it for most of our existence and will continue to be. In addition to our major events, our Patel Conservatory trains the next generation of dancers, actors, singers and musicians. Jobsite, our resident theater company, offers innovative programming in an intimate setting. Finally, our outreach programs bring the arts to underserved communities and also give them a voice through events such as our town halls. 

The density of arts organizations and the prevalence of arts events play a role in attracting residents and businesses to (re)locate into a community by improving its image and making it more appealing. Where do you see The Straz Center for the Performing Arts in this equation? 

During Mayor Bob Martinez’s administration, The Straz Center was built to anchor Tampa as a cultural destination and to play a part in growing downtown. We now see that The Straz has been on the front line of making Tampa more appealing to businesses and professionals for decades. Another element that makes Tampa appealing is our now-thriving downtown, and The Straz is a major part of that revival. We’re utilizing the Riverwalk to bring the arts to more and more people, including many who have never been our guests. The resurgence of downtown has been good for us, and we’ve been an important part of that resurgence. 

How do you believe The Straz Center for the Performing Arts influences individuals and communities? 

Our commitment to the arts and culture drives our outreach programs. We believe the arts are for everyone. We work with schools and other institutions to provide traditionally underserved communities with access to what we have to offer, in our field trip series, Arts Legacy Remix, the BIPOC play-reading series and our extensive programs for veterans and their families, among others. Also, the Straz works closely with military veterans to provide arts programs focused on vets and their families. Because of this we have become a national leader in “arts and healing.” 

Can you share a less known, however important, fact about The Straz Center for the Performing Arts? 

The Patel Conservatory is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) under the division of Cognia. In fact, Cognia recently presented Alice Santana, our vice president of education and community engagement, the Cognia Excellence in Education Award for 2023. That illustrates that The Straz and Patel Conservatory are dedicated to continuous improvement and learner-based education. 

Visit our website at StrazCenter.org. 

ArtScape is curated by Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts: a proud partner of the Tampa Bay Times.

Nneka Jones is a Trinidadian-born multidisciplinary artist currently living and working in Tampa, Florida. Growing up in the Caribbean was one of the main factors that molded Jones into the artist she is today. Her astounding love for color and special attention to detail, as influenced by her culture, have always been prominent throughout her artistic journey. 

Her contemporary practice explores portraiture and symbolism across multiple media such as fiber, textiles, mixed media, paint and even public art through large-scale murals. Jones produces thought-provoking artwork that comments on social and environmental injustice, strongly advocating for the protection and celebration of women and girls of color. These are often topics that, as a society, can be difficult to reflect on and often uncomfortable to address. 

Since graduating from the University of Tampa in May 2020, Jones’ work has caught the eyes of art directors in top publications like TIME, where she was commissioned to produce the hand-embroidered flag that appears on the cover of the August 31/September 7, 2020 issue. She was also commissioned to produce cover illustrations for The Washington Post. Beyond the canvas, she has presented keynote speeches at Adobe MAX and The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), emphasizing the importance of art as a vehicle for activism. 

Her unique hand embroidery work has been featured in the cover artwork for Marvel Studio’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Colossal magazine, The Jealous Curator blog, The American Craft Council, Embroidery Mag UK and Domestika. With permanent collections in the Disney Springs Art Walk, Florida CraftArt Gallery, Ferman Center for the Arts and the Tampa Museum of Art. Jones continues to broaden her professional practice and break barriers at an early stage in her career as an inspiration to other young aspiring artists. 

 How would you describe your work? 

Much of my Caribbean background can be seen in the vibrant colors used within my small and large-scale pieces, and my aim is always to evoke emotion that drives positive change within our society. 

What inspires you? 

I am always inspired and intrigued by culture, people and storytelling. 

We all come from many different backgrounds, but still have so many similarities. As an artist, I am inspired by my own experiences as well as others who are brave enough to tell their stories. 

Where can we see your work? 

For art lovers who prefer a gallery/museum setting, my work can be seen in the permanent collections at the Florida CraftArt Gallery, the Raymond James Financial World Famous Art Collection, Ferman Center for the Arts, and the Tampa Museum of Art. For public art lovers, my work can be seen in the SHINE Mural 2020 Festival lineup, The Gwen Miller Recreation Center, Donald McKay K-8 School in Boston and the Disney Springs Art Walk in Orlando, Florida. 

ArtScape is curated by Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts: a proud partner of the Tampa Bay Times. To nominate a local artist for this monthly feature, contact 813-221-2787.