TBBCA.org – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts

Author: Marla Grant

  • TBBCA Chalk Walk Coming to St. Petersburg

    Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts and the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance team up to bring the TBBCA Chalk Walk to SPF 15, St. Petersburg Festival Celebration of the Arts

    Watch talented commissioned artists bring amazing chalk drawings to life!  TBBCA Chalk Walk will be part of SPF15, the St Petersburg Festival, on September 26th from 9-5, and Sunday, September 27th from 10-5 in South Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg.

    Art transforms the street in this community celebration that is a true conversation between artist and the public. Chalk art is a performance art, where the process of creating the work may be even more important than the finished piece. The public gets a rare glimpse into the way art is produced in all stages of progress, and the artist gains in the conversation, perhaps being inspired by new perspectives.

    TBBCA Chalk Walk has been enjoyed by people of all ages and levels of art appreciation for the past 7 years. “We are proud to offer this TBBCA Chalk Walk with our pARTner St. Petersburg Arts Alliance,” says Susana Weymouth, Executive Director of TBBCA. “It is a great opportunity to support talented artists while providing a free, fun, family-friendly and accessible program for our community and driving the public to area museums and businesses.”

    The Suncoasters of St. Petersburg with the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance will present the St. Petersburg Festival over 18 days with some 30 events that celebrate the arts. In addition to the live TBBCA Chalk Walk, SPF-15 will spotlight other cultural activities and events the last weekend, including Arts Alive!, the annual free Museum Day; the St. Pete Wine and Food Festival in North Straub Park; and the Central avenue Solstice. It will be a weekend to celebrate the arts, with most events presented free of charge.

    For more information, please visit www.stpetefest.org.

    TBBCA: Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts is a non-profit organization and one of 12 national affiliates of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA’s mission is to unite Tampa Bay area businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community. TBBCA provides advocacy, funding resources and support for artists, arts education, and arts and cultural organizations. TBBCA Programs include Chalk Walk, Cultural Encounters, IMPACT Awards, and The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships that help talented students pursue higher education and future careers in the arts. TBBCA programs are generously supported by donations and sponsorships, including Chair’s Circle pARTners: The Tampa Bay Times/tbt*; Tampa Bay Magazine; Premier Eye Care; MedHOK; The Wilson Company; Stephen Gay & Associates, Realtors; Alex McKnight; Cox Media Group; Chappell Roberts; Linda and Michael Connelly; Platinum pARTners: Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP; The Beaux-Arts Group; Katharine Weymouth; Gold pARTners: Barnett, Bolt, Longwood, Kirk and Koche; Hill, Ward, Henderson; Phelps Dunbar; The Lightning Foundation; Hyde Park Village; and Yann and Susana Weymouth. For more information about TBBCA and our programs visit www.tbbca.org or call 813-221-2787.

    SPAA: The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance is the umbrella organization for the arts — advocating for the arts, facilitating the growth of the creative arts community, and driving arts-related economic development in St. Petersburg. For more information about SPAA visit www.stpeteartsalliance.org,

  • B2 Communications “pARTners” with Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts

    Public relations agency supports arts education and culture in Tampa Bay

    TAMPA, Fla. (August 4, 2015) – B2 Communications is the newest Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) “pARTner,” a sponsorship that will support arts education, local artists, cultural events and arts organizations in the Tampa Bay area.

    TBBCA’s pARTners provide valuable support for TBBCA programs, such as Chalk Walks, Call to Artists, and the Impact Awards, which honor businesses and individuals for their exemplary leadership and contributions to Tampa Bay’s arts and cultural community. The Impact Awards fundraiser benefits arts education through The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships. TBBCA pARTners also participate in special Cultural Encounters, raising awareness, engagement and support of local arts and cultural institutions.

    “B2’s support and participation as a pARTner will have a significant impact on TBBCA, and in turn, the community,” said Susana Weymouth, TBBCA’s executive director. “We are pleased to have their support as we promote arts and culture in the Tampa Bay area.”

    Supporting the arts is a passion for B2’s principals Missy MacFarlane and Kyle Parks. The public relations agency is currently working with Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Tampa Bay to publicize a public art program that will involve sculptures of historic streetcars. B2 has also worked with the Ybor City Museum Society to promote its annual Buildings Alive! Ybor City Architecture Hop, where visitors tour and learn about the architectural styles of Ybor City’s unique buildings.

    Community involvement is important to the agency. Its team members are involved in the Tampa Bay chapters of Urban Land Institute (ULI), American Institute of Architects (AIA), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Best Buddies, and Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), along with the University of Tampa’s Board of Fellows, St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce’s marketing committee, High Hopes in High Heels and Ekhos.

    As part of its pARTnership, B2 will participate in TBBCA’s Arts in Lobbies program, which showcases local artists’ work in pARTners’ offices.

    About TBBCA

    TBBCA is a non-profit organization founded in 1989. It remains today one of 12 affiliate organizations in the U.S. of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA’s mission is to unite area businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community because “the arts are good for business and business is good for the arts.” Through innovative pARTnerships and sustainable programs like Call to Artists, Cultural Encounters, Chalk Walk and The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships, TBBCA provides valuable funding support for artists and art education, and builds awareness of arts and culture as important economic drivers in our community and essential contributors to our quality of life. For more information, visit www.TBBCA.org.

    About B2 Communications

    B2 Communications helps clients communicate with those that affect their organizations, creating and executing wide-ranging, client-specific programs that may include such professional communication services as: media relations, community/industry relations, direct outreach, content development, and message coaching. Among its clients: Colliers International Tampa Bay, Central & Southwest Florida; Colliers International South Florida; Sunstar Paramedics; Ybor City Development Corp.; USAmeriBank; Halpern Enterprises; Revenue Management Solutions; SPCA Tampa Bay; Premier Eye Care; St. Petersburg Free Clinic; and Fisher & Phillips. For more information, visit www.B2communications.com.

  • TBBCA Announces New Emergency Fund for Jazz Instrumentalists and Vocalists

    Tampa, FL (July 8, 2015) Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) welcomes qualified applicants to be considered for a newly established “Emergency Fund for Jazz Instrumentalists and Vocalists”. This TBBCA Program is made possible by a Tampa Bay philanthropist with deep ties in the jazz community and who prefers to remain anonymous.

    Applicants must demonstrate urgent need for emergency funds due to non-terminal illness or other unexpected at-risk situations. Funds are to be strictly applied to mortgage/rent, air conditioning, heat, and electricity. Proof of use of funds for payment is required.  Application form can be found online at http://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/emergency-fund/   Required documentation is listed under eligibility criteria. Applications with accompanying attachments should be submitted BY MAIL ONLY to TBBCA P.O. Box 559, Tampa, FL  33601 Attn: Executive Director. Funding of awards is at the discretion of TBBCA. Funds are dispensed on a case by case basis.

    Donations to the Fund are welcomed and can be mailed to P.O. Box 559, Tampa, FL  33601. TBBCA is a non-profit 501(c) (3).

    For questions please contact: Susana Weymouth, Executive Director TBBCA: 813-221-2787

    About TBBCA:

    TBBCA is a non-profit organization founded in 1989. It remains today one of 12 affiliate organizations in the U.S. of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA’s mission is to unite area businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community because “the arts are good for business and business is good for the arts”. Through innovative pARTnerships and sustainable programs like Call to Artists, Cultural Encounters, Chalk Walk and The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships, TBBCA provides valuable funding support for artists and art education, and builds awareness of arts and culture as important economic drivers in our community and essential contributors to our quality of life.

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