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

Author: Susana Weymouth

  • TBBCA 2021 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Call to Applicants High School Juniors and Seniors – Now Open for Submissions

    TBBCA 2021 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Call to Applicants High School Juniors and Seniors – Now Open for Submissions

    TBBCA introduces new online only submissions process in pARTnership with Kaleidoscope

    Tampa, Fla. (December 17, 2020) – Non-profit Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (“Tampa Bay BCA”) (“TBBCA”) announces the Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships 2021 call to applicants is now open. TBBCA annually awards scholarships of $2500 each in six fine and performing arts disciplines:  Dance, Theatre, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, Visual Arts, and Literary Arts. For the first time, application submissions are accepted online only in pARTnership with scholarship management platform Kaleidoscope. TBBCA Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships application is at: https://app.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarship/TBBCA

    “We are pleased that all qualified students now will apply for our scholarships online through Kaleidoscope’s 100% digital contactless platform,” said Susana Weymouth, TBBCA Executive Director. “The customized user-friendly process eliminates the cumbersome need for students and recommenders to gather and mail hard copies while meeting the same application requirements as in previous years.”

    “Our non-profit is proud to support higher education in the arts with the Art Stars Scholarships program, founded in 2008 by the late Charlie Hounchell,” said Stephen Gay, TBBCA board president and chair of the program. He added, “TBBCA new partnership with Kaleidoscope will further expand resources for our future arts stars and to all applicants.”

    TBBCA Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships call to applicants is open high school juniors and seniors in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Students may apply in one, more or all disciplines in which they are qualified, but separate applications must be submitted for each discipline. There is no fee. Deadline to apply is February 23, 2021.

    TBBCA Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships application: https://app.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarship/TBBCA

    About TBBCA

    Founded in 1989, the Tampa Bay BCA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, one of the national Business Committees for the Arts and part of the national private sector network and pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA mission is to unite businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community. TBBCA 2021 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Program applications link: https://app.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarship/TBBCA

    To view the talent showcase and learn more about the 2020 scholarship laureates and judges: https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships

    About Kaleidoscope

    Kaleidoscope is a cloud-based platform that enables organizations to fund, design, administer, and host beautifully branded scholarship and grant programs. The platform uses leading technologies to deliver an end-to-end solution for donors, organizations and the students they support. Their approach transforms how education is funded and how students benefit. They aim to build a future where financial aid and funding solutions are smart, cost effective, and as unique as the students they serve.

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  • Americans for the Arts – ARTS Blog – By Every Measure, COVID-19 Continues Its Devastation of the Arts

    Americans for the Arts – ARTS Blog – By Every Measure, COVID-19 Continues Its Devastation of the Arts

    By Every Measure, COVID-19 Continues Its Devastation of the Arts | ARTS Blog (americansforthearts.org)

    Posted by Mr. Randy Cohen, Dec 01, 2020

    As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, so does its devastation of the nation’s arts sector. Since the first U.S. case was reported in January 2020, cancellations have taken place at virtually every arts organization across the country, artists are among the most severely affected segment of the nation’s workforce, and 1 in 10 nonprofit arts organizations doubt their ability to survive the pandemic. It has been unquestionably brutal for the arts. When we get to the other side of the pandemic, however, I believe the arts will be among our greatest assets in helping the nation to recover.

    Financial Losses to the Arts & Creative Economy

    The arts are a larger segment of the economy than most people realize. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the nation’s arts and culture sector—nonprofit, commercial, education—is an $878 billion industry that supports 5.1 million jobs. That is 4.5% of the nation’s economy—a larger share of GDP than powerhouse sectors such as agriculture, transportation, and tourism. The arts even boast a $30 billion international trade surplus.

    How have things changed since the pandemic? A recent Brookings Institution report shows America’s arts and creative industries lost $150 billion in sales and 2.7 million jobs through July. The “fine and performing arts” alone (commercial and nonprofit) incurred losses of $42.5 billion and a whopping 50% of its workforce (-1.4 million jobs).

    Nonprofit Arts Sector is Struggling to Reopen & Compete

    Americans for the Arts has been surveying nonprofit arts and cultural organizations about the pandemic’s human and financial impacts since early March (19,800 organizational responses). Nonprofit arts organizations have lost an estimated $14.6 billion to date. 99% of producing and presenting organizations have cancelled events—a loss of 481 million admissions. (The nation’s museums alone were losing $33 million per day at the beginning of the pandemic, per the American Alliance of Museums.)

    Organizations have responded to these challenges by laying off/furloughing staff (35%); reducing payroll (30%); and for those that have them, using financial reserves (39%). 63% have increased their online presence to maintain audience and donor engagement and boost revenue.

    Nonprofit arts organizations are struggling reopen and stay open. Currently, 41% are open and 59% are closed.

    • 12% are open and never closed.
    • 29% are open again after having closed.
    • 20% are closed but have a target date for re-opening.
    • 39% are closed and have no target date for re-opening.

    When asked about barriers to reopening, arts leaders listed these as the top four: (1) customers unlikely to attend, (2) government restrictions/guidelines, (3) staff/board do not feel it is yet safe, and (4) impractical to produce art product in current environment. Museums/visual arts organizations are much more likely to be open than performing arts organizations (66% vs. 26%), though at greatly reduced capacity. Of the organizations that are open, more than 80% require social distancing by staff and attendees, use masks and protective equipment, have enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and reduced attendance to limit crowding. About 5% of organizations that reopened have had to re-close due to local legal requirements or non-compliance with safety measures by attendees.

    Is this economic damage to arts organizations simply the way it has gone for all nonprofits during the pandemic? Not at all. According to an analysis by Johns Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies, nonprofit “Arts, Culture, and Recreation” jobs were down 34.7% between February and August—a job loss rate that is three times worse than other nonprofit subsectors:

    1. Arts, Culture, and Recreation (-34.7%)
    2. Education (-12.6%)
    3. Social assistance (-10.1%)
    4. Health care (-4.3%)

    Impact on Artists & Creative Workers

    Since April, Americans for the Arts has partnered with Artist Relief to survey individual artists and creative workers about the impact of the pandemic (27,000 artist respondents to date). 95% report loss of income, 63% have become fully unemployed, and artists expect to lose an average of $22,000 each in creativity-based income in 2020 ($50.6 billion, nationally).

    • 79% experienced a decrease in creative work that generated income (62% a “drastic decrease”).
    • 67% are unable to access the supplies, resources, spaces, or people necessary for creative work.
    • 78% have no post-pandemic financial recovery plan.
    • Top four needs for artists: (1) unemployment insurance, (2) food/housing assistance, (3) forgivable business loans, and (4) access to affordable healthcare.

    Reflective of the pandemic itself, artists who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) have been more negatively impacted by the pandemic than white artists, including higher rates of unemployment (69% vs. 60%) and the expectation of losing a larger percentage of their 2020 income (61% vs. 56%).

    The Rebuilding Power of the Arts

    Clearly this is a distressing time for the country with more uncertainty ahead. When the crisis does end, however, the arts can provide the economic, social cohesion, and personal well-being benefits needed to recover from the pandemic.

    The arts are kindling for the economy—small investments that deliver big returns. They get people out of their homes and spending money in the community. Every visit to an arts event generates $31.47 per person beyond the ticket cost in spending on meals, retail, parking, and lodging. These dollars provide vital income to local merchants, energize the downtown, and pay salaries and wages in non-arts sectors. And the promising news is that the Audience Outlook Monitor research shows the vast majority of audiences fully intend to return to the arts post-pandemic—continuing their earlier levels of attendance and charitable support.

    The arts also provide shared and meaningful experiences in public spaces—a community connection that heals the loneliness caused by isolation and social distancing. The research shows that the public understands these well-being benefits:

    • 72% of Americans believe “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity.”
    • 73% agree that art “helps me understand other cultures better.”
    • 81% of the population says the arts are a “positive experience in a troubled world.”

    The arts are on the right side of what needs to be done to rebuild and heal our country. We must continue to invest in our artists and fund our arts organizations to capture these benefits.

  • Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts announces departure of Executive Director

    Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts announces departure of Executive Director

    Susana Weymouth to join TBBCA Cultural pARTner The Florida Orchestra

    Tampa, Fla. (December 10, 2020) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (“Tampa Bay BCA”) (“TBBCA”) Board of Directors announces that Susana Weymouth will be departing from her role as Executive Director come January 2021. Ms. Weymouth will be joining The Florida Orchestra, the state’s largest performing arts organization, as its new Chief Development Officer.

    “We are grateful to Susana for devoting six years to advance TBBCA mission and goals,” said Stephen Gay, board president and chair. “During her tenure, Susana has been a transformational leader and driving force behind our non-profit’s growth and success. Her tireless work and significant accomplishments have taken TBBCA to the next level and impacted countless lives,” he added.

    “It has been a privilege to lead the Tampa Bay BCA in close collaboration with dedicated board directors and supporters,” remarked Ms. Weymouth. “The Florida Orchestra has long been one of TBBCA’s closest cultural pARTners, and Maestro Michael Francis was recognized with the 2017 Impact Award. I am honored to be invited to join the TFO team and direct my efforts toward the future success of one of Tampa Bay, and indeed the state of Florida’s, most valuable economic and artistic assets.”

    “Susana leaves our organization in a very strong position, both financially and programmatically,” noted Lorna Taylor, TBBCA board director and past president.  “We appreciate her commitment and personal and professional contributions. She carries to The Florida Orchestra our best wishes.”

    About TBBCA

    Founded in 1989, the Tampa Bay BCA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, one of the national Business Committees for the Arts and part of the national private sector network and pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA mission is to unite businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community. TBBCA pARTnerships and programs raise awareness and connect businesses and individuals in support of arts and culture as vital economic drivers, catalysts for innovation, creativity, transformation and development, and essential contributors to well-being and quality of life. The arts are good for business and business is good for the arts.  www.tbbca.org

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  • TBBCA 2020 Lifetime Achievement Impact Award Honoree the late Griffith J. Davis

    TBBCA 2020 Lifetime Achievement Impact Award Honoree the late Griffith J. Davis

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2020

    Contacts for:

    Griffith J. Davis Photographs & Archives:    Dorothy M. Davis  or  Samuel W. Pressley

    646-413-0058 / info@griffithjdavis.org \ www.griffdavis.com

    609-634-6369 / sampress@sampress.com / sampress.com

    Griffith J. Davis, Pioneer International Photographer, Journalist, U.S. Senior Foreign Service Officer, and Photo-Documentarian in the Civil Rights Movement  and the Independence Movement of Africa, to Receive Lifetime Achievement Impact Award at the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (TBBCA) 31st Annual Impact Awards Virtual Program, October 1, 2020, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm (EST)

    “A product of the Jim Crow era, Griff Davis stood at the vortex of history and the future as a Buffalo Soldier in Italy during World War II, the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. and the Independence Movement in Africa.  Through his camera, writing and diplomatic skills, he fought for freedom and independence by documenting changing times and being on the cutting edge of changing those times by shaping image, narrative and policies.  He was both an observer and interpreter of the times.”

    ꟷ Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr., an American historian, filmmaker and Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University

    WHO:              Griffith J. Davis (1923-1993), a pioneer and distinguished photographer, journalist, and U. S. Senior Foreign Service Officer simultaneously during the Civil Rights Movement and the Independence Movement of Africa, will be honored posthumously with the TBBCA Lifetime Achievement Impact Award.  Affectionately known as “Griff” by his family, friends, and colleagues across the globe, Mr. Davis was born on the campus of his later alma mater Morehouse College and raised on the campus of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.  Upon graduation in 1947, Mr. Davis became the first Roving Editor for Ebony Magazine at the recommendation of his professor, Langston Hughes to its Founder and Publisher, John H. Johnson.  He was the only African-American in the Class of 1949 of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.  He also studied photojournalism under Kurt Safranski, one of the co-founders of the Black Star Publishing Company before becoming its only African American international freelance photojournalist from 1949-1952.   (As refugees from Germany, the co-founders of Black Star brought the photojournalism industry to the United States and assisted Henry Luce in founding Life magazine.)

    After passing the exam in 1952, he simultaneously became one of the pioneer African Americans in the U.S. Foreign Service posted at the first U.S. Embassy in Africa and Liberia under the leadership of the first African American Ambassador Edward R. Dudley.  As the Embassy’s first Information Officer, he helped establish President Harry Truman’s Point Four Program for foreign aid (predecessor to the U.S. Agency for International Development) worldwide by creating the Embassy’s Audiovisual Center. During his 35 year career as a Foreign Service Officer, he was posted in newly independent Tunisia and Nigeria; served as an advisor to African governments and for the U.S. Bureau of Africa and the Bureau for Population and Humanitarian Assistance.  In these capacities, he had the fortuitous opportunity to document in writing, still photographs and motion pictures the life and activities of the many African governments and influence their development policies in the communications, education, population and economic development arenas during this professional lifespan.

    WHEN:           Thursday, October 1, 2020 from 6 p.m.  – 7 p.m.

    WHAT:            Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (www.tbbca.org) of Florida is a nonprofit organization founded in 1989, one of the national Business Committees for the Arts, part of the private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts.  For over three decades, TBBCA has united Tampa Bay businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community, because the arts are good for business, and business is good for the arts.  The annual Impact Awards benefit TBBCA programs, including The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships.

    WHERE:         Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts – AN EXCLUSIVE VIRTUAL EVENT*.

    ( Virtual) Tickets available through September 30, 2020:  https://www.tbbca.org/impactawards2020

    WHY:              Griffith J. Davis (1923 -1993) had an outstanding eye for photography, a deep awareness of history and historical events.  He is credited with taking many iconic photographs, including that of the first meeting of then Vice President Richard Nixon and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and their two wives on Independence Day in Accra, Ghana on March 7, 1957.  Liberia President William V. S. Tubman commissioned Mr. Davis to produce the first photography exhibit on Liberia at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City in 1952 and, in that same year, the production of Liberia’s first promotional film entitled “ Pepperbird Land” narrated by the then young actor Sidney Poitier.  Mr. Davis posthumously won Second Place in the USAID/Frontlines 50th Anniversary People’s Choice Global Photo Contest in 2011.  Former U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Linda Thomas-Greenfield permanently installed an exhibition of five photographs taken by Griff Davis during his initial tour of Liberia in the Audiovisual Center of the newly christened U.S. Embassy/Monrovia in 2012.  The U.S. Supreme Court requested that Griff Davis’ photograph of U.S. Supreme Court Judge Thurgood Marshall as Chief Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund be added to its archives and included in its Exhibition “ Reading the Law:  Legal Education in America”, at U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, DC, April 2015 to April 2017.

    Griff Davis’ other awards and honors include:   As the only African American international freelance photojournalist for Black Star Publishing Co. and stringer correspondent for the New York Times, Davis covered events across Africa, Europe and parts of the United States from 1949 to 1952.  His photographs and articles were featured in Fortune, Ebony, Time, Modern Photography, Steelways, New York Times, Der Spiegel and other notable publications.  He began his professional career as photographer for Spelman College, Morehouse College, the Atlanta University System, the segregated Black Atlanta community and the Atlanta Daily World, the oldest continually published African American newspaper in the country.  In WWII, he served in the U.S. Army as a Buffalo Soldier and photographer with the 92nd Infantry Division, a segregated infantry division, in Italy.  After the war, the Italian Government asked Davis to take aerial shots of the Genoa Harbor to serve as the foundation for its reconstruction.  He received the 1993 Morehouse College Candle in the Dark Bennie Trailblazer Award named after his mentor Dr. Benjamin Mays, President Emeritus of Morehouse College.

    From January 17 to August 16, 2020, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts exhibited 62 of his photographs entitled “Griff Davis and Langston Hughes, Letters and Photographs 1947 – 1967:  A Global Friendship”.  Hughes, Davis’ former professor at Morehouse College in Atlanta, was an award-winning American poet, novelist, playwright, and columnist. The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is one of about 10 museums in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to photography and one of two such museums in the State of Florida.  The exhibition was co-sponsored by the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA), Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts, My Favorite Art Place, Dorothy M. Davis Consulting services and Griffith J. Davis Photographs and Archives.

    Griffith J. Davis Photographs and Archives is dedicated to preserving, exhibiting and sharing the stories of Griffith Davis’ pioneering, innovative and sophisticated body of work. It includes 55,000 photographs and a complementary explosion of written documentation in the forms of official and unofficial reports, communications materials and correspondence with historic leaders and friends as Hughes and fellow Atlantan and Morehouse alumnus Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    ► * ATTENTION NEWS MEDIA:  Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic the awards event is a virtual presentation. The Lifetime Achievement Impact Award for Mr. Davis will be accepted by his daughter, Dorothy M. Davis, President of Griffith J. Davis Photographs and Archives, based in New York and St. Petersburg, Florida.

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  • TBBCA 31st annual Impact Awards honor important contributions to arts and culture

    TBBCA 31st annual Impact Awards honor important contributions to arts and culture

    The non-profit’s signature event will be held this year as a first-ever virtual program on Thursday, October 1st .

    Tampa, Fla. (August 20, 2020) – Tampa Bay BCA announces the 2020 Impact Awards virtual event Thursday, October 1st at 6 PM. The honorees are: BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Business Impact Award; Tampa Museum of Art, 100 Years of Cultural Leadership and Community Impact Award; and the late Griffith J. Davis, African American photojournalist and diplomat, Lifetime Achievement Award.

    “At this time more than ever it is important that we unite and recognize the extraordinary contributions of these business, arts and cultural leaders,” said Stephen Gay, president and chair of TBBCA board of directors, and Co-Chair of Impact Awards. “Each of the 2020 honorees are true sources of inspiration.”

    “I am proud to serve as Co-Chair of the 2020 Impact Awards,” remarked Adam Unger, TBBCA board director and officer. “We are planning an engaging, uplifting one-hour program that will highlight the influential impact of two cultural icons and a global business leader.” The video presentations on the three honorees, created in collaboration with TBBCA board director Glenn Horn, creative director of ChappellRoberts, will debut at the virtual event.

    “Impact Awards will be kicked off by Master of Ceremonies Rod Carter, Anchor, News Channel 8. CW Gin Joint will host virtual cocktails, and there will be special appearances, surprise guest and a performance by this year’s scholarship laureate for theater,” noted Susana Weymouth, TBBCA executive director. “We invite business and community leaders across Tampa Bay to join us and support our nonprofit and important programs, including the Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships.” Sponsorships offer access to the exclusive virtual event, with additional benefits at different levels that may be found on our website  www.tbbca.org/impactawards2020

    About TBBCA

    Tampa Bay BCA is a non-profit founded in 1989, one of the national Business Committees for the Arts, part of the private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. For over three decades, TBBCA has united Tampa Bay businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community, because the arts are good for business, and business is good for the arts. The annual Impact Awards benefit TBBCA programs, including The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships. For information contact TBBCA 813-221-2787 or email susanaweymouth@tbbca.org TBBCA is a 501 (c) (3) #CH32681 ###

  • 51st Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Call to Artists

    51st Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Call to Artists

    https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=8674

    The Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is recognized as one of the top-rated outdoor fine art festivals in the country. The 51st Annual Festival will be held March 6-7, 2021, at our beautiful new location at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in downtown Tampa. The Festival is presented by Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Inc. – a non-profit, entirely volunteer-run organization. Each year, up to 235 artists are selected through a juried process to exhibit their work for art enthusiasts and vie for $80,000 in award money, including the $15,000 Raymond James Best of Show Award and an additional 38 awards. The Festival is free to the public and attracts an estimated 75,000 visitors.

    Covid-19 Update: GFA are continuing in efforts to plan the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts for March 6-7, 2021. GFA will adhere to any guidelines or safety measures as directed by the CDC and the City of Tampa regarding the safety and health of our community and will continue to update each of our artists, vendors, and sponsors of any changes going forward. 

    GENERAL INFORMATION
    REQUIREMENTS:

    Images: 4 (a booth shot is required)

    Fee (Application Fee) $45.00 (July 1 – August 31); $55.00 (September 1 – October 31)

    You can submit up to 4 applications for this show.

    SCHEDULE:

    • October 1, 2020 (midnight): Deadline for complete applications to be submitted and for payment of the application fee.
    • Mid-October 2020: A panel of four qualified jurors will evaluate all applications (without knowing the artists’ identities) as part of the process for selecting and inviting artists to participate in the Festival.
    • Late-October/Early-November 2020: Invitations will be sent to selected artists.
    • January 7, 2021: Deadline to accept invitation and for payment of the exhibition (booth) fee. (Note: we have extended the deadline by over a month due to Covid-19)
    • January/February 2021: Information packets will be e-mailed to participating artists.
    • January/Early-February 2021: Opening of the online booth request process. Booth assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.
    • March 4-5, 2021: Artist load-in and setup will occur. Artists will be required to check-in at a designated location prior to setup. Detailed information concerning artist check-in, load-in, setup, and load-out will be provided to participating artists prior to the Festival.
    • March 6-7, 2021: The 51st Annual Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

    APPLYING TO THE FESTIVAL

    • Each artist must complete an individual online application, submit four images (three media and one booth photo), and pay the application fee by the application deadline.
    • A nonrefundable application fee of $45 must accompany each application. The nonrefundable application fee increases to $55 after August 31, 2020.
    • The artwork shown on the three images must have been produced in the last three years (2017 to present), and the artist must indicate the year for each piece or the application will be marked incomplete. These three images must accurately represent the type of work that will be displayed at the Festival and must be a single category of work.
    • The fourth image must show the artist’s display space (booth) with a representative sample of the work visible. This image is to provide the jurors assurance that the artist has an adequate body of work and should illustrate the scale of work. Applications without a booth display image will be marked incomplete.
    • Artists who received an award from the juror (excludes Collectors Krewe purchase awards) at the 2020 Festival are automatically accepted into the 2021 Festival. These artists must, however, submit an application and pay the application fee by the application deadline.
    • The 2020 Emerging Artist award winner will be automatically accepted into the 2021 Festival provided he or she submits an application and pays the application fee by the application deadline.
    • An artist may apply in multiple medium categories for different bodies of work. A separate application must be submitted (including its own set of images) and a separate application fee must be paid for each category. An artist may not apply multiple times in the same category.
    • A two-person team or partnership collaborating on a single product may qualify as a single exhibitor if this is adequately explained in the application. Each artist’s name must appear on the completed application, and both artists must be present for the entire Festival.
    • The City of Tampa requires proof of auto insurance for all vehicles accessing the Festival site. By submitting your application, you confirm that you will have a valid auto insurance policy for your vehicle for the duration of the Festival, including during load-in, setup, and load-out. If you do not have valid auto insurance, you must notify the Festival and your vehicle will not be allowed to access the Festival site.

    WAIT LIST

    A wait list will be developed based on the results of the juried selection process. Wait-listed artists who are selected to participate in the Festival will be notified by email.

    AWARDS

    A juror of national prominence will jury the Festival on Saturday, March 6, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Festival juror will determine the recipients of the following awards:

    $15,000 Raymond James Financial Best of Show Award
    $9,000 Board of Director’s Award
    $5,000 Roddy Brownlee Reed Award of Excellence
    $4,000 Mayor’s Award
    $3,000 President’s Award
    $2,000 (Name TBD) Award
    $1,300 Awards of Merit (30 awards of $1,300 each)
    $1,500 Emerging Artist Award
    $1,000 Tampa Bay Regional High School Scholastic Showcase Award (Student)
    $500 Tampa Bay Regional High School Scholastic Showcase Award (Student’s School)

    An awards ceremony will be held at 6:00 p.m., Saturday, March 6, 2021 at the artists’ party. Award ribbons and checks will be presented at the party, but artists must, in any event, personally claim their awards and checks by no later than 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, or else the award and check will be deemed forfeited.

    Covid-19 Update: Prize money, number of awards, and number of artists selected are subject to change due to the uncertainty of Covid-19.

    RULES/REGULATIONS
    Please refer to the Festival website for complete rules and regulations at: http://gasparillaarts.com/rules/.
  • CALL TO ARTISTS – OP ART/GLASS – IMAGINE MUSEUM

    CALL TO ARTISTS – OP ART/GLASS – IMAGINE MUSEUM

    Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida is seeking artists who work with glass to submit entries to our 2nd “Call to Artists” exhibition entitled OP ART/GLASS. We are seeking submissions that demonstrate optical illusions or effect.

    The juried OP ART/GLASS exhibit will showcase works of art, fabricated in glass, that explore optical effects through technique, movement, flashing or vibrating design, optical configurations or repeated patterns. Defining optical will be left to the artist to be interpreted for the exhibition through the judging.  The goal is to showcase the artist’s creativity as they explore visual illusions and perceptions using glass and its profound qualities.

    Exhibition Information and Dates

    1. Submission period opens: September 7, 2020
    2. Submission deadline: October 11, 2020
    3. Notification of acceptance via email no later: October 14, 2020
    4. Selected artwork due at Imagine Museum: November 16 – 20, 2020
      1. Hand-delivered: To hand deliver artists MUST schedule an appointment with Gallery Manager, Christian Zvonik at czvonik@imaginemuseum.com or 727-300-1700 ext. 108
    5. Jurors will select awardees, who will then be notified by Brianna Sharpe – artist(s) are encouraged to be present to receive award
    6. Members Preview Reception and Artists Awards Ceremony: Friday, January 15, 2020, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
    7. Art Pick-up/Return Shipping to begin: April 19, 2021
      1. Pick-up works by appointment with Gallery Manager, Christian Zvonik at czvonik@imaginemuseum.com or 727-300-1700 ext. 108
    8. For general exhibition information or questions related to the IM Call to Artists, contact: Imagine Museum, Registrar, Brianna Sharpe at bsharpe@imaginemuseum.com or 727.300.1700 ext. 113

    How to Submit Artworks

    1. Please read Criteria and Guidelines carefully.
    2. Artwork must have been created within the last 3 years.
    3. Download the application online at imaginemuseum.com.
    4. Selection process: Originality, creativity, quality and complexity of workmanship, artistry and impact as represented in the images submitted will determine acceptance into the show. 

    Entry Procedure

    1. Download the entry form at: https://www.imaginemuseum.com/collections
    2. Complete the entry form, including bio and narrative about the work(s) submitted.
    3. Check box to agree to Terms and Conditions.
    4. Save the entry form as: Yourlastname_Firstname_OP ART Entryform.
    5. Email the entry form and images(s) to: Brianna Sharpe at bsharpe@imaginemuseum.com
    6. Label your image files with your last name, title of the piece and entry#, Example: LastName_Title_#1.
    7. Image files must be JPEG only; no smaller than 1920 pixels on the longest side; file resolution of 300 ppi/dpi; maximum file size 3 MB. Detail images may be submitted along with images that fully captures the artwork and optical effect of the piece(s).

    Entry Fee

    Each applicant may submit up to 3 pieces.

    Application fee for submissions is: $35 for one (1) submission; $60 for two (2) submissions; and $85 for three (3) submissions.

    Entry Fee can be paid online at www.imaginemusuem.com or send a check to Imagine Museum and indicate in the subject line that the payment is for Call-to-Artist: Op Art/GLASS

    Criteria and Guidelines

    1. Artworks submitted must explore the theme of optical illusion or effects using the glass material.
    2. Work submitted must be made within the last three (3) years.
    3. IM Call to Artists is open to anyone 18 years or older and working in the field of studio glass art.
    4. Artists may submit up to three (3) pieces of their artwork.
    5. All work must be original concept, design and execution.
    6. All works submitted must be at least 75%
    7. Submitted images may be used for marketing and promotional purposes directly related to this exhibition by Imagine Museum. Copyright and all other rights remain that of the artist.
    8. All accepted entries must be received ready for proper install or with limited assembly.
    9. Hanging works must have suitable hardware for installation – 50 lb. weight limit *(special exceptions may apply).
    10. Pedestal and floor works must be suitable for proper display – 75 lb. weight limit *(special exceptions may apply).
    11. Imagine Museum will insure work in its possession during the exhibition. Artists are responsible for providing their own insurance while the work is in transit.
    12. No substitutions for submissions will be accepted once application and images are received. All submissions at FINAL.

    Shipping

    1. Shipping to Imagine Museum is the responsibility of the artists. Detailed delivery and shipping instructions will be emailed to each artists with the acceptance notification.
    1. All work must be shipped in sturdy packaging and include any necessary assembly instructions for display.
    1. Imagine Museum will cover return shipping cost for works on display. If you desire the work to be shipped to a different address other than the one given on the application, you must let Brianna Sharpe know prior to the close of the exhibition. Your works will be returned to you in safe and proper packing material.

    Awards

    A select group of art professionals will juror the exhibition and award the following:

    • Best of Show: $2,000
    • 2nd: $1,000
    • 3rd: $500

    Acceptance / Placement of Work

    • No substitutions for accepted artwork will be allowed. All work must remain on display until the conclusion of the exhibit April 18, 2021.
    • All artwork is subject to review and placement discretion by the Curatorial Staff at Imagine Museum. Exhibit selection is based on relevance to the theme and stated criteria. Placement in the gallery is the sole discretion of the Curatorial Staff at Imagine Museum.
    • All works shown may be available for sale by the artist. Imagine Museum will refer all interested parties directly to the artist or preferred representative and seeks no percentage of possible sales.
  • TBBCA teams up with St. Pete Catalyst for 2020 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Program

    TBBCA teams up with St. Pete Catalyst for 2020 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Program

    The creative collaborators successfully launched the first ever virtual talent showcase

    Tampa, Fla. (June 25, 2020) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (“Tampa Bay BCA”) (“TBBCA”) was faced with the challenge of pivoting to a virtual Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships awards in lieu of the annual in-person ceremony. The non-profit forged a creative collaboration with new Chair’s Circle pARTner St Pete Catalyst, chosen as the exclusive publisher of the 2020 scholarships program.

    “We were honored to be entrusted by TBBCA for their first ever virtual arts scholarships program,” said the St Pete Catalyst founder and publisher Joe Hamilton. “Through our Impact Catalyst series, we created video interviews with all of the judges and the young artistic prodigies, to encourage engagement and appreciation by a broader audience.” The series kicked off with the non-profit’s executive director, Susana Weymouth. “In the face of the COVID-19 challenges, it is the creative collaborations that help move us forward,” remarked Weymouth. “Our non-profit is grateful for the pARTnership and support of The Catalyst and Joe Hamilton, who are leading the way with innovative publishing platforms and a firm commitment to shining a light on the significant impact made by the arts and arts education.”  She added, “The Catalyst additionally brought considerable expertise to expand and enhance this year’s talent showcase.”

    Published and launched exclusively by the Catalyst, TBBCA 2020 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships 30-minute talent showcase finale video, filmed with CineView Studios, can be seen at https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-26-the-charlie-hounchell-art-stars-scholarshipfinale/

    TBBCA Executive Director introductory interview https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep19-susan-weymouth-tbbca/

    2020 Charlie Hounchell Scholarships awardees individual interviews:

    Theatre:  https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-20-jordan-lakins-eugenie-bondurant/

    Instrumental Music: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-21-karishma-chapalamadugu-paul-wilborn/

    Literary Arts: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-22-vinh-hoang-lisa-unger/

    Visual Arts: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-23-isabella-robe-joanna-robotham/

    Vocal Music: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-24-eileen-lee-dawne-eubanks/

    Dance: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-25-caroline-henk-helen-hansen-french/

    About TBBCA Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Program

    Since the TBBCA program’s founding in 2008 by the late Charlie Hounchell, the non-profit has awarded over $200,000 in financial tuition assistance and other support for higher education in the arts to talented Tampa Bay area high school students who excel at vocal music, instrumental music, theater, dance, visual arts and literary arts. Awardees are competitively selected based on talent and merit by judges who are experts in their field. To learn more about the 2020 laureates and judges: https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships/

    About St. Petersburg Catalyst 

    The St Pete Catalyst is a social news platform with deep roots in the community and a strong journalistic voice. The St. Pete Catalyst’s arts section is called Create, because it’s dedicated to exploring and elevating the creative process, and all that it entails. Catalyst arts coverage is thorough, elucidating and entertaining. The Catalyst understands the significant impact made by the arts in the growth, development and health of St. Petersburg and beyond. The Catalyst is committed to shining a light on everything, and everyone, helping to keep our community compellingly creative. https://www.stpetecatalyst.com

    Impact Catalyst is a unique platform, where donors, nonprofits, and volunteers gather to share information and opportunities, and to engage and feel inspired to transform our community

  • TBBCA announces 2020 Honoree Tampa Museum of Art

    TBBCA announces 2020 Honoree Tampa Museum of Art

     

    100 Years of Cultural Leadership and Community Impact Award  

    Tampa, Fla. (June 15, 2020) – TBBCA is pleased to announce the Tampa Museum of Art will be honored with the “100 Years of Cultural Leadership and Community Impact Award”.

    “TBBCA was founded on the belief that communities can be transformed and business generated through arts and culture,” said Stephen Gay, President of TBBCA Board of Directors. “TBBCA is proud to recognize Tampa Museum of Art for its cultural leadership and community impact.”

    “Tampa Museum of Art in itself has been a critical driver for our city’s urban regeneration and economic growth,” remarked Adam Unger, TBBCA board director and co-chair of Impact Awards. “The 2020 Impact Award to Tampa Museum of Art on the occasion of its centennial is an opportunity to highlight the evolution and success of one of Tampa Bay’s most vital economic engines and cultural assets.”

    “Tampa Museum of Art’s important core collection of Greek and Roman antiquities and contemporary and modern art forms the foundation for an ever-expanding range of programming and activities,” said Dr. Michael Tomor, the Executive Director. “Through our curation of world-class exhibitions, educational offerings and outreach, connections with medical professionals and caregivers, and partnerships with Tampa Bay’s universities and businesses, the museum is committed to the highest standards of excellence in driving positive value.”

    Enrique Crespo, who serves on both TBBCA and Tampa Museum of Art boards added, “As the museum continues to attract unprecedented numbers of visitors and diverse participation growth, it will strengthen the social fabric of our community and serve current and future generations.”

    About the Tampa Museum of Art

    Founded in 1920, the Tampa Museum of Art inspires the residents of the Tampa Bay region and others around the world by providing engaging exhibitions and innovative educational programs that emphasize ancient, modern and contemporary art. As the Tampa Museum of Art celebrates its 100th anniversary, its exhibitions, in part, will focus on the breadth of the institution’s growing permanent collection.

    The Museum houses one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern United States. As one of the region’s largest museums devoted to the art of our time, the Museum’s collection also embraces sculpture, photography, painting, new media, and more. With a 14,000 square-foot LED installation of Leo Villareal’s Sky (Tampa) illuminating the south façade and the Museum’s 23-foot tall cast iron sculpture Laura with Bun by Jaume Plensa silhouetted in front of the north façade, the Tampa Museum of Art stands as an iconic landmark of downtown Tampa.

    New online programs add to the year-round creative classes offered on-site and at various locations throughout Hillsborough County. The Museum’s art education programming provides children, teens, and adults with opportunities to discover new skills and learn different art-making techniques. The Museum brings together local, national and international artists and scholars to inspire visitors to take part in exhibitions and art discourse through lectures, tours, and community partnerships.

    Located in the heart of downtown, next to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Tampa’s Riverwalk, the Tampa Museum of Art leads as both a cultural institution and a community museum dedicated to celebrating the diversity of its home city.

    General Hours and Information  

    Tampa Museum of Art is open Monday- Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.  The Museum’s phone number is (813) 274-8130, and the website is TampaMuseum.org. The Museum’s address is 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza. Tampa, FL 33602.

    About TBBCA 

    Founded in 1989, Tampa Bay BCA is one of the national Business Committees for the Arts, and proud member of the private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA’s mission is to unite businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community – “The arts are good for business, and business is good for the arts”. The annual Impact Awards benefit TBBCA programs. For information contact TBBCA Executive Director 813-221-2787 www.tbbca.org

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  • Tampa Bay BCA welcomes Stearns Weaver Miller as new Chair’s Circle pARTner

    Tampa Bay BCA welcomes Stearns Weaver Miller as new Chair’s Circle pARTner

    The law firm joins the TBBCA national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts

    TAMPA, Fla. (June 8, 2020) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (“Tampa Bay BCA” – “TBBCA”) welcomes Stearns Weaver Miller to the national pARTnerhip Movement of Americans for the Arts.

    “We are proud to welcome Stearns Weaver Miller as Chair’s Circle pARTner,” said Susana Weymouth, TBBCA Executive Director. “By strategically aligning with national leaders in support and promotion of the arts, the firm is helping to ensure a healthy and prosperous business and arts and cultural ecosystem.”

    “I have long maintained an unwavering commitment to TBBCA and support for the arts in our community,” remarked Sharon Britton, TBBCA Board Vice President and Shareholder, Stearns Weaver Miller. “I am pleased to join together the strengths of Stearns Weaver Miller with my leadership role in supporting one of Tampa Bay’s leading non-profits dedicated to promoting business and cultural growth through recognition of the role of the creative arts in societal advance.”

    About Stearns Weaver Miller

    Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson is a full service law firm with steadfast commitment to the highest-quality practice of law and service to its clients. A commitment to the community is fundamental to the very fabric of the Firm. It proudly supports a myriad of not-for-profit organizations impacting the arts, children and families, community services, education, the environment and public interest, health and wellness, and legal services throughout the state. With offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Tallahassee, and Coral Gables, Florida, Stearns Weaver Miller offers multidisciplinary solutions with a focus on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business Restructuring, Corporate & Securities, Government & Administrative, Labor & Employment, Real Estate, Land Development, Zoning & Environmental and Tax. As part of an ongoing expansion of its Tampa footprint, in the past year the Firm has added Sharon Britton, Shareholder; Land Development and Real Estate Shareholder Elise Batsel; Attorney Kevin Reali; experienced commercial lending Shareholder Jennifer Powers; and Former Leon County Assistant County Attorney Jessica M. Icerman. www.stearnsweaver.com.

    About Sharon Carlstedt Britton

    Sharon Britton has nearly three decades of experience litigating a variety of complex commercial matters, including contracts, healthcare, insurance, white collar and intellectual property. Her multiple areas of expertise include complex commercial disputes, and significant trial experience on behalf of well-known, national companies. Notably, Sharon has successfully defended record labels, music publishers and artists against Internet companies in high-profile copyright infringement cases. Sharon earned her J.D., cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center and B.A., magna cum laude, from The American University. sbritton@stearnsweaver.com | 813-222-5025

    About TBBCA

    TBBCA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit with the mission to unite businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community. The arts are good for business, and business is good for the arts. Founded in 1989 as one of the national Business Committees for the Arts, the Tampa Bay BCA is part of the private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA pARTnerships help sustain the non-profit’s mission and support programs, including Hillsborough Artist Relief Program with over $200,000 emergency grants to meet critical needs of artists, the Culturepreneur Leadership Intern Program, and the Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships that provide financial tuition assistance for higher education in the arts. www.tbbca.org