Author: Susana Weymouth

Tampa, Fla. (May 19, 2019) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (“Tampa Bay BCA”) (“TBBCA”) is proud to announce BNY Mellon Wealth Management as the TBBCA 2020 Business Impact Award Honoree. TBBCA annual Impact Awards celebrate honorees for their extraordinary contributions to and in support of arts and culture.

“We are thrilled to recognize the engaged leadership of TBBCA Board Director Christopher Swink, who is BNY Mellon Wealth Management Senior Director, and the firm for their robust support of arts and culture in our community,” said Stephen Gay, TBBCA Board President and Co-Chair of Impact Awards. “BNY Mellon Wealth Management have demonstrated their strong belief in the importance of private sector financial and other contributions to ensure a healthy and thriving business and arts and cultural eco-system.”

“BNY Mellon Wealth Management is honored to be distinguished with the 2020 Impact Award,” said Christopher Swink. “I am proud of our firm’s strong and enduring commitment to making art central to our corporate identity, and to being proactively involved in art programs, sponsoring arts and cultural exhibitions, events and discussions around our art collection, especially here in Tampa Bay.”

Art and investment in culture are intertwined with BNY Mellon’s history and the firm’s connections with employees, clients, and community.  BNY Mellon’s corporate art collection spans four centuries of art and includes historic artifacts, British watercolors and drawings from the 18th to 20th centuries, 19th century American paintings, and contemporary art. The collection of artifacts that deal with the history of banking in the U.S. stretches back to the founding of The Bank of New York by Alexander Hamilton in 1784. That is joined by the rich heritage passed down from the Mellon family, who were legendary art collectors. Andrew Mellon served a long tenure as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. He later formed the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. His son, Paul Mellon, led the expansion of the National Gallery with the East Wing and was known as one of the greatest collectors of British art.

Brian Lang is the Curator of BNY Mellon’s corporate art collection. For over 20 years, Lang has managed the company’s worldwide art holdings, a diverse portfolio of works that he sees as a reflection of the vibrant, creative BNY Mellon organization. “I work closely with museums and other cultural institutions, consult with business teams including BNY Mellon Wealth Management, and develop innovative ways to link BNY Mellon’s rich heritage with a world of constant change,” remarked Lang.

“The BNY Mellon contemporary collection is our largest, and still growing. One of the aims is to support living artists at integral stages of their careers,” Lang explained. “Its major genres include printmaking, drawings and photography. Much of the art collection rotates between BNY Mellon’s clients offices around the globe. It is viewed as a cultural investment, enhancing the connections with clients and the employee experience with stimulating environments where innovation is fostered and arts and culture are valued.”

Since 1980, BNY Mellon has lent art from its collection to more than 100 exhibitions with public arts institutions. The art collection has partnered with Wealth Management for decades, and is a vital part of BNY Mellon’s support for museums and other cultural institutions.”

The most recent of these loans is to the Tampa Museum of Art for the exhibition “Frank Stella: Illustrations after El Lissitzky’s Had Gadya from the Collection of BNY Mellon.” Co-curated by Brian Lang and Joanna Robotham, the museum’s Curator for Modern and Contemporary Art, the exhibition debuts to the public June 1st, 2020. Frank Stella is recognized as one of the greatest living American artists. “The exhibition on loan from the BNY Mellon collection is very special,” said Lang. “It will feature the complete portfolio of Stella’s twelve prints, each unique in technique and color.”

About BNY Mellon Wealth Management
For more than two centuries, BNY Mellon Wealth Management has provided services to financially successful individuals and families, their family offices and business enterprises, planned giving programs, and endowments and foundations. It has $236 billion in total client assets, as of March 31, 2020, and an extensive network of offices in the U.S. and internationally. BNY Mellon Wealth Management, which delivers leading wealth advice across investments, banking, custody and wealth and estate planning, conducts business through various operating subsidiaries of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. For more information go to www.bnymellonwealth.com or follow us on Twitter @BNYMellonWealth.

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, especially The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships. For information contact TBBCA 813-221-2787

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Tampa, Fla. (May 26, 2018) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (“TBBCA”) is pleased to announce the 2020 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships awardees:

Visual Arts – Isabella Robe (Howard W. Blake High School)

Dance – Caroline Henk (Land O’Lakes High School)

Theatre –Jordan Lakins (Blake High School)

Vocal Music –Eileen Lee (PCCA Gibbs High School)

Instrumental Music -Karishma Chapalamadugu (Strawberry Crest High School)

Literary Arts –Vinh Hoang (Blake High School)

Since the program was founded in 2008 by TBBCA past board president, the late Charlie Hounchell, the non-profit has awarded over $200,000 to more than 80 students, the majority from public high schools. “TBBCA is very pleased to continue to offer these high impact scholarships,” remarked Stephen Gay, TBBCA board president and chair of the Art Stars Scholarships program. “The financial tuition assistance and other support comes at a crucial juncture in the academic and future professional careers of these deserving young artists and performers.”

“The unusual circumstances of this challenging year highlight more than ever the importance of our non-profit’s support for students to pursue higher education in the arts,” said TBBCA Executive Director Susana Weymouth. “TBBCA is grateful to our Chair’s Circle and other pARTners whose philanthropic contributions sustain the scholarships program.” Weymouth went on to acknowledge, “Special thanks to the Hieronymus Foundation, and long-time supporters Michael and Linda Connelly, for their generous donation. Their gift will provide critical financial aid and additional support to graduating scholarship recipients.” Internationally best-selling author and television producer Michael Connelly served as the first Literary Arts judge for the Art Stars Scholarships program.

The scholarship winners were selected based on their talent and merit by judges expert in their fields: Lisa Unger, award-winning New York Times and internationally best-selling author; Joanna Robotham, Curator for Modern and Contemporary Art, Tampa Museum of Art; Helen Hansen French; Juilliard graduate, choreographer/dancer/educator, and founder of dance collectives; Eugenie Bondurant, acclaimed film and television actor, singer, and educator; Paul Wilborn, Director of The Palladium, band leader and musician, author of the recently published Cigar City; and Dawne Eubanks, classical soloist and voice instructor at Eckerd College and Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. This year the judges’ introductions and the young scholarship awardees talents will be showcased virtually and filmed in pARTnership with CineView Studios, led by Chris Jackson. “We are excited to pARTner with TBBCA on this scholarships program that rewards and encourages the endeavors of artistic prodigies in instrumental and vocal music, theater, dance, visual and literary arts,” said Jackson.

To donate to the scholarships and for more information on the 2020 recipients and judges visit  https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships/

ABOUT MICHAEL CONNELLY

Michael Connelly is the award-winning, NYT #1 bestselling author of thirty-four novels and one work of non-fiction. With over 70 million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into forty foreign languages, he is one of the most successful writers working today. Connelly’s much anticipated newest novel FAIR WARNING debuts this month. Connelly is currently producing a TV series for Amazon Studios called Bosch, based on his novels. It began streaming on Amazon Prime in early 2015, and is currently in its 6^th season.

ABOUT CINEVIEW STUDIOS

CineView Studios is Tampa Bay’s premier video production and photography company. Comprised of award-winning, collaborative artists, with an unrivaled passion for crafting unique and engaging stories, the team at CineView brings their experience and skills to production. CineView has earned multiple regional festival wins for narrative work and photography, and been published both nationally and internationally. 

ABOUT TBBCA

Tampa Bay BCA, founded in 1989, is one of the national Business Committees for the Arts, and 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 501 (c) 3 non-profit is sustained by the support of donors, including Chair’s Circle pARTners: Premier Eye Care, Stephen Gay Group, Hieronymus Foundation, the Gobioff Foundation, the Vinik Family Foundation, Strategic Property Partners, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, Ogletree Deakins, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Stearns Weaver Miller, Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo Private Bank, University of Tampa, Bank OZK, Tampa Bay Magazine, Tampa Bay Times, ChappellRoberts, and others. For information contact TBBCA Executive Director 813-221-2787 www.tbbca.org

Grants of $500 for eligible, qualified artists suffering loss of income due to pandemic crisis

TAMPA, Fla. (April 21, 2020) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) (Tampa Bay BCA) (TBBCA) is privileged to be selected by the Gobioff Foundation to partner on a new artist grant Hillsborough County Artists Relief Program (HARP) . TBBCA “HARP” is made possible by the Gobioff Foundation’s generous funding of $100,000, matched by a generous grant from the Vinik Family Foundation.

HARP is a fund to provide financial assistance to artists within Hillsborough County who are temporarily unable to meet their basic needs (including food, utilities, bills, childcare, housing (rent, mortgage), healthcare (insurance, medical bills). The goal of the fund is to get financial assistance to many artists as promptly as possible. TBBCA HARP launches on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 and is available on a ‘first come, first funded’ basis. HARP is set up to address the current novel coronavirus emergency and is estimated to run until funds are no longer available or need has been resolved. Foundations’ funding and donations to HARP are 100% directed to HARP grants, with additional support from TBBCA.

The HARP grant overview, FAQ’s, and link to the application may be found at the TBBCA website: https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/harp/ HARP amount is one-time $500.00 in the form of an unrestricted grant (not a loan) that TBBCA will pay to qualified, eligible applicants who are approved by the panel of reviewers.
Eligibility:
• Hillsborough County Resident
• Adults (18 years and older)
• Practicing artist in most artistic disciplines
• Demonstrates financial assistance need
• Legally able to receive taxable income in the U.S. (citizen, green card holder, and/or permanent resident who can provide a W9 and SSN or (TIN)

“Artists are hard-working integral part of our society,” said Neil Gobioff, President of the Gobioff Foundation. “Like any worker who relies on an income from people gathering together, they are struggling to earn at the moment. The Gobioff Foundation wants to support our local artists because they bring the truth of our being (joy, love, sadness, discourse, introspect) into the light for our community to come together.”

“TBBCA is honored to have been selected and entrusted by the Gobioff Foundation to partner on this new program,” said Susana Weymouth, Executive Director of TBBCA. “It is essential that we support our talented artists during this pandemic crisis that has caused so many to lose or shrink their income from the work and gigs and on which they rely.” Donations to HARP are invited and welcomed through the tbbca.org website link. https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/harp/

“Art is what is helping so many of us get through this,” added Gianna Rendina-Gobioff, Vice-President of the Gobioff Foundation. “We’re trying to balance the stress of the world around us with an escape into something beautiful. All of that only happens because of artists. Our local artists and non-profits have been working hard to provide online content for our community. Art is not optional and we need to help the artists that are struggling more than ever before.”

About The Gobioff Foundation
Located in the Tampa Bay area, the Gobioff Foundation is a private family foundation which works to support human rights organizations and the Tampa, FL arts community. Our grants strengthen the ability of human rights and arts organizations to enrich the Tampa community and improve the state of human rights worldwide so that the world is a better place as intended by our founder. Our mission is not static. It is constantly developing as we grow and our family grows. www.gobioff-foundation.org

About The Vinik Family Foundation (VFF)
The Vinik Family Foundation is a private foundation, created and managed by Jeff and Penny Vinik. Founded in 1997, VFF’s mission is to support initiatives in the areas of education, human services, healthcare, and the arts. To date, the Foundation has donated over $50 million to nonprofits throughout the country, with a specific focus on the Vinik’s previous hometown of Boston and their new hometown of Tampa Bay. Since 2010, Jeff and Penny Vinik have given nearly $20 million to various philanthropic organizations in Tampa Bay, through the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Community Hero program, which honors a grassroots community hero at each of the team’s home games. www.vinikfamilyfoundation.org

About TBBCA
Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts (“Tampa Bay BCA”, “TBBCA”) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1989, first in Florida and one of the national Business Committees for the Arts, part of the private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA 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.’ For information contact TBBCA Executive Director susanaweymouth@tbbca.org

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Business leaders strengthen TBBCA board with diverse professional and cultural expertise

TAMPA, FL (January 28, 2020) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) is pleased to announce the officers for 2020 and the election of three new board directors.

The 2020 board officers are Stephen Gay, Stephen Gay Group of Smith & Associates Real Estate, President; Sharon Britton, attorney and Partner, Gray-Robinson, Vice-President; Adam Unger, Director, Oxford Creative Studio, Secretary; and Lisa Carver, CFO of The Wilson Company, Treasurer.

“The board warmly welcomes new directors Dr. Judette Louis, Jerri Menaul, and Jaqueline Root,” said TBBCA President Stephen Gay. “They bring unique areas of expertise as TBBCA ushers in our non-profit’s 31st year of private sector commitment in support of arts and culture in our community.”

“The Tampa Bay BCA is thrilled to have these new leaders on the board taking an active role to promote a strong and healthy business-arts-cultural eco-system,” said Susana Weymouth, Executive Director. “In this new decade, the board will play a key role in strategically guiding TBBCA to advance the organization’s goals, including fundraising toward an endowment that looks to fund in perpetuity TBBCA Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships program. Since 2008, TBBCA has awarded over 75 scholarships with financial tuition assistance and other resources and support helping talented Tampa Bay high school students pursue higher education in the arts.

Judette Louis, M.D., is permanent Chair and James M. Ingram Endowed Professor in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with a joint faculty appointment in both the College of Public Health and the College of Medicine at University of South Florida. She is a specialist and is president for the national Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine. Dr. Louis clinical and academic activities focus on making childbirth safer for women. She has led statewide programs to improve the way providers manage obstetric emergencies across Florida, and is recognized nationally for her work in mentoring, leadership and workplace wellness.

Dr. Louis was raised by her Haitian immigrant parents in an atmosphere of dedication to service. Her academic philosophy embraces “Education is the most important gift that we can give”. Her interests in the arts include support for music education.

Jerri Menaul is owner, and together with her late husband, abstract surrealist artist Scott Menaul, co-founded My Favorite Art Place, the visual communications and arts business that includes a 6,400 sq ft gallery and working studio on North Hercules Avenue in Clearwater. MFAP is known for excellence in an array of services, including curating, fine art and custom printing, and art framing, for wholesale and retail clients and residential and wide-ranging commercial projects. Ms. Menaul is recognized for helping businesses brand themselves and create culture through the use of artwork.

A resident of Clearwater since 2003, Ms. Menaul has served as member and chair for the City of Clearwater’s Public Art & Design Advisory Board. She is an active member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers – Tampa Bay), CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women – Tampa Bay), PPFA (Professional Picture Framing Association) and IIDA (International Interior Design Association), among others.

Jacqueline Root is a partner at Pennington, P.A. She focuses her legal practice on the representation of healthcare providers and facilities, defending against claims for medical malpractice at the trial and appellate levels. She also advises healthcare providers and facilities on how to proactively manage their risks to reduce the frequency and severity of claims, and provides counsel and training on HIPAA issues, adverse incident reporting, subpoenas, confidentiality, and privilege issues. Ms. Root serves as corporate counsel for Aspire Health Partners, Inc., and has particular interest in patient safety, high-acuity medical malpractice litigation, and behavioral health. She is a frequent author, speaker, and presenter on these topics, as well as the management of birth-injury and transplant claims, and she teaches courses in patient safety in the Juris Master program Florida State University.

Ms. Root earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.

A native of Palm Harbor, Florida, Ms. Root is passionate about the arts, with particular interest in visual arts and a growing art collection.

About TBBCA
Tampa Bay BCA is a non-profit founded in 1989, first in Florida and 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 30 years, 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. Through pARTnerships and programs, TBBCA connects, motivates and recognizes the business community’s leadership and support of arts and culture as vital economic drivers, catalysts for innovation, creativity, transformation and development, and essential contributors to quality of life. TBBCA is a 501 (c) (3) #CH32681 www.tbbca.org For more information contact 813-221-2787 or Executive Director susanaweymouth@tbbca.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Susana Weymouth
813-221-2787
susanaweymouth@tbbca.org

Scholarship opportunities – $15,000+ available for talented students

TAMPA, Fla. (December 16, 2019) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (Tampa Bay BCA) (TBBCA) Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Program 2020 Call for Applicants is now open to qualified Tampa Bay area high school juniors and seniors.
TBBCA annually awards six or more scholarships to Tampa Bay area high school students with exceptional talents in instrumental music and vocal music, theater, dance, visual arts and literary arts. Since the program’s founding in 2008 by TBBCA and Past President, the late Charlie Hounchell, renamed in his honor, TBBCA has awarded financial tuition assistance to more than 75 Tampa Bay area students, the majority from public high schools, who are some of the most promising and talented young writers, poets, artists, dancers, musicians and performers in the nation. The 2019 winners’ profiles, and judges’ bios, can be found on TBBCA website https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships/
There is no fee to apply. Qualified students may apply in one, more, or all disciplines, via separate applications for each category. Completed applications are being accepted NOW through the deadline of February 21, 2020, mailed to TBBCA P.O. Box 559, Tampa, FL 33601. The guidelines and requirements for application documents, recommendation letters, artist statement, work samples, and other required material with the 2020 application form are posted and downloadable on TBBCA website https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships/ or contact TBBCA Executive Director at susanaweymouth@tbbca.org with any questions or to receive an application via email.

About TBBCA
Tampa Bay BCA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3), founded in 1989 as the first in Florida Business Committee for the Arts, one of the national BCA’s who work to connect business leaders in support of arts and culture – in the workplace, in the community, and in education. For over 30 years, TBBCA has united businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community, based on the philosophy that the arts are good for business and business is good for the arts. TBBCA is a member of the national private sector network and pARTnership movement of Americans for the Arts. To donate to The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships go to www.tbbca.org or contact TBBCA 813-221-2787. Individual scholarship naming rights and sponsorships are available.

Mayoral Proclamations recognize the non-profit at the 30th Anniversary Impact Awards

Tampa, Fla. (October 11, 2019) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts, “Tampa Bay BCA” celebrated three decades of successfully uniting the private sector in support of arts and culture at the October 10, 2019 30th Anniversary Impact Awards. Marking this milestone, the non-profit organization’s signature event drew over 500 business, elected officials, higher education and community leaders from across the bay.

The honorable Jane Castor, mayor of the City of Tampa, issued a proclamation to TBBCA for ‘providing advocacy, funding resources and support for arts education, artists, and arts and cultural organizations and their programs’ and reflecting ‘on all that has been accomplished over the years’. Dr. Kanika Jelks-Tomalin, deputy mayor, recognized TBBCA with a proclamation on behalf of the City of St. Petersburg.

Stephen Gay, president and chair of TBBCA board of directors, shared the organization’s storied history and impactful programs. “For thirty years, the Tampa Bay BCA has carried out this pivotal role of private sector champion for arts and culture as vital economic drivers, catalysts for creativity, innovation, transformation, and essential contributors to quality of life,” he remarked. Gay credited the organization’s past presidents and chairs as Tampa Bay BCA founding visionaries “who held the conviction that businesses coming together in support of our community’s artistic and cultural and creative industries would give Tampa Bay better opportunity to develop into a thriving regional economy with enhanced offerings that stimulate development, and attract and retain businesses and a talented workforce.”

The evening’s full program kicked off to fanfare with ‘fireworks’ video and live performance by TBBCA board director Jeff Wooldridge, who is an accomplished composer/musician and jazz trumpeter. Jeff is executive vice-president and regional retail manager for TBBCA Chair’s Circle pARTner and Impact Awards Signature Sponsor Bank OZK.

This year’s featured artist, Ya La’Ford, was introduced as the creator of the original works of art that were awarded to the honorees.

The Impact Awards honored Michael Connelly, NYT #1 best-selling author of thirty-two novels, with over 70 million copies of his books worldwide, was celebrated as one of the most successful writers working today. Connelly is currently producing a TV series for Amazon Studios called Bosch, based on his novels. Its 6th season is currently in production. Connelly was honored with the TBBCA 2019 Lifetime Achievement Impact Award.

Honoree Kalup Linzy, internationally exhibited multi-disciplinary artist, a double alumnus of University of South Florida, was recognized with TBBCA 2019 Innovation in the Arts Impact Award.

Lorna Taylor, President and CEO of Premier Eye Care, was lauded for her visionary leadership, strong advocacy and generous support with TBBCA 2019 Patron of Culture & the Arts Impact Award.

The video presentations on the three honorees were created in collaboration with Glenn Horn, Creative Director of ChappellRoberts and TBBCA board director. The honorees’ videos debuted at the event can be viewed on TBBCA’s website at www.tbbca.org/programs-events/impactawards2019

The Impact Awards benefit TBBCA Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships and programs. Young Angellina Fedullo, this year’s scholarship recipient for vocal music, had the opportunity to showcase her talent and perform live. The Bloomingdale high school senior brought guests to their feet with her soprano rendition of Mozart’s La Nozze de Figaro. To learn more about Angellina and the other scholarships recipients https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships/

About TBBCA
Tampa Bay BCA is a non-profit founded in 1989, the first in Florida national Business Committee for the Arts, part of the private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. For 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. TBBCA is a 501 (c) (3) #CH32681 www.tbbca.org Executive Director contact: susanaweymouth@tbbca.org