Author: Susana Weymouth

Business leaders join as TBBCA celebrates three decades of support for arts and culture
TAMPA, Fla. (August 1, 2019) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (Tampa Bay BCA, “TBBCA”) is pleased to announce the election to its board of Jordan Behar, AIA and Brooke Palmer Kuhl.

“We are thrilled to have elected these new directors,” said Stephen Gay, TBBCA Board President. “Together, they bring unique areas of expertise and new voices to our board.”

“Tampa Bay BCA is pleased to add two stellar business leaders who are committed to our mission and programs,” added Susana Weymouth, TBBCA Executive Director. “They will strengthen our organization in this milestone year as we celebrate three decades of private sector impact in support of arts and culture, and arts education, in our community.”

Jordan Behar, AIA, is a Florida native and founding partner of Behar + Peteranecz Architecture, with company headquarters in the Warehouse Arts District of St. Petersburg. Throughout his twenty five-plus years of experience, Mr. Behar has developed a reputation for his uncompromising quality and attention to detail. Behar has acted as principal on several significant local projects, including the adaptive reuse of Tampa’s historic Hesterly Armory, and the innovative Seivold Center for Early Childhood Education at Berkeley Preparatory School. Mr. Behar and his firm are dedicated to community and cultural leadership, championing local artists and arts organizations through corporate-community partnerships, fundraising, and board leadership. Mr. Behar is a graduate of University of Florida, Bachelor of Fine Arts College of Architecture and Florida A&M University, Bachelor of Architecture.

Brooke Palmer Kuhl is the creative mastermind behind r.s.b.p. Events +PR. Born and raised in Washington, DC, Ms. Palmer has committed the last fifteen years pursuing philanthropic endeavors with charitable organizations including The Arts Center, the Tampa Theatre, Florida Aquarium, and Lowry Park Zoo and others. As President of r.s.b.p. Events+PR, Ms. Palmer handles high profile clients, public relations efforts, social media management, and foundation events for professional athletes and celebrities as well as hospitality and lifestyle clients. Her repertoire also includes sponsorships management and planning high-end weddings and private events. Ms. Palmer was the scene columnist for Tampa Bay Metro Magazine for nearly 10 years, and prior to that lent her expertise to TBT* and Bay News 9, and Daytime, Tampa’s NBC Affiliate’s syndicated morning show in over 100 markets, and ABC’s Tampa Bay Morning Blend. Ms. Palmer graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Molecular Biology, earned a Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing at the University of South Florida and has completed work for her masters at USF.

About TBBCA
TBBCA is the first in Florida and a national Business Committees for the Arts, part of the national private sector network and pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA mission is to unite Tampa Bay businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community. Since the non-profit’s founding in 1989 by business leaders, the Tampa Bay BCA has played a crucial leadership role connecting businesses in awareness and 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.

The Impact Awards, TBBCA’s annual fundraiser benefiting the scholarships and programs, is on October 10 at Armature Works in Tampa. For information on tickets and sponsorships, go to www.tbbca.org/ImpactAwards2019 or contact Executive Director susanaweymouth@tbbca.org or 813-221-2787

Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Announces Call for Submissions for 50th Anniversary Festival Image
TAMPA, Fla. (July 30, 2019) – Be a part of history 50 years in the making! From the Fairgrounds to the sidewalks of downtown Tampa, to Curtis Hixon Park and now to its new home across the river at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts continues to reach exciting new levels of success in its 50th year. YOU can be a part of one of the country’s premier art festivals. Interested artists are invited to submit digitally final concept images that depict a creative representation of how art, music and nature combine to unite us by creating a dynamic and vibrant community. Deadline to submit is September 1, 2019. The winning design will be announced by October 31, 2019 and will be recognized as the “official” image of the 50th Anniversary Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. The official image will appear on all promotional materials leading up to the February 29th – March 1st, 2020 festival.

The artist whose work is selected will receive:  A $1,000 cash award  A featured bio on the GFA website  Recognition on GFA and participating organizations’ social media sites  Promotion of artwork reproduced as an “official” image on printed and other materials

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRY  The GFA competition is open to all artists, fifteen and older  Artists may submit up to 3 images for consideration  All entries must be the artist’s original concept and design and must be submitted digitally (2MB or less) to GFA at info@gasparillaarts.com  Concept image size must be adaptable and suitable for reproduction (scanning, printing) on T-shirts, posters and vertical banners. Limited to no mixed media entries advised  No images of pirates or of the Gasparilla parades are acceptable  The image will be used in conjunction with GFA’s logo as well as a special typographic 50th brand mark that is currently being developed  Artists must include their name, address, phone number and email address when submitting their images

The GFA committee and board will assess the entries. Submissions will be evaluated based on concept, originality, design and marketing adaptability. Some applications may require cropping the image. By entering the contest, you agree that the winning submission will become the property of the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, with the rights associated thereof.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GASPARILLA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

Each year in conjunction with the city’s social and cultural season known as Gasparilla, an art festival is produced by an all-volunteer staff of many dedicated individuals. Highly accredited artists from all over the country are invited to participate in this prestigious juried show.

The festival began in 1970, when a group of downtown professionals conceived the notion of a sidewalk art festival. Word about GFA’s high quality spread through art circles insured by the involvement of jurors such as Robert Hughes, author/director of The Shock of the New book and TV program, Janet Kardon of the American Craft Museum in NYC, and William J Coward, curator of 20th Century Art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

The Festival’s success has seen it evolve over its 5 decades: notably, the prize money has grown from its original $3,900 to a total of $76,500; categories of submissions have expanded to include fine craft.

The festival has moved a few times from its beginnings on Whiting Street to Doyle Carlton Drive behind the Tampa Museum of Art and the Curtis Hixon Convention Center. In 1994, Curtis Hixon was razed and the show moved to Ashley Street, then in 1995 it expanded into the newly constructed Curtis Hixon Park on the Hillsborough River. In 2003, the festival moved to Franklin Street and Lykes Gaslight Square Park in anticipation of construction of the new Tampa Museum of Art. Happily, in March 2010 the festival moved back to the park along the river as the newly built and breathtaking Tampa Museum of Art opened its doors, with its front door enjoying the view of the Raymond James Gaparilla Festival of the Arts taking place annually in the newly named and designed Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

For our 50th year we will be moving across the river to the wonderful newly completed and larger Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. This is an opportunity to utilize one of Tampa’s finest and newest spaces; showcasing the lovely skyline of Tampa and the beauty of the Hillsborough River as well as moving forward with the exciting growth and development of the west side of downtown and Tampa Heights.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Susana Weymouth
813.221-2787
susanaweymouth@tbbca.org

TAMPA, Fla. (June 27, 2019) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (Tampa Bay BCA – “TBBCA”) welcomes Bank OZK to the national pARTnerhip Movement of Americans for the Arts. “We are proud to distinguish Bank OZK as Chair’s Circle pARTner,” said Susana Weymouth, Tampa Bay BCA Executive Director. “By strategically aligning with national leaders in support and promotion of the arts, Bank OZK is helping to build a healthy and prosperous business and creative arts ecosystem.”

“We’ve always been the kind of bank with a strong commitment to the communities we serve while cultivating relationships that grow and thrive together,” remarked Alan Randolph, Bank OZK Regional Director, Florida and New York. “We are pleased to bring the strengths of Bank OZK and our ability to create and harness innovation to advance arts and culture in our communities in new and resourceful ways.”

“Through our leadership role with TBBCA, Bank OZK looks to robustly promote the arts and stimulate community and economic development,” added Bank OZK Executive Vice President, Tampa Bay Regional Manager Jeff Wooldridge, who serves on TBBCA’s Board of Directors.

About Bank OZK
Bank OZK is a regional bank providing innovative financial solutions delivered by expert bankers with a relentless pursuit of excellence. Bank OZK has been recognized as the top performing bank in the nation in its asset size 13 times in the past eight years. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Bank OZK conducts operations through 254 offices across 10 states. www.ozk.com

About TBBCA
TBBCA is a non-profit that is celebrating 30 years of successfully uniting businesses to champion arts and culture. The first affiliate in Florida of the national Business Committees for the Arts, TBBCA is part of the private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA connects business and thought leaders in engagement and support of the arts, builds collaborations, innovative pARTnerships and promotes impactful programming for the benefit of our community www.tbbca.org

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

TAMPA BAY BUSINESSES FOR CULTURE & THE ARTS WELCOMES NEW pARTner GRAYROBINSON

TAMPA, Fl., (May 22, 2019) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) is excited to announce GrayRobinson as its newest TBBCA pARTner. GrayRobinson shareholder and commercial litigator Sharon Carlstedt Britton is the TBBCA Vice President as well as a Board Director. GrayRobinson, a full-service law and lobbying firm with attorneys and government relations professionals throughout 15 offices spanning the State of Florida and Washington, DC.

“Sharon is a keen and passionate supporter of arts and culture in our community,” remarked TBBCA Executive Director Susana Weymouth. “TBBCA is grateful for both Sharon’s and GrayRobinson’s leadership and influence that reflects so positively on that of our organization and the Tampa Bay Area.” Britton is a Tampa native and alumnae of the Academy of the Holy Names, and formerly had abstract art studios in Ybor City and at the Oleson Gallery and Bloom Art Center in St. Petersburg. She received her undergraduate degree from The American University and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

About GrayRobinson
GrayRobinson’s attorneys, consultants, and regulatory professionals provide legal and government relations services to Fortune 500 companies, emerging businesses, lending institutions, local and state governments, developers, entrepreneurs, and individuals. GrayRobinson prides itself on being a firm that serves its clients and communities while counting creativity as a hallmark characteristic and insisting on ingenuity and innovation. GrayRobinson’s mission is to apply its legal, lobbying, and regulatory backgrounds and skills in ways that enable its clients to define and achieve their goals, while supporting its communities as a matter of mission as well as passion. For more information, please visit www.gray-robinson.com.

About Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA)
TBBCA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3), one of the national Business Committees for the Arts and private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. Since its founding in 1989, TBBCA has united businesses in support of arts education, and culture and the arts in our community, based on the philosophy that ‘the arts are good for business, and business is good for the arts’. TBBCA connects business and thought leaders in engagement and support of the arts, builds collaborations, innovative pARTnerships and promotes a healthy and successful business and cultural eco-system. TBBCA pARTnerships support programs including Cultural Encounters, TBBCA Chalk Walks, Call to Artists, The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships, and others. For more information on TBBCA, or to join the pARTnership movement, contact 813-221-2787 or www.tbbca.org.

TAMPA, Fla. (April 19, 2019) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (“Tampa Bay BCA”), (“TBBCA”) is pleased to announce that Raquel Ramirez Jefferson, attorney for Phelps Dunbar, has been elected to the non-profit’s board of directors. Her initial three-year term begins as TBBCA celebrates its milestone 30th anniversary year as a national Business Committee for the Arts. Ms. Jefferson joins a distinguished group of individual and business leaders who believe businesses play a crucial role in fostering and ensuring the development and growth of the arts. Phelps Dunbar is a longtime valued TBBCA pARTner.

With Phelps Dunbar, Ms. Jefferson practices in the areas of labor and employment as defense counsel for corporate employers and complex commercial litigation, representing corporate clients in a variety of employment and other complex litigation matters in federal and state courts in Florida and in arbitration proceedings nationwide. Her practice includes litigation involving employment discrimination and retaliation laws, ADA compliance, professional negligence and breach of contract claims involving a wide range of corporate disputes, including claims regarding franchise agreements, corporate governance agreements, employment contracts and restrictive covenants.

Ms. Jefferson is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2012, Certificate of Concentration in Advocacy, and was Research Editor, Stetson Law Review, and Phi Delta Phi. She earned her B.A. from Barry University. She has been admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. She is a member of The Florida Bar, Hillsborough County Bar Association, Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, The Defense Research Institute. She was selected to Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters).

ABOUT TBBCA
For over 30 years, Tampa Bay BCA has been fulfilling its mission to unite businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community. The very first affiliate in Florida of the National Business Committees for the Arts, TBBCA is part of the private sector network and national pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA pARTners hold the conviction that businesses coming together promoting and supporting our community’s artistic and cultural and creative industries give Tampa Bay better opportunity for developing into a thriving regional economy with enhanced quality of life. TBBCA pARTnerships make possible valuable programs that create a positive impact, including Cultural Encounters, Chalk Walks, and The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships. For more information on TBBCA, or to join the pARTnership movement, contact Executive Director susanaweymouth@tbbca.org or 813-221-2787 www.tbbca.org.