A nationwide effort for children, young adults, families and classrooms to write letters to Senators voicing support for the arts throughout the month of October.

The #ArtsAreMySuperpower Campaign, part of Be An #ArtsHero, was created in partnership with a coalition of organizations focused on arts and education for young people, including TYA/USA, AATE, IPAY, ATA, iTheatrics/JTF and New Victory.

Find the details here

The St. Pete Arts Alliance’s Funding Future Program has awarded over $5,800 to help students find training in the arts, despite COVID and social distancing guidelines.

As St. Petersburg arts organizations were starting to plan for 2020 summer arts camps, the Coronavirus Pandemic had other things in mind for in-person programs in dance, music, jazz, voice, theater, digital arts, writing, photography, cinematic arts and visual arts. Due to social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders, programs were canceled one by one.

But as the impact of this unexpected and unprecedented crisis unfolded, many arts organizations made the shift to online education and were able to present impactful, fulfilling and supportive arts programs for our city’s talented low-income emerging artists.

Here are just a few words from local students and arts organizations.

Zoom viola lessons with Florida Orchestra member Kaitlin Springer

 “At the beginning of the summer he was already able to get around to playing three-octave scales in a few different keys. Now, he is able to play all 10 of the three-octave scale requirements for All State with arpeggios in tempo.

“This is an incredible amount of growth for such a short period of time. I am very proud of the work he has done and of his determination to gain mastery of the viola!

“I am so incredibly happy that your organization is here to help students go beyond their regular classroom education and excel in the arts by providing scholarships for summer programs and after school programs! I’ve attached a picture here from one of our Zoom meetings.” – Kaitlin Springer of The Florida Orchestra

Socially-distant dance lessons at the Academy of Ballet Arts

“Marissa acquired a new confidence and improved technically beyond my expectations. She benefited the most from Somatic class. Ms. Noa helped her understand the complexities of her body and showed her exercises to improve her muscular challenges. The physical demand of five classes a day, built strength and courage.” – Ms. P.

“De’Jai only knew three students in the program because they all attend PCCA. She integrated herself into the whole group extremely well. I observed her going over combinations, choreography and somatic exercises with other students. She supported her classmates in classroom showings and they supported her growth and performance qualities.” – Ms. P

“I learned plenty of things but one that allowed me to grow the most in the summer intensive was how to push myself further and to try my best!” – De’Jai

 Nomad Art Bus Micro-Camps
Westminster Heights and Childs Park

From sculpture building to finger painting, the students at Nomad Art Bus gathered safely together in a MicroCamp of creative exploration. The funding that SPAA provided helped to allow children and artists to get creative together in their own neighborhoods.

Art is a form of human expression. It is for all people, not just those with access to the tools, supplies and education to participate. In 2013, artist Carrie Boucher transformed a retired bus into a mobile studio to bring hands-on, open-ended art exploration to the world and NOMADstudio — Neighborhood Oriented Mobile Art + Design Studio — was born.

. . .

Donations help build the Funding Futures Grant Program
Your gift will help a young artist advance their skills and hone their talents, and pursue an artistic future.

Donate here

. . .

 WE’RE GRATEFUL TO OUR AMAZING AND GENEROUS DONORS, WHO HELP MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE 

Duke Energy
Pinellas Community Foundation
Suncoast Credit Union Foundation
DeBartolo Family Foundation
Tampa Bay Times
Doyle Wealth Management
Mahaffey Foundation
Jacarlene Foundation
Catalina Marketing

Since 2015, the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance has been partnering with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs to establish an Individual Artist Grant Program. This year, these grants were supplemented with private donations to provide financial assistance to 20 St. Petersburg artists for projects that support public engagement of their work in visual arts, dance, music, digital arts and theater.

“AWARD STORIES” will catch you up on where these artists are now!

2020 Vision – Focusing on 3D Art

Through October 31 at Soft Water Studios

Opening reception October 10 from 5:05 pm to 8:08 pm

The 3D photography of Jim Swallow uses the lens and magic of stereoscopic photography to allow you to meet 20 nationally and internationally known artists from St. Petersburg, in their studios.

Featured artists include: Jim Swallow, Cheryl Anne Day Swallow, D YaeL Kelley, Rebecca Skelton, Demeree Barth, Carrie Jadus, Dee Perconti, Kayla Harbeitner, Charlie Parker, Josh Poll, Mark Aeling, Duncan McClellan, Kyu Yamamoto, Teresa Sullivan, Benjamin Mallett, David Bradford, Brian Ransom, Kevin Brady and Rachel Stewart.

Jim’s grant proposal was to photograph St. Petersburg artists who create three-dimensional art. He created 3D photographic images of these artists working in their studio, as he observed the art process.

Jim’s body of work involves an age-old technique almost as old as photography. Stereography has been around since the 1850s and Jim wanted to give it a contemporary approach. He presents each portrait in an antique viewer, just as in the old days. His grant funds were used to build frames for these images.

To create stereographs, Jim uses two cameras synced together. The cameras are placed the same distance apart as the human eye, to create a 3D image.

After the images are printed they are viewed with antique stereographs, many of which were made in the 19th century. By bringing the stereoscope to your eyes you are blocking out all other elements around you, and having a virtual view into the reality of the artist’s studio.

The show will be up until October 31 at Soft Water Studios in the Warehouse Arts District, 515 22nd Street South. The exhibit is free and open to the public, providing a safe, socially-distanced opportunity to experience this unique art in person.

This show is made possible in part with an Individual Artist Grant from the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.

For more information, visit jimswallow.com.

Creative Generation is working to ensure that the next generation reaches their full potential to solve society’s greatest challenges. They are inspiring, connecting and amplifying the work of young artists – and those committed to cultivating the creative capacities of young people.

In 2020, their focus is “Arts & Cultural Education is a Fundamental, Civil and Human Right.”

You can find global resources on this topic here.