MUSE 2025
The 2025 MUSE Awards was a celebration to remember, a powerful gathering of artists, advocates, and community leaders who are shaping the creative heart of St. Petersburg. On a night filled with energy, inspiration, and connection, we honored six extraordinary individuals and organizations whose contributions continue to elevate the arts in our city. The love for St. Pete was palpable, and so was the collective commitment to keeping the arts thriving at its core.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who attended, supported, and believed in the power of this night. Together, we raised vital funds for the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s programs and initiatives that support local artists, arts education, and cultural organizations all year long. Thank you for making the 2025 MUSE Awards an evening full of meaning, momentum, and magic.
Special Thanks to this Year's Recipients: Creative Clay & Kim Dohrman, Nate Najar, Peter Kageyama, USF's College of Design, Art & Performance & Dean Chris Garvin, and Daryl DeBerry.
Creative Clay: Visual Arts Award Recipient
Creative Clay's mission is to help people with disabilities achieve full and inclusive lives through expressive, educational, and vocational experiences in the arts. Professional teaching artists mentor individuals five days a week in artistic techniques and skills related to promoting and selling their work. Creative Clay has been a longtime participant in the Second Saturday ArtWalk and offers music and theater experiences with monthly performances at First Friday Art Markets.
Nate Najar: Performing Arts Award Recipient
Called a "masterful guitarist" by JazzTimes, Nate Najar is one of America's finest modern jazz artists. From his Billboard-topping hit "Groove Me" to the acclaimed Jazz Samba Pra Sempre, his work spans live performance, recording, and visual media. Currently touring
globally with his partner, singer Daniela Soledade, Najar continues to spread Love & Bossa Nova around the world.
Peter Kageyama: Literary Arts Award Recipient
Peter Kageyama is an urbanist and bestselling author of four books on cities and placemaking, including For the Love of Cities, a Top 10 Book in Urban Planning. He speaks worldwide about better placemaking that celebrates the arts and creative people. In 2023, St. Petersburg Press published his first novel, Hunters Point, followed by its 2024 sequel, Midnight Climax. A finalist for the Roy Peter Clark Literature Award, Peter lives in downtown St. Petersburg with his wife, award-winning architect Lisa Wannemacher, and their dog Dobby.
USF - College of Design, Art & Performance: Art & Technology Award Recipient
USF’s College of Design, Art & Performance is a hub for innovation in the arts, offering top programs in architecture, design, music, theatre, and more. With 400+ annual events and a focus on creativity and technology, the College is shaping the next generation of arts leaders. Led by Dean Chris Garvin, a creative director and educator with a global portfolio, the College continues to pioneer interdisciplinary work, including recent collaborations like the tech-forward digital dome planetarium at MOSI.
Milkey Family Foundation: Patron of the Arts Award Recipient
Kevin and Jeanne Milkey have made a major impact on St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay through their support of local charities, arts, and culture. Their generosity helped create facilities like Feeding Tampa Bay, Daystar Life Center, and the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, and they are lead donors to the Woodson African American Museum and Friends of Strays' "Milkey Bone Dog House." They’ve provided critical relief during the pandemic and hurricanes, and support arts organizations including the Dali Museum, American Stage, and DMG School Project. Their Grand Central Brewhouse's Brew Good program has supported over 60 nonprofits and commissioned murals by local artists.
Daryl DeBerry: Arts Ambassador Award Recipient
Art has always been central to Daryl’s life, from early ties to the film industry to earning an honors degree in art history. After a successful corporate career, she became a leader in St. Petersburg’s nonprofit arts community, founding DRD Partners and helping generate over $20 million for the arts. She serves as a grants panelist for the Florida Division of Arts & Culture and works with organizations like the Museum of Fine Arts, Dali Museum, Florida Orchestra, and more. Nicknamed the “Director of Connections,” Daryl is a true Arts Ambassador. 
