Creative Pinellas

Thanks to @theartisanmagazine for the great feature about our current exhibition, "Rise," at Sightline Gallery and the other public art projects at @fly2pie ! Now through June 15, the works of @luciwest , @ssolary2 , @lesinfin.art and @chuck_dm3 will greet travelers and visitors in Gates 7-11 and in the airport's public corridor (accessible to non-travelers). 🔗Link in bio to read the story!

Thinking of applying for the Arts Tourism grants, but need a little inspo? Meet us for two informal Happy Hours to chat about your ideas, answer your questions, and help you get those applications across the finish line. Grab a drink and meet us at: 📍 St. Pete: Thursday, May 14 @ 6 PM | Bayboro Brewing, 2390 5th Ave S 📍 Largo: Thursday, May 21 @ 6 PM | Arkane Aleworks, 2480 E Bay Drive With the May 31 deadline fast approaching, this is the perfect chance to connect with us in person and level up your project. We can’t wait to see you and hear your great ideas! Can’t make it to the breweries? Our Funding Director Todd Wellman is available for virtual "office hours" on May 11 and May 18. Click link in bio to join the meeting at noon on both days. #happyhour #pinellasarts @stpeteartsalliance @clearwaterartsalliance

Did you see Creative Pinellas CEO Margaret Murray yesterday on @tampabay_28 ? If not, check out the link in the bio to watch Robert Boyd's great story with Margaret and @shamc.arts Director Autumn Pearson talking about our arts tourism grant that will fund 20 to 30 arts experiences created by artists and arts organizations (nonprofit and for-profit) selected through a competitive process. Awards range from $5K to $50K. The experiences will shape into a countywide, multi-week celebration of the arts during Fall 2026 featuring performances, exhibitions, public art, and immersive cultural experiences across beaches, parks, downtown districts, and cultural venues. The deadline to apply is May 31! Link in bio for more details about the grant.

1 in 5 Americans will face a mental health challenge this year 😳 Proud to share that I’m now certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid 🐨 This training equips me to recognize, respond, and support those facing mental health challenges—with compassion, not judgment. Because showing up for each other matters. Always. Thank you @creativepinellas @love_iv_lawrence and @freemansoundmindset for this amazing opportunity #MentalHealthFirstAid #MHFA #EndTheStigma #CommunityCare #keepshowingup

Creative Pinellas is awarding $60,000 in National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants to six incredible local artists as part of America250, the national celebration recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States. This investment will support bold, community-driven projects that will spark conversation, creativity, and connection — inviting us all to reflect on America’s past, engage with its present, and imagine its future. 👏 Meet the 2026 Creative Pinellas NEA Artists: • Vanessa Cunto (Visual Art) • Tyler Gillespie (Arts Education) • Dave and Heather Hamar (Music Composition & Performance) • Erica Sutherlin (Film) • Kirk Ke Wang (Sculptural Art) • Felipe Zamudio (Film) Starting this summer and throughout 2026, these artists will present original, inspiring programs across the county. They are working with community partners to support their work, including Heritage Village Museum and Park, Greenlight Cinema, Toftegaard Design, Articles Gallery, The St. Pete City Theatre, President Barack Obama Main Library, and The Studio@620 . Click link in bio to learn more, and stay tuned for more announcements about each project! #CreativePinellas #NEA #America250 #pinellascountyfl #pinellasarts @neaarts

On this #EarthDay, revel in the beauty of nature photography by Luci Westphal. You can see these incredible shots and many more taken at Pinellas County's beaches, parks and other environments in the exhibition, "Rise," currently on view at our Sightline Gallery at @iflypie until June 15. Originally from Germany, Westphal moved to the United States to attend film school. After living in Brooklyn, Berlin and Colorado, she was drawn to the nature and culture of the St. Pete–Clearwater area and says she has found her happiness and creative home here. She was selected as the first “Featured Artist” for the Friends of the Tampa Bay Wildlife Refuges. "Rise" also features local artists Charles Morrison, Scott Solary and Letisia Cruz. Links in bio to learn more about the show and to purchase the artworks online! 📷 1: "Flamingo Kiss (Sunken Gardens)" 📷 2: "Reddish Egret White Morph (Fort DeSoto)" 📷 3: "Flock of Terns (Honeymoon Island)" 📷 4: "Great Blue Heron (Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge)" @luciwest

SCENE & HEARD! From St. Pete to Tarpon Springs, the last few weeks we have enjoyed supporting the work of our incredible arts and cultural community. Here's a few shots of where we've been and all the wonderful artists and cultural experiences we enjoyed! 📷 1: Artist Clancy Riehm and Lashonda Curry of Creative Pinellas during the opening reception for "Fresh Squeezed 10: Emerging Artists in Florida" exhibition at the Morean Arts Center on April 11; Reihm and two other Pinellas County artists — Gillian Probert and Kimberly Volperian — are among the eight artists selected for the annual showcase that celebrates up-and-coming artists making their mark in Florida. 📷 2: Creative Pinellas Funding Director Todd Wellman visited with artists Cora Rodriguez and Tricia Sham, who painted a mural on a PedalPub St. Pete bike on March 17 as part of its "Rolling Canvases" project. Thank you to owner Eric Olson for donating a portion of the proceeds raised for the project to Creative Pinellas! 📷 3: Tarpon Springs Greek Independence Day Parade participants and attendees were full of joy and cultural pride during the festivities on March 29. 📷 4: Artist Charles Morrison at the Morean Center for Clay's Open Studio Friday on April 10. You can see this giraffe piece in its finished form at his exhibition, "Charles Morrison: Head in the Sky, Feet on the Ground," which opens there May 9. 📷 5: Urban Gypsies of Florida performed in Gulfport at North End on April 11.

My birds and angels are rising at the Sightline Gallery inside the St. Pete Clearwater Airport (aka PIE) @fly2pie until June 15, 2026 in the RISE exhibit curated by Michele Routh and made possible by @creativepinellas . It's an incredible honor, creative catalyst, multi-faceted opportunity, powerful encouragement, and uplifting sight to see (hopefully not just for me). Besides my photography, the exhibit features wood art by Scott Solary @manglitterstudio + ceramics by Charles Morrison @chuck_dm3 and a poem by Letisia Cruz @lesinfin.art LINK to more photos from the reception and all of the art on my website via profile and direct: /rise-exhibit-at-st-pete-clearwater-airport-pie/

More than 50 artists and nonprofit workers spent the day receiving Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training last month as part of a new Creative Pinellas initiative focusing on the wellbeing of our local cultural community. Here, a few of them share their experience and how the training has impacted them beyond the classroom. In the training, they learned tools to recognize, understand, and respond to those who may be facing mental health or substance use challenges. Upon completion, they earned a MHFA certification. 🎉 Thank you to @love_iv_lawrence , Safe & Sound Hillsborough and instructor Stoney Dvornik for providing this training at no cost for all, and to the attendees who invested their time and energy to participate. We appreciate the hospitality sponsor, @freemansoundmindset , and our cultural partners who lent their spaces for the workshops: Lealman Exchange, Dunedin Fine Arts Center, FloridaRama, and freeFall Theatre. Stay tuned for more mental health trainings, and other wellbeing initiatives, happening in the future! #mentalhealth #wellbeing #mentalhealthfirstaid

🚨 Applications open TODAY at 5 PM! 🚨 The Arts Tourism Funding Program is officially launching — and this is our cultural community's chance to bring bold, creative art experiences to life in Pinellas County. Funding opportunities: • $5,000–$15,000 for individual artists • $15,000–$50,000 for arts & culture nonprofits + for-profit arts organizations 📅 Learn more, ask questions, and get ready to apply by attending an online info session Wednesday, April 8 at 12 PM. Whether you apply solo, collaborate with a team, or partner with a business or arts organization, your project should attract visitors and inspire them to explore and experience Pinellas County's cultural spirit in a whole new way. The selected 20-30 projects will become part of a multi-week arts festival happening this fall —spanning parks, beaches, museums, galleries, downtown districts, and cultural venues. Deadline to apply is May 31, 2026. Let’s showcase the creativity of our community and elevate our region as a must-visit cultural destination! Funding support is provided by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater with outreach and event support from St. Petersburg Arts Alliance and Clearwater Arts Alliance. Links in bio to learn more and join meeting!

“Rolling Canvas” Pedal Pub mural 2026. So happy to have been a part of this amazing project! A space-themed paint-a-thon for a great cause benefiting local nonprofit: @creativepinellas . I’m Honored to have been chosen as a local artist right here in our creative hub of St.Paradise🙏🏽☀️🎨 . ✨Thank you✨to @pedalpubstpete @astro_nicole and @triciasham it was so fun creating together!! 🌌🌎🌈🌱

The arts tourism funding program application launch and information session scheduled for April 1 are being rescheduled. We will share the new date as soon as we can, so please watch for updates via email/newsletter and social media. Thank you for your patience and understanding.