Artist Advisory Committee

The Artist Advisory Committee (AAC) acts as a liaison with the Arts Council of Hillsborough County to encourage artistic participation, raise the awareness of artists and their intrinsic benefit to the community and facilitate the building of an artistic community.  Members of the committee meet once a month at the Arts Council offices. The committee regularly hosts town meetings, addresses specific arts and artist related issues, and plans arts related events. Current members include local noted artists Candace Knapp, Gianna Russo, Michael Parker, Cynthia Hennessy, John Henne, Phyllis McEwen, Sam Koppelman, Vanessa Montenegro and Natacha Valdes.

Arts Info

An on-line newsletter for artists published in conjunction with the Pinellas County Arts Council listing information about upcoming grants, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, employment and other opportunities. Go to Information and click on Jobs and Opportunities.

Arts License Plate

The Council invited artists statewide to submit a design for an arts license plate which was approved during the 1994 Florida Legislature. The sale of the plates will raise funds to be spent on the arts in the county in which they were sold.

Arts Organizations Directory

A listing of names, numbers and addresses of over 200 arts organizations. The Directory provides an easy reference guide and networking tool for artists and arts organizations, and a handy reference for the community.

Community Cultural Plan

A Community Cultural Plan was completed in 2006.  To read the entire plan and see the opportunities and obstacles facing the culltural community, visit the Cultural Plan on our home page.

Cultural Calendar

With a grant from the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council, the full-color cultural calendar is printed three times per year targeting visitors to the Tampa/Hillsborough area. The calendar features information on local cultural events and organizations. It also includes contact information for tours and sporting events.

Friday Extra Concerts

In cooperation with the City of Tampa Recreation, City TV, and the Tampa Tribune, the Council co-presents a free concert series for 12 weeks at Lowry Park, an inner city family park. The audience ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 per concert. The concerts are simulcast on four cable stations and rebroadcast several times throughout the year.

Grants

The Council awards grants to promising local arts groups and artists to assist them in advancing their development. The Individual Artist Grant is for projects that will help artists take a pivotal step in their development. Maximum grant is $2,000 and over $300,000 has been granted since the Program's inception in 1989. Cultural Development Grant deadline is in the Summer for projects or general operation of Hillsborough County cultural organizations that are not-for-profit tax-exempt and have high artistic and administrative standards. Over $5,000,000 has been granted since the program's inception in 1992.

Hillsborough County Artists Directory

A listing of over 1,200 of the county's visual, performing, and literary artists categorized by discipline. The list is used as a reference by artists and non artists alike.

Arts Array

A more comprehensive calendar of events for Hillsborough County published in January, May and September each year. It has far more local information than the Cultural Calendar, including arts-related summer camps and classes.

Marketing

Chambers of Commerce, Tourist and Convention Association, banks, welcome stations, real estate companies all regularly request and receive brochures and calendars of events to promote the county as a conventioneer and tourist destination and a good place to relocate a business. Over 20,000 pieces are distributed per year.

Other Services

The Council offers tax and insurance planning services to artists and acts as liaison between artists and those seeking their services, and as arts advocate in the legislative and policy matters at all levels of government.

Venue Menu

A publication outlining space available for exhibitions, meetings, rehearsals and presentations. Over 40 facilities are described with reference to seating capacity, usage, technical equipment available, location and contact person.

Media Guide

A resource for newspapers, magazines, radio and television with contacts and email addresses.

Workshops

Workshops and technical assistance are provided to artists and arts organizations in areas such as basic business matters, marketing, public relations, fundraising, grants writing and income tax.

Arts for Elders / Arts in Medicine

The Arts for Elders program began in FY 2002 with placement of performing artists in 8 Hillsborough County elder daycare facilities. In FY 2003, 3 additional sites were added. In FY 2004, the Arts Council received a grant from the State of Florida, to launch Remember Me - Arts for Elders. With that grant, the Forever Moving Dance group was formed at the Life Enrichment Center. Dancers between 55 and 80 gather weekly to learn, train, rehearse and explore, culminating in a public performance in the spring of 2004. Working with the Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services, the program has grown into all senior facilities in Hillsborough County.