TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

New Tampa Arts Festival gets shelved

ADVERTISEMENT

By KENNETH KNIGHT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2009

NEW TAMPA - Organizers of the New Tampa Arts Festival are putting away the brushes for a year.

In light of the launch of the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, its new board has agreed to put the arts festival on hiatus.

They decided there was insufficient time to host the juried arts show. The event was scheduled for Nov. 21-22.

"We didn't feel we could give it all that it needed this year because of the time it entails," said Mary Ann Yaney, the chamber board member who handles public relations. "We want to make sure it's worthy of the chamber and our community."

The annual fall fundraiser typically attracts artists from West Central Florida who compete for best of show prize money. In addition to showcasing the works of fine art, pottery, watercolor and oil paintings, the event features entertainment and food from area restaurants.

The New Tampa Community Council presented the first three festivals – two years in the parking lot of the Palm Lake at Tampa Palms office building on Amberly Drive and last year on the grounds of Grace Episcopal Church at Tampa Palms and Bruce B. Downs boulevards.

Early this year the community council, which for 16 years represented business and resident interests, officially changed its name and role to become the new chamber of commerce.

Since April the new chamber has mainly focused on hosting networking events, lining up speakers for chamber breakfasts and growing membership.

Chamber president Scott Estes said he and his board colleagues thought it best to concentrate on the start-up chamber in a transitional year.

They also couldn't justify spending the amount of money it would require to pull off a major arts festival during a slow economy, he said.

"Let's focus on building the chamber," Estes said they decided.

Chamber membership stands at about 200. That's not bad given the chamber has yet to launch an official membership drive, he said.

Steve Rothfarb, the art coordinator for the festival, said he was disappointed but hopeful the chamber will bring back the festival bigger than ever next year.

"It's a real nice quality show," said Rothfarb, the owner of Frame By Frame Gallery, an arts and framing store in Tampa Palms.

The only advantage, according to Rothfarb, he will have more time to concentrate on coordinating an arts show held as part of Lowry Park Zoo's annual food-tasting event, Zoofari, in November.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 258-7413.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT