"Lights on Tampa," a program of the City of Tampa, Division of Arts & Cultural Affairs, was presented as a self-guided tour of the new & existing works of public art in the downtown core. Music, dance, and other cultural programming took place around the perimeter of the Tampa Convention Center to enhance the tour.
“The intent of this event is to put the spotlight back on the arts in our community, yet another industry that has critically suffered from the coronavirus pandemic. Cultural pop-ups like these, a growing trend in the U.S., are a way to remind people that the arts are still alive, need your help, and are there to help us as a community,” said Robin Nigh, Manager of Arts & Cultural Affairs for the City.
The tour is accessible via Google Maps. There are three suggested routes, depending on your desired starting point, but The Tampa Convention Center will serve as a “home base” for cultural programming on March 5th and 6th.
Another element this year is a photography contest that is ongoing through the month of March. Top entries will be selected by arts professionals and will be featured on the City of Tampa's social media page, for a public vote, and the grand prize winner will receive an annual pass for the Pirate Water Taxi.
New artworks to downtown: "BioBridge," the interactive installations under the Harbour Island Bridge by Andrea Polli, "Circles Unity" LED ring installation in the Channelside Drive tunnel by Erwin Redl, and "You Belong Here" by Tavares Strachan installation at Sparkman Wharf. "Biobridge" and "Circles Unity" are sponsored in part by the City of Tampa and the National Endowment for the Arts and "You Belong Here" is made possible by Water Street with special thanks to Graphicstudio and Marian Goodman Gallery.
This tour is self-guided and intended for people to do in a socially-distanced manner, and while the tour is outside, masks are encouraged. The tour will remain accessible to the public after March 6.
"Lights on Tampa" is a public/private partnership with the City of Tampa, the Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Public Art Alliance, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, and brings critically acclaimed artwork to downtown.