Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL

ST. PETE/CLEARWATER IS RICH WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCOVER ART IN WORLD-CLASS MUSEUMS, GALLERIES AND STUDIOS; HUNDREDS OF VIBRANT MURALS; AND ENOUGH GLASS ART TO EARN THE NICKNAME "THE GLASS COAST."

Boasting one of the world's most comprehensive collections of work and artifacts of the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali, this tech-forward museum increasingly offers exhibits that incorporate virtual and augmented reality and Artificial Intelligence. The museum rotates special exhibitions featuring giants of art history. Virtual exhibitions let aficionados enjoy from home. Download the Dali app on your phone to take self-guided tours in multiple languages, including scavenger hunts aimed at kids and another just for teens.The app also helps you discover facts about Dali's masterworks like The Hallucinogenic Toreador and The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus while viewing them. Enjoy wine, coffee and tapas from Cafe Gala in the outdoor Avant-garden amid Dali's sculptures. The striking building is itself a surreal work of art; a double-helix staircase in the center of the museum was inspired by Dali's fascination with DNA, and a large geodesic bubble made of 1,062 triangular pieces of glass known as The Enigma erupts from the outside.

Perched on the downtown waterfront amid the bustling shops and restaurants on Beach Drive, and within walking distance of the new St. Pete Pier and The Vinoy Renaissance Hotel, this museum holds the only encyclopedic collection of works in Florida. Spanning nearly 5,000 years, from antiquity to modern day, art appreciators of any era will find their niche. Traveling exhibitions showcase the same range of artwork, from old masters to contemporary artists. Works by Monet, Rauschenberg and O'Keeffe are found in the recently renovated permanent collection galleries, where families can take themed self-guided tours mapped out in brochures. The MFA From Home program provides virtual activities, videos and exhibitions.

Featuring an impressive private collection, the museum is situated on buzzy Central Avenue within walking distance of the waterfront. A stunning sandstone facade on the exterior of the building evokes imagery of the landscape of the American West. Inside, find "26,000 square feet of calm" in the collection of bronze sculptures and paintings of cowboys, Native Americans, landscapes and animals, and contemporary art created by living Western and Native American artists. View an incredible selection of Native American jewelry. Explore art, movies, books, music and children's activities virtually with the James Museum From Home program. An attached garage makes parking a breeze.

Discover the history of the American studio glass movement through this museum's comprehensive collection. The fantastic array of breathtaking glass creations includes works by the founders of the movement as well as contemporary, emerging and local artists. Get lost in Anthony James' Icosahedron, a mind-boggling sculpture made of glass, titanium lights and mirrors. Marvel at Brent Kee Young's delicate flamework chair and his laws-of-physics-defying sphere encapsulated in a square. Located in the Grand Central District near restaurants, shops and murals, it's a short ride from downtown on the Central Avenue Trolley, or an easy jaunt on a rented scooter or bike.

Featuring the glass artwork of living legend Dale Chihuly, it's one of only two museums in the country entirely dedicated to the artist. Roam through the galleries to see dramatic glass installations, including Ikebana, a luminous glass garden installation, as well as the spectacular Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier, which was created for the collection. Unlock the magic of glass art with a glass-blowing demonstration across the street at the Morean Glass Studio.

Progress continues on this yet-to-open museum, which will feature pottery, furniture, metalwork, lighting and photography from one of the most comprehensive private collections in the world. The collection represents the late 19th and early 20th centuries and features architectural details that recall the movement, including a Charles Rennie Mackintosh-inspired floating spiral staircase and Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced stained-glass skylights. The museum's modern exterior is clad in granite and bronze and at 137,000 sq. ft., it's the largest museum in the city. Located slightly north of the heart of downtown, it has a dedicated garage to make parking easy.

This newly renovated museum has a prime location on the base of the new St. Pete Pier and offers interesting facts about the birth of "Sunshine City" including the history of aviation here. The wacky Odditorium exhibit includes a two-headed calf and an Egyptian mummy. Baseball fans will enjoy the Guinness-certified largest collection of baseballs called Schrader's Little Cooperstown.

This museum honors the millions of men, women and children who died or suffered in the Holocaust with artifacts, including a box car and stories about the victims and survivors. It is one of the largest Holocaust museums in the world and is one of only three accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Educational and traveling historical and art exhibits connect the past to the present with a mission to prevent future genocides. The museum offers multiple virtual experiences, including a virtual tour of the collection and educational resources for schools.

This museum is named for the scholar who initiated Black History Month and seeks to preserve and present African American history. In addition to educational programs, it showcases historical and art exhibits, including the Black Lives Matter mural painted on the street in front of the museum. It's located in the Deuces Live District, a hub of Black-owned businesses, homes and entertainment. The museum is the starting point of the African American Heritage Trail, a walking tour of of African American neighborhoods marked by 19 placards that give an overview of the impact of African Americans on St. Petersburg.

Kids have a blast exploring, playing and learning at this interactive museum that's just a short car ride from downtown. It's connected to the family-friendly, 100-yearold attraction, Sunken Gardens, a botanical paradise consisting of 50,000 tropical plants, with its very own flock of flamingoes and other exotic birds.

Discover local fine art painters and sculptors in St. Petersburg at Articles Art Gallery. Mize Gallery is the go-to for pop art and creative St. Pete-centric souvenirs. Gulfport's Brenda McMahon Gallery shows contemporary craft and fine art. A well-rounded experience awaits at Syd Entel Galleries and Susan Benjamin Glass in Safety Harbor, with fine art, glass and jewelry. Tarpon Springs' Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art has an impressive 6,000-piece permanent collection containing works by 20thcentury artists Alan Leepa and Abraham Rattner.

Handmade works in clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber and jewelry are showcased in St. Petersburg at Shapiro's Gallery and Red Cloud Indian Arts, staples on Beach Drive; while Florida CraftArt and Craftsman House are longstanding Central Avenue go-tos.

Home to hundreds of artists, St. Pete/Clearwater is a hub of creativity. St. Petersburg's Morean Arts Center, The Dunedin Fine Art Center and The Safety Harbor Art and Music Center offer classes and present exhibitions of work by local, regional and national artists. Visit artists in their studios at the ArtsXChange, 28 studios in St. Petersburg's Warehouse Arts District, or in a historic downtown building at ArtLofts. The Factory St. Pete, is a 90,000 sq. ft. arts compound that houses studios and is the site of the immersive art experience Fairgrounds. The artists of funky beach town Gulfport's Historical Waterfront Art District bring their creations outdoors twice a month for art walks. The Pinellas Arts Village in Pinellas Park is full of galleries and studios.

Nicknamed the "Glass Coast," St. Pete/Clearwater is home to top-tier glass galleries and hot shops that offer wondrous glass-blowing demonstrations and fun workshops. Make a day of it in St. Pete, where the Duncan McClellan Gallery showcases internationally recognized glass artists and features a lush sculpture garden in a 5,000 sq. ft. courtyard in the Warehouse Arts District. Nearby, Zen Glass Studio lets you try your hand at making glass art. Downtown, a demonstration at the Morean Arts Center Glass Studio and Hot Shop is a good follow-up to the Chihuly Collection. A few blocks away in the Grand Central District, discover contemporary and emerging glass artists at Imagine Museum. In Clearwater, visit the downtown gallery of award-winning glass artist Marlene Rose.

From functional to sculptural ceramics, there's a heavy concentration of clay in St. Pete/Clearwater. Housed in a historic train station in St. Pete, the Morean Center for Clay is home to studios, galleries and an artist-in-residence program. Spin your own bowl on a wheel at Charlie Parker Pottery. Visit Dunedin's Clay and Paper Gallery for unique clay creations.

From Broadway to dance to local professional theater, St. Pete/Clearwater is rich in cultural experiences. Take in a concert from St. Petersburgbased The Florida Orchestra at the Mahaffey Theater on the downtown waterfront. Catch jazz acts and other live music offerings at The Palladium in downtown St. Pete. Experience thought-provoking theater from St. Petersburg companies Freefall Theatre and American Stage. Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall and historical Bilheimer Capitol Theatre present Broadway series, concerts and comedians. The St. Petersburg Opera Company has both virtual and outdoor performances.

St. Petersburg's streets and walls are an outdoor gallery of hundreds of vibrant murals. In addition to paintings by local artists, the annual SHINE Mural Festival brings national and international talent together to make their mark on the city every fall. World-renowned artists including Ricky Watts, Shark Toof and Joram Roukes are among the many who have participated. Download the PixelStix app on your phone and take your own narrated driving, biking or walking tour of the murals. Or take a guided walking or biking tour through Florida CraftArt and Coast Bike Share. Find the ultimate list of St. Pete's street art at VisitSPC.com/Murals.

Beautiful weather also brings art outdoors with large art festivals happening several times throughout the year. Started in 1976, the Mainsail Art Festival brings top-notch artists from around the world to exhibit side-by-side with the area's best along St. Petersburg's waterfront each April. Fine craft artists from around the country exhibit at the annual CraftArt Festival, presented by Florida CraftArt, in November in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. Dunedin's Art Harvest is a highly anticipated annual event in November featuring more than 200 artists working in a variety of media. The Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival has been bringing national artists to an idyllic location on Spring Bayou every March for more than 40 years. At the Clearwater Beach Chalk Art Festival in October, local and regional artists, students and artists' groups transform the sidewalks into mind-bending works of trompe l'oeil aka 3D art.

Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL - Gulf to Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL

ARTS

Issue List

Gulf to Bay 2026

Gulf to Bay 2025

Gulf To Bay 2024

Gulf To Bay 2023

Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL 2022