FAIRGROUNDS ST. PETE Q&A WITH CELESTE E. DAVIS DIRECTOR OF ARTS, CULTURE & TOURISM, CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG What makes our arts scene exceptional? The arts scene in St. Petersburg is exceptional in its depth and breadth. With over 500 murals, 50 public art studios, 10 museums, five arts districts, two emerging arts districts and a thriving music scene, we are well positioned to be called the “City of the Arts.” International mural festival: The SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival attracts muralists from the local area and beyond. Through the PixelStix app, one can explore 150 SHINE murals on a map and enjoy unique, accessible and descriptive audio clips of these one-of-a-kind pieces of art. It is an ideal connection between the visual arts and technology. THE JEWEL BOX AT THE JAMES MUSEUM OF WESTERN AND WILDLIFE ART continues to evolve to reflect the growing city; there are plans for a 10,000-square-foot addition featuring a metal sculpture by artist Ya La’ford. mummy made its way to the city in the museum’s Odditorium. THREE TO SEE See the world’s first airliner in the panoramic Flight One Gallery located just steps from where aviation history was made. Baseball fans will delight in Schrader’s Little Cooperstown, the Guinness-certified largest collection of baseballs signed by a staggering number of athletes and celebrities. Find out how an approximately 3,000-year-old Egyptian LEEPA-RATTNER MUSEUM OF ART This small but mighty museum is part of St. Petersburg College and sits on its Tarpon Springs campus. The modern and contemporary museum boasts a sizable collection containing works by 20 th century artists Allen Leepa and Abraham Rattner. Exhibitions showcase their contemporaries, What might surprise you about the arts in St. Pete? The diverse arts offerings that are available in the city is probably most surprising. Theater, all genres of music and dance, and our museums and galleries are all a part of the arts experiences that attract both residents and visitors alike. What do you enjoy most about the arts in our area? I love that the variety of arts experiences across the city provide me with the opportunity to learn and grow. Artists are storytellers and I can be engaged in the stories of our diverse artists’ communities, from the Latinx to the African American communities to the stories of the LGBTQ community. VISITSTPETECLEARWATER.COM 59
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