arts & business council

MetLife Foundation National Arts Forums Series

Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts
Arts Council of Hillsborough County
Tampa, Florida

06/26/2008

Moderator: Moderator: Carson Cooper, Host, 89.7 WSUF-FM

Panelists:
• Mary Ann Ference, Owner, Mise en Place Restaurant
• Julie Gorzka, Creator, BrandTampa
• Frank North, Director of Marketing, Ferman Motorcars
• Kerry O’Reilly, Brand Manager, TBT – Tampa Bay Times
• Ken Rollins, Director, Tampa Museum of Art
• Larry Thompson, President, Ringling College of Art and Design
• Thom Stork, Chief Executive Officer, Florida Aquarium
• Nancy Walker, President, Walker Brands

Members of the panel met on June 26 to continue discussion on the transformation of Tampa. A number of action steps were developed based on the first forum discussion.

The business community of Tampa must play a larger role in the arts. In order to get businesses involved they must be reached out to by business as opposed to arts organizations. Partnering with organizations that hold business related Forums to host a cultural sector or social media sector speaker would be an effective way of exposing an untapped audience to the value of creative thinking. 

Business should be encouraged to work with artists closely, a relationship that would benefit both sides of the partnership. Using business space as an exhibit space or performance center for local artists would create a better work environment and also give artists exposure. The opportunity for further collaboration could be expanded by creating sponsorship opportunities for businesses at popular community arts events.

The RenGen communicates differently, moving past traditional forms of communication. The creation of an online social networking site would increase awareness of the cultural industry in Tampa by allowing a more free flowing exchange of ideas, collaborations, and events. 

In order to maintain the growth of a creative culture in Tampa forums were suggested to keep people involved in the process. A Community Roundtable may be put into place to keep up the energy in making Tampa a RenGen city. Also, the idea of a forum setting to brainstorm business solutions was suggested. Artists would have the opportunity to show their creative problem solving abilities to business.

Tampa has what it takes to flourish into a destination for the RenGen to live, work, and visit. Arts and business leaders must work together on overcoming the challenges that Tampa faces to reach its full potential.

Follow-up
A committee headed by Kerry O’Reilly, Board Member of the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, was formed to work on project ideas following the second forum. The committee is working on creating arts events that will revitalize the downtown area of Tampa.

Currently the focus of the committee is the Chalk Walk, which will take place in the early spring of 2009 in conjunction with an already existing event. Local artists sponsored by Tampa businesses will be commissioned to do chalk drawings along a designated route. The sponsors will have kiosks set up along the walkway where they will be dispensing information on their companies and their involvement in the cultural industry of Tampa. 

The creation of an annual event is in early stages with the possibility of keeping the Chalk Walk format. The members of the committee are looking to bring this event to downtown Tampa to encourage a reconstruction of the neighborhood.