Elizabeth A. Leib

(originally published in Tampa Bay Parenting, May 2009)

The news isn’t all bad these days for some Tampa cultural arts organizations. Thanks to funds left over from the now defunct Renaissance Center for the Arts (RCFTA), those laboring to bring cultural arts to Tampa residents have additional money to further their efforts.

Phoenix grants were awarded organizations that fit with the original mission of RCFTA: to enhance cultural awareness for youth and adults in Tampa Bay. Of the twenty-three organizations that applied, fourteen received grants at a reception held April 1 at the interim site of the Tampa Museum of Art.

Melinda Chavez, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts, is very happy about receiving a Phoenix grant. Chavez says the grant will be used to fund three scholarships within an existing program that makes annual awards to outstanding high-school students in the performing, visual and literary arts categories.

A Phoenix grant will help seventh and eighth grade Academy Prep Center students illustrate environmental and sustainable living lessons from the Earth Charter with the help of University of Tampa faculty on Earth Day, 2010. Jan Roberts, founder and President of Earth Charter U.S., says that students will demonstrate Earth Charter ideas through storytelling, mural painting, sculptures, photography, dance and the spoken word on both campuses.

Fran Powers, founder of Powerstories Theatre and grant recipient says the money will be used to fund the newest program, Girlstories Theatre Project (GTP). GTP is a ten month program for 25 middle-school girls that kicks off with a six-week summer intensive in June. Girls meet from 9 am to 5 pm five days a week, to study theatre, music, dance, improvisation, art, technical theatre and how to tell a personal story. Young girls are selected mostly on their desire to become a leader in the community rather than performance ability. “In these challenging economic times, it is a thrill for the Board to donate funds to expand children’s arts programming, supporting our core mission.” said RCFTA director, grants committee chair and City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena.

Other grant winners include Plant City Children’s Theatre, Bits n’ Pieces Puppet Theatre, Glazer Children’s Museum, Stageworks, Tampa Museum of Art , Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center, Plant High School Academic Foundation, Southshore Arts Council, Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association and Walton Academy for the Performing Arts.

The Renaissance Center for the Arts began in 1999 with renovation on what once was the First Congregational Church in Tampa Heights. Although many successful events and programs took place at the Center, funding challenges ultimately kept the RCFTA from fulfilling its mission. The Board of Directors of the RCFTA is pleased that it could grant the remaining assets of the organization to deserving arts related organizations throughout greater Tampa and further support cultural arts in the community.

RCFTA president, Mark Segel added, “Although it’s very disappointing to the entire board that the Renaissance Center could not continue as we envisioned it, we’re very pleased that through these grants we can leave a lasting legacy throughout the arts community of greater Tampa.”