Tampa Bay
Performing Arts Center
The
five-theatre arts center hosts orchestras, concerts, operas, comedy
shows, and Broadway plays. Other facilities include banquet
and rehearsal halls, a performing arts Conservatory, and in-house
restaurant and catering services.
Museum of Science & Industry
MOSI, as it’s locally known, features
engaging, interactive exhibits for children and adults alike, including
a hurricane simulator, a butterfly garden, and
“Disasterville.” MOSI features the Saunders
Planetarium & Tampa’s Dome IMAX Theatre, a
high-definition film experience that completely engulfs the viewer.
Tampa Museum of Art
The
permanent collection of this riverside art museum includes Greek and
Roman antiquities as well as contemporary art. Traveling
exhibits and educational programs such as lectures and classes help
expand Tampa resident’s cultural experiences.
Henry B. Plant Museum of Tampa
The
Plant Museum occupies the 1891 Tampa Hotel, a National Historic
Landmark and former headquarters for President Theodore
Roosevelt. Sharing real estate with the University of Tampa,
the museum collections include exhibits on the Spanish American War,
Tampa’s history, and the original furnishings from the
striking Victorian-Moorish style Hotel.
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Founded
in 2001, the museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, and
display photographic art from international artists. The
museum also conducts community outreach and educational programs.
Arts Council of Hillsborough County
The
council oversees Tampa’s Arts in Education programs, and also
secures artworks for public spaces and manages Tampa theatre.
Gorilla Theatre
Every
year since 1993, the intimate theatre space and dedicated actors make
the Gorilla Theatre’s six mainstage productions something
Tampa residents look forward to. Jazz performances and improv
acts round out the calendar.
Tampa Theatre
Beautifully
restored to the opulence it exuded when it first raised its curtain in
1926, the Tampa Theatre is among the city’s gems.
Surrounded by a Mediterranean theme and twinkling-star ceiling, patrons
can watch classic or independent films, attend costume parties, and
occasionally catch a live performance. Tampa Theatre was
rated one of the nation’s top twenty by LIFE magazine, USA
TODAY, and MSNBC.
Stageworks
Theater Company & Jobsite Theatre
Both
of these local acting troupes produce plays of interest and
significance, and they tied for the 2006 “Best of the
Bay” designation given by long-running Tampa Bay alternative
weekly Creative Loafing.
The Florida Orchestra
Tampa’s
professional symphony orchestra performs over 150 times per year at
Tampa Bay venues and for their free “Pops in the
Park” outdoor series. In additional to classical
masterworks, the orchestra plays “coffee concerts,”
seasonal arrangements, and even contemporary music such as the Lord of
the Rings soundtrack compositions by Howard Shore.
American Victory Mariners Memorial &
Museum ShipVisitors aboard the
World
War II merchant ship the SS American Victory learn the differences
between the era’s ships, and what it was like to live and
work on them. Educational programs and re-enactments
complement memorial services commemorating those who lost their lives
at sea during the conflict.
Kid City Children's Museum
This
miniature town setting allows children to assume the responsibilities
of firemen, bankers, and more. An “Under the
Sea” area for toddlers allows for exploration.
Programs emphasize learning, listening, and creativity, and a paid teen
internship provides leadership and practical training.
Tampa Bay History Center
Beginning
12,000 years ago, the museum chronicles life in Tampa Bay as social
customs and the landscape evolved to its modern urban state.
USF Contemporary Art Museum
The
Public Art Network named the USF museum among the top ten
university-run programs. Though international in focus, USF
has extensive collections of African art and modern photography.
Additionally,
those who purchase Tampa real estate can diversify
their appreciation for motion pictures – several annual film
festivals are held in Tampa, and Fun-Lan Drive In is among the few
drive-in theatres still operating