The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts annual event couldn’t take place without the year-round support of dedicated volunteers.
The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts has more than twenty individual committees that oversee all aspects of the festival from weekend activities to behind-the-scenes logistics. Festival committee members enjoy benefits year-round, including invitations to gatherings and celebrations, professional networking and camaraderie.
Three Festival Co-Chairs coordinate all aspects of the Festival, and, in cooperation with the Board of Directors, choose committee members and chairs. The Festival Co-chairs provide committee members with training, guidance and supervision. A detailed job description is given to the Co-Chairs upon assignment of this position.
If you are interested in applying your time and talents to a GFA committee, please apply using the link on this page. A list of committees and related activities can be found on this page.
If you are interested in volunteering for festival weekend, visit our Volunteer page for information.
We’re excited you are interested in growing our arts community! Descriptions of all our standing committees and their activities can be found on this page.
Click on the button below to start the sign-up process. Our Festival Co-chairs will connect you with the committee you’re interested in.
AIA Installation - Through a partnership with the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, this committee will assist in designing and building an interactive art installation at the north entrance to the festival. One volunteer is needed for this committee. The volunteer will work with our partners at AIA to decide on the design of this year's installation. They will work with the Site Planning Committee to locate the installation and solve any logistical challenges and they will assist AIA's team to build the installation on the Thursday (2/29/24) and/or Friday (3/1/24) before the Festival begins. Volunteers should be organized and have a strong sense of creativity. Some experience with building art installations would be helpful.
This committee member will coordinate with the partner at AIA and develop a design in the months prior to the festival, coordinate the design with site amenities and ensure that all materials are ready for set-up. They must be on-site on Thursday or Friday to set-up and on Sunday afternoon to break-down. This committee will have minimal
Art Collectors in training is a program designed to create future art collectors. Children enter the ACT tent by themselves to select a piece of art donated by festival artists. The ACT team works to coordinate donations from the artists and operates the tent during the festival.
The team is responsible for securing artwork donations from Festival artists, staffing the booth on Saturday and Sunday, coordinating donation of proceeds as necessary and set- up/ clean-up. They promote tent/program through website/ marketing committee and the distribution of program booklet, etc. This team does coordination and procurement work in the moths leading up to the festival. They will need to be on-site during festival set-up, manning the booth and during break-down. (Thursday/Friday - Sunday)
Artist Hospitality volunteers support our festival artists throughout festival weekend. They solicit food and beverages, run the artist hospitality center, coordinate setup and clean-up and manage booth sitters. They are also responsible for the Saturday night artist party. They coordinate with concessions, VIP and site amenities to provide all necessary items for the party. Volunteers should be available on-site Friday through Sunday of Festival weekend.
The Artist Load In/ Load Out Committee organizes the entry into the park for all artists and vendors on Thursday and Friday of festival week. On Sunday, the team coordinates the artists’ exit from the park. This committee also coordinates with the City of Tampa and our security team. This is a physically active committee and a great way to meet the artists.
The team is responsible for Thursday and Friday check-in, assembly of artist load-in/ load-out information packet. The team also coordinates load-out on Sunday evening. This committee has a light workload prior to festival week. The team will be the earliest on-site Thursday and Friday morning. There a very few time commitments durning the actual festival, but they will meet Sunday afternoon
The Children’s Activity Committee works with the Tampa Museum of Art to prepare an art-making experience for children.
This committee is responsible for creating activities and securing donated and/or purchasing supplies, coordination of contract staff/artists for demonstrations, securing/supervising volunteers, and set-up/ clean-up. In addition, they promote tent/program through the website/marketing committee and distribute the program booklet. This program has coordination and preparation leading up to the festival and requires the members to be on site Friday - Sunday.
The Concessions Committee orders, organizes and distributes food and beverages sold at the festival. This committee also coordinates with the food vendors and the City of Tampa. These committee members should be available on-site the week of the festival (Thursday- Sunday). Experience in hospitality or bartending would be helpful. This is a physically active role.
This committee is responsible for screening and scheduling food vendors. They also coordinate with beer, wine, ice and soda vendors for beverage outlets. The team organizes and schedules load in and load out for vendors, accepts deliveries of inventory at the site prior to festival, organizes deliveries in storage area, and distributes inventory prior, during and post festival. The team assists in guiding concessions volunteers to assigned outlets each shift and maintains contact and communication with vendors and volunteers. This committee has coordination and purchasing before the festival and must be on-site during the festival
The emerging artist program volunteers facilitate the selection and mentoring of newly professional artists. These volunteers promote the program, verify applications, prepare the board presentation for artist selection and guide the artists through several mentoring events. During festival weekend, they should be available on-site Thursday through Sunday to assist with set-up, artist support and load-out.
The entertainment team solicits all bands/ acts performing at the festival. They manage the technical and sound requirements for the festival. The coordinate with the board, site amenities, and artist hospitality to ensure that the equipment, contracts and talent needs are met. They should be available on-site Thursday through Sunday for set-up, management of the entertainment acts and break-down.
The Festival Liaison Committee are the visionary custodians of Gasparilla Festival of the Arts’s legacy. With a commitment to continuity and collaboration, we are the bridge that connects past, present, and future. They organize and maintain legacy documents, notes, feedback, and agendas, creating a treasure trove of knowledge that serves as a guide for each new wave of co-chairs. The team is entrusted with curating and preserving legacy documents, notes, feedback, and agendas. This position is perfect for individuals with a keen eye for detail, a passion for preserving heritage, and a desire to contribute to the festival’s lasting impact.
The team is responsible for organizing and and documenting information during festival week, coordinating with HQ, and distributing the information collected after the festival. This committee will have few time commitments prior to the festival, but will need to be on-site from Friday-Sunday. After the festival, the committee will need to compile information from the 2024 festival and distribute for next year’s team.
The HQ Core Committee is the dynamic team behind the scenes at the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts and are dedicated to ensuring seamless operations at the festival headquarters. With a keen eye for organization and a knack for precision, they are the driving force that keeps everything running smoothly. The HQ Coordinators oversee a range of essential tasks to guarantee a successful festival experience. From coordinating radios to facilitating efficient communication among teams, to managing golf carts that keep festival logistics flowing.This role is great for an individual with a talent for orchestrating moving parts.
The team is responsible for organizing and planning at HQ, graphic representations of the festival schedules, arranging performances, exhibitions, and activities graphically to create a harmonious schedule for festival week. Ensuring coordination with jury and photography schedules festival weekend and ensuring that all committees on the festival and board level are heard and seen festival weekend. This committee will order necessary supplies prior to the festival, prepare graphics for HQ, and organize schedules. They must be on-site for the festival from Thursday/Friday through Sunday. It is helpful if at least one member is available for breakdown on Monday (3/4). This role is not a physically demanding role,
Local Artists Spotlight - With support from the Gobioff Foundation, each year we invite five local artists to receive a free booth to present and sell their work to those who attend the Festival. The LAS Committee is responsible for helping the GFA Board of Directors to select the artists, providing the artists with the logistical support they will need to set up their booth and then ensuring that the artists have what they need during the two days of the festival. Two volunteers are needed for this committee. Volunteers must be very organized, responsive to emails and at least one of the two should have some experience with Powerpoint.
The team is responsible for creating a presentation for the board of potential artist and assisting with artist selection. They set-up/breakdown at the start and end of the festival and coordinate requests from selected artists. They must be on-site during the festival (Friday-Sunday).
One chairperson and volunteer support, with direction from the Board, to oversee all things related to the planning, coordination, and operation of marketing and public relations for the festival and organization, to include strategy, social media posts, newsletters, media coordination, and marketing design.
One chairperson and members to develop quarterly programming, with direction from the Board of Directors, to help GFA maintain a year-round presence with supporters and to provide an added benefit for existing and potential sponsors. This programming is intended to be art-related and could consist of lectures, artist demonstrations, studio tours, gallery tours, etc. The committee will develop a quarterly calendar, coordinate the programming content, and organize and produce the events.
The Signage Committee creates and installs the signage for the festival. The team works with the other committees to determine their needs and assists with set-up festival week (on-site between Wednesday and Friday). On Sunday, the team assists with the removal of signage and it’s storage for the following year.
The team works to place check-in signage on Wednesday evening/Thursday morning and Festival signage Friday evening/Saturday morning. They inventory and photograph existing signage, salvage/dispose damaged and out-of-date signs, submit and set deadline for submission of each committee’s needs, coordinate production of new/ replacement signage, update banners with current dates, coordinate placement of banners in early February, coordinate placement of signage for off-site check-in, directional signage to Festival from off-site check-in. At the close of the festival, they remove and store signage and banners on Sunday. They also coordinate with the Board of Directors with respect to sponsorship to get logos, banners and other materials properly placed. The committee has a large amount of coordination and ordering prior to the festival and is very involved in set-up and break-down. There are minimal time commitments during the actual festival.
The Site Amenities Committee facilitates the organization, ordering and installation of all equipment and city resources for the festival. They coordinate with the City of Tampa and the Site Planning Committee.
This team coordinates requests with all committees and solicits bids for booths, tents, port-o-lets, tables, chairs, radios, golf carts and other equipment needs. Members will be on site Wednesday through Friday prior to Festival weekend for set-up for these items: including radios and carts, bringing supplies from storage unit, implementing requirements per site planning design, coordinating needs for electricity, water, etc. with city and securing on-site storage. The team coordinates with the city and orders equipment prior to the festival. They must be onsite during Festival and coordinate breakdown. (Wednesday - Sunday)
The Sustainability committee is a new team focusing on improving GFA’s environmental impact. Goals for the team this year are improving recycling options, new water refilling stations and more sustainable merchandise options.
This committee will be researching new vendors and coordinating with the city of Tampa and Site Amenities prior to the festival. During festival weekend, they will be on-site Thursday or Friday for set-up and Sunday for break-down.
The Committee treasurer maintains all festival funds and accounts used by the committee. They coordinate with the co-chairs and board to create a budget, handle all festival payments/ reimbursements and work with the board treasurer to create an accurate accounting of all festival funds.
The committee VIP committee works in conjunction with the board VIP committee to plan and execute the preview party, Showcase and VIP tent. They coordinate with site amenities, signage, concessions and the sponsorship team. The team manages all invitations and ticket purchases for these events. They should be on-site Thursday through Sunday.
The volunteer coordinators will verify committee volunteer requirements for festival weekend. They compile volunteer sign-ups and coordinate with corporations to provide volunteer teams. During festival weekend, they sign-in volunteers and direct them to their assignments. They should be available on-site Saturday and Sunday.
The Volunteer Hospitality Committee is dedicated to serving our invaluable volunteers throughout the festival week. They are committed to creating a comfortable and nurturing environment for them. The committee will set up a dedicated hospitality station to keep our committee volunteers energized and hydrated. In addition, the team will man an information booth for visitors. This is a wonderful committee for individuals who are social and enjoy interacting with the festival’s many volunteers. This committee is responsible for providing information to the festival weekend volunteers and the public, stocking water stations and helping to direct volunteers to the location of their assignments. They will order food and beverages for the festival committee and keep this area stocked during the festival. This committee will procure the food and beverages for volunteers prior to the festival, but will have a minimal workload before festival week. The team will need to be on-site during the festival (Wednesday - Sunday) and be prepared to man the information tent and restock volunteer refreshments. They will assist with break-down on Sunday.
One chairperson coordinates with local high schools in early Fall. The chairperson and members meet art teachers/students at the festival site on Thursday and Friday afternoon for load-in and display of art. Staff booth Saturday and Sunday. Meet teachers/students for load out Sunday afternoon.
Some have said this music is a bit bluesy pop folk, others have opined it is old soul with an indie feel. To all of the above, I say YES. This music is a bit of everything I love from jazz to blues, funk to folk. This music is me.
As far back as I can remember, sounds would mesmerize me. As a short haired girl freckled from head to toe, I would sit in the kitchen for hours just singing along with the constant hum of the refrigerator. As my red hair grew longer, so did my longing for art, for song.
Having been a part of great groups of musicians before, I have had the privilege to play in front of presidents, prime ministers, and foreign leaders both in the US and abroad. These were wonderful experiences and I am truly grateful to have had them.
But something was missing.
(Queue The Random Occurrence)
At the end of 2016, a chance encounter reunited me with a couple of longtime friends and musicians John Soler & David Diaz. They too have been in other bands and were working on their own unique & refreshing sound.
Immediately, I knew we had something special.
Something refreshing. Something real. Nick Ewing joined us shortly thereafter to provide a beautiful dynamic of ideas and talent with his violin and bow.
My hope is that, through this music, you feel me come alive. Come, share the pieces of my soul l leave scattered in song. Share a piece of me.
I like to write songs about mfs who break my heart so I’m like Taylor Swift except I’m Black and Better. Set the (Tone). Be the Example (I.E)
Tha Banned is a jazz band consisting of Alejandro “Chach” Coronado (Trumpet), Malachi Elmore-Davis (Trombone), Kingsleyiii (Bass), Jeremiah “Yogi” Warren (Drums), Lincee St. Amand (Vocals) and Johnny Champagne (Keyboard). As a collective of Tampa based musicians and songwriters that started as a jam band in an auto shop, they are committed to spreading the spirit of live music and community.
Wülfgang Amadeus is a band that hails from Tampa comprised of poets. They blend music and spoken word to create an intense brew. As they self-describe:
“A Poet and Drummer meet at a bar and Wülfgang Amadeus is born! Now united, the Wülfgang is finally ready to shred their bohemian rhapsody across the ages with their timeless lyricism, classic riffs, inspiring Melodie’s, dynamic sound and talents that span multiple genres of performance art.”
Mountain Holler is the cavernous alternative-folk project of Seattle, WA based musician Mark Etherington. The music of Mountain Holler is a meditation on nature, the shadowed side of the human experience and the dream-like music born from explorations through his own mind. There is a very heavy influence from Tolkien lore, Led Zeppelin and Eastern spiritualism. Mountain Holler’s live show consists of multiple acoustic guitars in unusual alternate tunings, electronic drones and powerful vocals that provide the listener a sweet invitation to join in on one human’s experience of this world and our shared connection to nature.
Etherington moved from St. Petersburg, FL to Seattle, WA in 2021 after spending over half his life cutting his teeth in the Tampa Bay area music scene. Still watering his deep Florida musical roots by returning multiple times a year to perform , a Mountain Holler show is not one to miss. The Tampa Bay Times says of Mountain Holler ,” Refreshing and unpretentious, his music is spacious and etheral, conjuring visions of wide-open spaces, actualized through open tunings and a sea of reverb.” (Aaron Lepley). The Stranger writes that Etherington “murmurs, moans, belts, and croons ethereal yet powerfully-charged melodies that sound as if they were hewn from some rocky outcropping before their journey to the heavens.” (Leilani Polk)
He has since been steadily releasing new music to his bandcamp and self released his two newest singles ‘Trying to Connect’ and ‘Rolling Thunder’ on all major platforms in early 2024.
Born in Brazil from Bolivian descent, Nelson grew up in Tampa and began musical performance at the age of seven. Starting with piano, drums, trombone and tuba in middle school, he finally ventured into the world of guitar at 13. After a year in training, Nelson auditioned and was immediately accepted to Blake High School of the Arts. There, he entered classical guitar instruction with esteemed educator John Michael Parris. In 2004, Nelson won the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts’ Merit Recognition Award. He graduated to study classical guitar at Florida State University’s College of Music under Professor Bruce Holzman. While at FSU, he began exploring jazz composition with Joel Johnson and Leo Welch. In 2005, Nelson attended New York University’s Guitar Intensive Program to further explore jazz theory. He began teaching private lessons during his senior year and, in 2008, earned his BA Music degree. Nelson came back to Tampa to continue teaching and has delighted venues around the region with his solo classical guitar, ceremonial ensembles, acoustic guitar duo/trios, and full electric bands.
Tim Balajadia was born and raised on Guam, USA. Tim has been writing, composing, and performing original music since 2001. His laid-back acoustic vibes with powerful alternative vocal tone fit him right into the progressive reggae scene. Tim holds firm to the essential values of Positivity, Peace, Equal Rights, Unity and Love. With people playing cover songs on Guam, Tim Balajadia left the tiny but mighty Pacific island inspired to create more conscious and impactful music.
Fire branded in the Chicago blues circuit, roots rocker and bluesman RJ Howson picked up his skillful guitar chops & powerful vocals performing and sharing the stage with blues icons and fellow musicians at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa’s Lounge, Kingston Mines, BLUES on Halstead and many other clubs in the Windy City and playing countless shows all over the Midwest.
Somewhere between just enough and way too much, Discord Theory blends honest introspection, raw pop punk energy, and gritty post-hardcore intensity with breakdowns designed to move the room. Formed in sunny Tampa, FL in 2017, the band is led by Ecuadorian frontman Luis Giler’s commanding vocals and subversive songwriting, alongside Anthony Rogue’s groove-heavy bass, Sydney Reinfrank’s razor-sharp guitar, and Tyler Austin’s hard-hitting drums.
Bulgarian-born Geri X is a composer, a musician and a singer hard to put a label on. Fans and critics spotted it from the moment she broke onto the Tampa Bay music scene: Geri is an artist with a singular sound you have not heard before. What started with a classical training in piano, guitar and voice, evolving out of a broad and eclectic blend of influences, has become wonderfully her own.
Much like the kids walking along the train tracks in the 1986 film Stand By Me (the initial inspiration for the band’s name), the members of Florida’s HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL set out on a life-defining journey of growth and discovery. Principle songwriter and singer-guitarist Matt Burke enthusiastically leads fellow bandmates; brother and bassist Daniel Burke, guitarist Scott Anderson, keyboardist Edward Stork and drummer Sam Farmer through a catalog of songs that run the gamut from foot-stomping front-porch spirituals to strum-punk rave-ups, hill-country historicals and indie-rock anthems. With six full-length studio albums under their belts, the “Silver Sounds” ep was released May 23, 2022 on silver 10” vinyl and the companion “Voyager Golden” ep on gold 10” vinyl released Dec 5, 2025, so HGWT show no signs of slowing down. In December 2022, the band’s hometown of Bradenton, FL awarded Matt Burke and Have Gun, Will Travel the key to the City of Bradenton for their contributions to the arts in their community.