Embracing the spirit of Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, I am not just a participant; I am a vital thread in the rich tapestry of community and friendship. In every brushstroke, in every shared moment, we contribute to the vibrant masterpiece that celebrates the unifying power of art and the bonds that connect us all.
“Art is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward well-being of individuals and of humanity.”
~Leo Tolstoy
My creative side was nurtured by my mother whose forays into crafts and yarn inspired me to explore and develop an appreciation and love for all forms of art. Serving on the Board allows me an opportunity to help inspire future generations and build upon the legacy of artists within our community.
I am happy to be part of this amazing event as some of my favorite memories of growing up in Tampa have been attending this festival with my parents.
Arts and culture are a catalyst to a community’s strength and growth. For over 50 years, GFA has played a vital role in fostering a vibrant arts community here in Tampa Bay. I’m honored to be a part of the Board and contribute to the impact GFA has on Tampa.
"Creative people do not see things merely for what they are; they see them for what they can be."
~Julie Israel
I am honored to serve on the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts board of directors. Growing up, I was fortunate to be exposed to a diverse array of artistic expressions, including visual arts, theater, music, and culinary arts. I firmly believe that the arts have a profoundly positive influence on individuals and communities alike. With the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, I am dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts in the Tampa Bay community, ensuring that they continue to inspire and enrich the lives of all who encounter them.
GFA is an amazing organization that ensures the Arts are accessible to all. I am proud to have been apart of the GFA organization for 8 years now. I am continuously inspired by the professionals we work with to showcase the best in thier field and to offer exposure to Emerging & Local Artists. GFA also highlights the best that Tampa has to offer in the way of public spaces and public art!
I grew up in a family that supported the arts as a valuable part of life, and I’ve carried that with me to this day. That is why I’ve attended the Festival for almost two decades since moving to the Tampa Bay area, and that is why I was honored when asked to join the Board. I believe that Tampa is a better community to live in and visit because of the Festival, and I intend to do all I can to promote it and our great City.
“Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change.” –Barbara Januszkiewicz
I’m very honored to be on the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Board this year I look forward to working with this amazing group of volunteers in supporting and contributing to those art endeavors which so richly impact our lives
Mayor Jane Castor
Andy Maass
Dennis Phillips
Cindy German
Rebekah Lane
Adam Nichols
Ashly Anderson
Mark Brown
Trish Burnett
Jocelyn Boigenzahn
Lisa Carver
Jack A. Cohen
Kimberli Cummings
Katrina Daniel
Bobbie Donaldson
Patt Fosnaught
Jennifer Frazier
Carol Gaynor
Andy George
Erika George
Ann Leavengood Giles
Eileen Goldenberg
Brenda Gregory
Zoe Gustafson
Clay Hollenkamp
Erin Konley
Jennifer Malin
Jennifer McKie
John Scheffel
Sheila Seig
Allison Shamblin
Billie Valloreo
Benjamin Videtto
Jane Pope Arnett
Laura Cacioppo
John Corso
Leslie Curran
Sean Drinkard
Tim Garding
Mitzi Gordon
Brandon Hicks
Tiffanie Jansen
Jamie Jenkins
Sarah Joubert
Elizabeth Klein
Ya La’ford
Tommy McDonnell
Amy Neumann
Jodie Orozco
Jennifer Painter
Adam Raschke
Mishou Sanchez
Michael Silver
Michelle Szekeres
Ann-Eliza Taylor
James Vasiloff
Cate Wells
Scott Waltz
The Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is one of the top outdoor, juried fine arts shows in the United States, showcasing a wide variety of art mediums and price points. We invite you to discover why this festival has been a must-see event for art lovers for more than 50 years.
Gasparilla Festival
of the Arts
PO Box 10591
Tampa, FL 33679
Website by Sky Lake Design, LLC.
Website photography by Marc Dahl of 5 Studios, Will Staples and Jimena Lopez.
Blanket Approval is a 4-piece indie rock band from New York City. They formed in 2021 when lead singer Jack Matteucci took a collection of demos recorded in the basement of his physics lab, moved to Brooklyn, and met drummer/singer Joey Hadden. The two were later joined by bassist Max Mena and keyboardist/guitarist/singer Rahul Chakraborty. The group has played dozens of shows around New York City and the Northeast, from Burlington to Baltimore. They’ve released 10 singles to date, blending hard rock with tight melodies and groovy bass lines; drawing from influences like Portugal. The Man and Franz Ferdinand.
The Savants are a nine piece southern soul group from Gainesville, FL. They perform original soul music inspired by the Muscle Shoals Sound as well as the iconic and legendary music that came out of labels like Stax Records and Atlantic Records during the 1960s & 1970s.
Formed in 2011 in Gainesville, FL, the group has undergone several personal changes over the years but settled into its current lineup around 2020.
The band has made its presence felt around the southeast, notably playing Red Gorilla at SXSW in 2017, Suwannee Hulaween in 2016 and Changeville in its hometown in 2018 and 2016. Along the way they have been featured alongside groups such as; Gary Clark Jr., Durand Jones and the Indications, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Kendra Morris, Charles Bradley and His Extraordinares, George Porter Jr of the Meters, The Original Wailers, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Postmodern Jukebox and more.
Tv Breakup Scene is an indie pop punk band from Tampa, FL inspired by Paramore with a gaze-y twist. After a year of writing they finally made their debut with their new release Troubled Mind!
Music’s ability to release energy within us is overwhelming. Capturing moments of emotion and expression to elicit that reaction is such a joyful honor. It’s allowed me to connect, create, and cultivate so many beautiful experiences. Let this be with you… Cheers!
Danish-American, California-born, and Florida-raised multi-instrumentalist Mia Marlene offers a vibrant sonic world through her indie pop music, which is infused with hues of 1980’s synth pop and lush, captivating melodies. Her self-produced debut album, “good for my art,” features songs about living abroad, creative aspirations, and terrible exes (because, well, you know).
Mia Marlene’s music is anchored in her many experiences living in London, Copenhagen, Colorado, and Washington D.C.; places that shaped her sonic vision and imprinted onto her the wealth of the human experience, and how all of these experiences can serve as creative fuel for songwriting and music-making.
PRIZILLA is a pop-soul whirlwind, where horns wail, melodies sparkle, and every beat feels like an invitation. With a microphone in one hand and a saxophone in the other, she leads her band through a kaleidoscope of pop, funk, and soul, crafting music that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. It’s a sound that dances between the playful and the profound, wrapping stories in irresistible rhythms that refuse to stand still.
Since releasing PEOPLE PERSON, their debut EP, the band has been turning heads and moving feet. With over 50,000 fans following along online, PRIZILLA has earned a reputation for live shows that are part concert, part catharsis, and entirely unmissable.
The band has shared stages with Nick Hakim and Madison McFerrin, lit up NYC with Couch and The Retrograde, and shaken the rafters with St. Paul & the Broken Bones and Flipturn at FL Fin Fest. PRIZILLA shows no signs of stopping, proving that music isn’t just something you hear—it’s something you feel. And they feel it. This is music for anyone who craves the unexpected, the unforgettable, and the kind of energy that makes you lose track of time. Come for the sax solos; stay for the magic.
The Bronx New York-based singer-producer Pusha Preme has been making waves with his delicate blend of heartfelt melodies; Goal-oriented lyrics, and harmonies that reel you in like a fish on a hook. Above all, Pusha’s music is often praised for its high intimacy and familiar themes that find their way to a special place in the listener’s heart.
Mk Blessed was born in Congo Kinshasa in Sep 18th He is a singer/songwriter and a speaker who started writing songs at the age of 7 and taught them to His Church worship team, which enjoyed singing His songs.
He formed His first Music group at the Age of 10 and was doing secular music.
When He was 13 he fled his home country and went to a Refugee camp due to war, He lived there for 10 years and then immigrated to the USA in 2016, though He has been writing for a while Mk Blessed released His first single on Dec, 4 2021 entitled Faithful God.
MK blessed is a husband of one wife and a father of two girls, He went to Kampala High School and later attended Bible college in Uganda East Africa, He is a founder of a non profit organization named Fociom that shares love with the underprivileged of the world like himself, Mk Blessed passion is to help others.
Singer, songwriter, guitarist. I aim to write emotional music that addresses the world we live in and how it makes us all feel.
This unique & unscripted collection of Sideshow characters are of various talents and backgrounds to make for a spectacle of amazing musical entertainment. Experience the anecdotal mishaps from the wild to the fantastical. Boho Sideshow comes from parts unknown, but are known for performing an exhibition of Eclectic Americana Music.
FABIOLA MÉNDEZ is a Puerto Rican cuatrista, singer, educator, and Emmy-nominated composer. Her artistic vision and original music focus on the exploration of her culture, her ancestry, and her identities.
Native to Caguas, PR, Fabiola began playing the cuatro, Puerto Rico’s national instrument, at the age of six. She got her early music trainings at the Antonio Paoli School of Music in Caguas and her Bachelor’s in Music from Berklee College of Music, where in 2018 she made history as the first graduate to play the Puerto Rican cuatro as principal instrument.
Fabiola’s mission has always been to share and celebrate the cuatro, folk music, and collective story-telling. In doing so, she’s had the honor of performing at venues such as the NPR Tiny Desk, Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, Celebrity Series of Boston, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Fred Rogers Productions, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, among many others. She has also collaborated with many local and international artists, including the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Totó La Momposina, Pedro Capó, Andy Montañez, Danny Rivera, Chicago Philharmonic, and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra.
Her list of recordings include: Herencia Criolla (2009), Al Otro Lado Del Charco (2019), Afrorriqueña (2021), and Flora Campesina (2024). In 2022, she produced her first
documentary “Negrura”, showcasing Afro-Latinx stories in topics around colorism and discrimination within our own communities.
In recent years, she’s had the honor of receiving recognitions such as the Quincy Jones Award, ambassador for the Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC, the Brother Thomas Fellowship, the Whippoorwill Arts Fellowship, and the ASCAP Foundation Lucille and Jack Yellen Award 2022. She was also nominated for a Children’s and Family Emmy in the category of Outstanding Interactive Media and won the “Latin Artist of the Year 2023” by the Boston Music Awards. Her music is featured on the film Beautiful, FL (Disney+), on the tv shows Alma’s Way, Work It Out Wombats (PBS Kids), and Mecha Builders (HBO Max), as well as indie films, jingles, and TV commercials.