Creative Pinellas maintains strong, ongoing partnerships with Pinellas County Schools (PCS) that celebrate student creativity, build community connections, and strengthen arts education. These collaborations include annual exhibitions, recognition events, and student showcases hosted at the Creative Pinellas Gallery.
Youth Art Month (K–8)
- Annual March exhibition showcasing artwork from PCS students in grades K–8 at the Creative Pinellas Gallery.
- Co-presented with Clearwater Arts Alliance and Pinellas County Schools
ACE Principals’ Appreciation Breakfast
Countywide recognition of school leaders who champion arts in education led by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance with support from Creative Pinellas;
13th Congressional District High School Art Competition
- Hosted at the Creative Pinellas Gallery; showcases high school artwork from across Pinellas County
- In 2024, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognized five Pinellas County students with National Medals, including one Gold Medal and four Silver Medals, and we proudly celebrate their accomplishments
- Provides professional exhibition experience, community recognition, and scholarship/award opportunities.
Summer Art Camps Countywide Youth Engagement
Funding: $63,000 from the County General Fund goes directly to arts camps across Pinellas County—supporting program fees, need-based scholarships, and access for PCS students and families. We served 14 camps across the entire county, providing financial support to hundreds of children each year. Recent feedback from happy campers and their parents include:
“…my child had a fantastic time at the SHAM-C camp! And I was unemployed for over a year; the grant helped us immensely in being able to still give the kiddo a camp experience without us having to make hard choices about what they could or couldn’t do this summer.” – Geoffrey
“We truly appreciate the summer arts grant. Without it, we would not be able to attend art camp.” – Elisha
“This was an amazing opportunity for my boys to try something new that they otherwise would not have had access to and never have tried. Thank you!” – Jessica
Community & Student Impact
- Visibility for PCS arts programs through high-quality, public exhibitions.
- Professional exposure for students: portfolio development, public recognition, and awards.
- Deeper community connections among PCS, Creative Pinellas, and local arts partners.
- Clear, measurable value aligned to countywide educational and cultural goals.
