In the wake of recent storms, Pinellas County’s vibrant arts community is proving to be resilient. Creative Pinellas has just awarded a total of $20,000 in Hurricane Relief Grants for the 2024-25 season—providing a much-needed financial boost to local artists and arts organizations. Funded through the December 7th Arts Annual Hurricane Relief Fundraiser, the initiative gives 20 individual artists $500 each and allocates $1,000 to each of 10 nonprofit arts organizations.
“These grants are a lifeline for our creative community,” says Creative Pinellas CEO Margaret Murray. “After a year of unprecedented challenges—where more than 80% of cultural institutions saw revenue drops and 90% had to shutter their doors temporarily—this support is essential in rebuilding and reinvigorating our arts scene.”
The grants are set to make a tangible difference. For artists, the funds will cover everything from replacing lost supplies and repairing studios to launching new projects. Writers, painters, sculptors, musicians, photographers, and mixed-media creators alike are turning obstacles into opportunities, investing in tools and materials that will spark their next wave of creativity.
Local arts organizations, meanwhile, are using their grants to stabilize operations and continue offering community-enriching programs. The following 10 nonprofits each received $1,000:
- American Stage Company, Inc. – Supporting local artists’ salaries for This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing.
- Morean Arts Center – Purchasing art supplies for free programs serving families, veterans, and low-income community members.
- EMIT – Providing artist fees for the annual St. Petersburg Jazz Festival.
- Francis Wilson Playhouse – Funding storm damage repair.
- Girls Rock St. Pete – Replacing lost equipment and instruments.
- Gulf Beach Art Center – Renting alternative spaces for art classes while the facility undergoes repairs.
- Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project – Supporting the 2025 Tampa Bay Chalk Festival.
- REVolutions Dance – Paying dancers for a canceled show at the Mahaffey Theater due to storm damage.
- The Blueberry Patch – Replenishing the organization’s music scholarship fund.
- St. Petersburg Opera Company – Covering production costs for A Little Night Music, specifically set design.
The impact of these investments goes well beyond the art studios and performance halls. According to the Arts & Economic Prosperity Survey (AEP6) by Americans for the Arts, events in Pinellas County draw 4.1 million attendees who contribute an average of $35.62 per person in spending on dining, parking, and lodging. Notably, 34% of visitors come from outside the county, each spending roughly $46.37, underlining the significant role the arts play in boosting the local economy.
“We were very moved by the spirit and resilience of everyone who applied to our Hurricane Relief Fund,” adds Creative Pinellas Director of Grants Todd Wellman. “Our community is not only recovering—it’s ready to thrive again.”
As Pinellas County leads the charge in cultural recovery, Creative Pinellas, alongside partners in the Cultural Resources Work Group, continues to tackle the challenges posed by storm damage. Together, they are paving the way for a more resilient future, one where art and creativity remain at the heart of the local economy.
