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Patrons

The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Board of Directors and Committee Members would like to welcome you to its 39th year of excellence!

This year’s Festival, sponsored once again by Raymond James Financial, will display some of the finest art available at an outdoor exhibition. The growing diversity of the show, including 300 artists, is evidenced by the wide range of media including ceramic, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood.

The quality of the 2008 Festival continued a trend that began in 1971, when the Festival first exhibited artwork in what was then a sleepy section of downtown Tampa. The show was one of the first efforts to revitalize the central city, and the growth of the Festival has been mirrored by addition of new downtown landmarks. In 1973, the Festival won the prestigious Governor's Award for the Arts in recognition of its role in promoting and stimulating cultural activities for the public. Today, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is rated as one of the top shows in the country.

This year’s prize money will total $70,500, which includes 35 awards from $1,300 to $15,000 for the Raymond James Best of Show, as well as a $1,000 award presented to the winner of the Emerging Artist Program. The City of Tampa also takes pride in the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts through the long-standing commitment from departments such as the City Department of Parks and Recreation, Solid Waste and the Police Department.