Young woman in a light blue dress smiles brightly with her eyes closed as two older adults, one on each side, kiss her cheeks in an affectionate moment.

Hannah Hockman is the driving force behind 2025’s Beach Theatre revival

Her story is among the critics picks in Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay 2025.

by David Warner September 24, 2025September 24, 2025

Smiling park ranger in uniform leans against a wooden post on a sandy beach at sunset, with waves lapping nearby and the ocean stretching into the horizon.

From photographer and arts educator to park ranger, Beth Reynolds’ career pivot has been a good decision

Her post at Honeymoon Island draws on all of her skills as teacher, photographer and nature enthusiast. And as it happens, it’s a job she’d always dreamed of.

by David Warner September 24, 2025September 24, 2025

Woman with long, two-toned blonde and copper hair sits on a tufted chair outdoors, surrounded by greenery. She wears a black tank dress, showing tattooed arms, and rests her hand on a blue sculpted deer head. A second pink sculpted animal head with long golden horns rests against the chair beside her.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best corpse reviver is Trent Alyse of Kitty Bomb Curios

The FSU grad is surprised that she’s able to do this work full-time.

by Annalise Mabe September 24, 2025September 24, 2025

Young man wearing a gray sweater with yellow trim grins widely and gives two thumbs up while performing on stage. Behind him, several other actors in capes and costumes react with animated expressions during a theatrical scene set against a backdrop of stone walls and wooden beams.

Arts & Entertainment

This rising star of the Tampa Bay theater scene isn’t even out of college yet

Now entering his senior year as a musical theater BFA candidate at the University of Tampa, Ben Sutherland, 21, is hard to miss on stage.

by David Warner September 24, 2025September 24, 2025

Two people stand side by side at an art event with tape over their mouths that reads “DON’T SILENCE ART.” The person on the left has short gray hair, glasses, and a black shirt with bold green text that says “Ditch The Default.” The person on the right wears bright yellow tassel earrings, glasses, and a black shirt with a patch design and a sticker that reads “COMMUNITY BEFORE VISITORS.” Blurred attendees and colorful artwork are visible in the background.

News & Views

New documents suggest VSPC might work with Creative Pinellas on new competitive arts tourism grants

The arts nonprofit just laid off four staffers after a September vote to defund its efforts.

by Jennifer Ring September 18, 2025September 18, 2025

A man with a beard and mustache, wearing a shiny blue suit jacket with a matching bow tie, is smiling and laughing with his eyes closed. He wears a large, ornate necklace with a medallion hanging from it, and a sash over his shoulder that says "Mr. Con..." (the rest is cut off). He is holding a small gold trophy in his left hand. The background is a white curtain lit with blue light.

Arts & Entertainment

A former Bucs cheerleader just won Mr. Continental, one of the world’s biggest queer pageant titles

Lorenzo Gilbert opened up about post-NFL life and a possible return.

by Selene San Felice September 15, 2025September 15, 2025

A theater rehearsal scene with performers seated on the floor around a woman in a white, layered gown. Two directors stand in front, using expressive gestures to guide the cast, while racks of costumes line the wall behind them.

Local Arts

In St. Pete, 81 artists will be on stage at once for ‘The Good Peaches’

The American Stage production with The Florida Orchestra and projectALCHEMY will be performed twice this weekend.

by David Warner September 15, 2025September 15, 2025

A low-angle shot of a person from the shoulders down, wearing a peachy-pink bodysuit and light purple leggings. Their body is round and soft, with a large belly and thick thighs. A pink, semi-circle shape rests on top of their shoulders, suggesting a head. The background is a solid, light blue color. The texture and color suggest this is a photo of a sculpture or art piece

Arts & Entertainment

Photographer Selina Román reimagines the body in a new Sarasota Art Museum exhibit [Photos]

It’s larger than life.

by Sophia Lowrie and Selene San Felice September 11, 2025October 3, 2025

A woman with curly hair smiles while holding up a newspaper titled The Vegetarian Voice during a TV segment. She wears a brown jacket and sits against a backdrop of a nighttime city skyline and brick wall.

Arts & Entertainment

‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’ had some ideas for Tampa Bay’s Sapphic Sun

Big news for St. Pete queers and zinesters.

by Selene San Felice September 10, 2025September 11, 2025

Ballet dancers perform on stage in front of a backdrop depicting stone arches and a garden scene. A group of dancers in pastel costumes gather around a box at center stage, while another dancer in a blue dress balances on pointe with one leg extended gracefully to the side. A table decorated with flowers and a cake is set in the background, creating a festive atmosphere.

Arts & Entertainment

New Tampa Performing Arts Center kicks off new season with weekend of free shows

Tampa City Ballet, St. Pete Opera, and others will take the stage.

by Ray Roa September 10, 2025September 11, 2025

Black-and-white portrait of a man with short dark hair, a mustache, and a pointed beard. He wears a simple shirt and looks directly at the camera with a calm, serious expression. The background is a brick wall in soft focus.

Arts & Entertainment

‘Tempo, Tampa’ a new Theo Wujcik show, opens this month

A panel will discuss the work of the prolific, late, artist on Thursday, Sept. 18.

by Ray Roa September 9, 2025September 16, 2025

A smiling woman in a strawberry-print dress holds up a book titled Long Story Short by Ila Sikorski. She stands against a purple wall with a glowing pink neon sign that reads “baby, we’re the new romantic.” The woman has blonde hair, visible tattoos on her arm, and a cheerful expression.

Arts & Entertainment

Writers of Swiftie-coded romance, Black girl magic, and more come to Tampa for Local Author Day

Steamy Lit hosts a full-day of book signings as part of the best literary events happening in Tampa Bay Sept. 11-26.

by Maroon Stranger September 9, 2025September 9, 2025

Stylized artwork of an alligator partially submerged in water, with only its head and back visible. Above the water, a black sign with bold orange letters reads “WALK-INS WELCOME.” The illustration is done in a rough, textured ink style on a beige background.

Arts & Entertainment

‘Tourism follows culture. Culture does not follow tourism’: Co-founder of St. Pete’s SHINE festival responds to funding cuts with art and a plea

Leon Bedore, aka Tes One, wants to know if he’s doing the ‘art for tourism’ thing right.

by Jennifer Ring September 8, 2025September 8, 2025

Blog header image showing five Pinellas County Commissioners’ headshots side by side, each face centered within its column. From left to right: Vince Nowicki, Chris Latvala, Kathleen Peters, Brian Scott, and Chris Scherer. A thin white border frames the image, with white vertical lines separating each portrait.

Arts & Entertainment

Column: Despite 5-2 vote to defund Creative Pinellas, there might still be time to save the county’s arts nonprofit

244 emails and more than 50 well-researched in-person pleas weren’t enough to save the nonprofit—but the fight might not be not over.

by Jennifer Ring September 6, 2025September 6, 2025

A man with a wide smile and a beard, wearing a sparkling crown, round green sunglasses, and a striped blue and gold superhero-style costume. A sash across his chest reads "Mr. Game." He is holding up his left hand in a "rock on" gesture. A colorful rainbow flag is visible on the left side of the image. Another person wearing a crown is partially visible to his right, and a vintage brick building with a sign that says "Carne's of Ybor City" is in the background. The photo is taken from a low angle, showing a cloudy sky.

Things to Do

Local drag artists compete for ‘Come Out As You Are’ pageant titles in St. Pete this weekend

At a St. Pete drag pageant, contestants must not show—not tell—their coming out stories.

By Alisha DurosierSeptember 5, 2025September 5, 2025

A wide-angle, exterior view of the Dunedin Fine Art Center, which is a modern, one-story building with a bold and colorful design. The building's exterior walls are painted a combination of bright orange, red, and deep blue, with diagonal lines and geometric shapes. A white, sloped awning covers a walkway leading to the entrance.

Local Arts

Dunedin Fine Arts Center hosts its first-ever pop culture convention this weekend

Kids six and younger get in free.

by Selene San Felice September 3, 2025September 5, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

‘Mummy Eats a Gummy’ book talk among best literary events happening in Tampa Bay Sept. 4-11

Wordier Than Thou brings them to The Studio at 620 in St. Pete.

by Selene San Felice August 25, 2025September 1, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Randy Wayne White launches his latest Doc Ford novel in St. Pete tonight

Doc has really been through some shit.

by Selene San Felice August 25, 2025September 1, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Shine’s 2025 focus on regional artists is a move towards community building

‘Local art does not mean less-than art,’ Executive Director Helen French told CL.

by Marleigh Brown August 14, 2025August 24, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Arts Alliance secures prime new downtown space, seeks $1.2 million for buildout

The nonprofit plans to open on the ground floor of the Fifth Third Center by March.

by Ray Roa July 16, 2025August 21, 2025

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Local Arts

Hannah Hockman is the driving force behind 2025’s Beach Theatre revival

From photographer and arts educator to park ranger, Beth Reynolds’ career pivot has been a good decision

Tampa Bay’s best corpse reviver is Trent Alyse of Kitty Bomb Curios

This rising star of the Tampa Bay theater scene isn’t even out of college yet

New documents suggest VSPC might work with Creative Pinellas on new competitive arts tourism grants

A former Bucs cheerleader just won Mr. Continental, one of the world’s biggest queer pageant titles

In St. Pete, 81 artists will be on stage at once for ‘The Good Peaches’

Photographer Selina Román reimagines the body in a new Sarasota Art Museum exhibit [Photos]

‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’ had some ideas for Tampa Bay’s Sapphic Sun

New Tampa Performing Arts Center kicks off new season with weekend of free shows

‘Tempo, Tampa’ a new Theo Wujcik show, opens this month

Writers of Swiftie-coded romance, Black girl magic, and more come to Tampa for Local Author Day

‘Tourism follows culture. Culture does not follow tourism’: Co-founder of St. Pete’s SHINE festival responds to funding cuts with art and a plea

Column: Despite 5-2 vote to defund Creative Pinellas, there might still be time to save the county’s arts nonprofit

Dunedin Fine Arts Center hosts its first-ever pop culture convention this weekend

‘Mummy Eats a Gummy’ book talk among best literary events happening in Tampa Bay Sept. 4-11

Randy Wayne White launches his latest Doc Ford novel in St. Pete tonight

Shine’s 2025 focus on regional artists is a move towards community building

Tampa Arts Alliance secures prime new downtown space, seeks $1.2 million for buildout

Photos: Chiodos, Hawthorne Heights, more tear up The Ritz Ybor

Tampa Bay’s best Christmas lights for holiday season 2025

Photos: Pinellas arts community celebrates final Arts Annual at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo

Photos: USMNT routs Uruguay 5-1 in front of more than 26,000 Tampa fans