News from the Arts Council of Hillsborough County

The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Celebrates its 10th Anniversary
The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival embarks on its 10th Anniversary January 14- 23, 2010 with a collage of events, fresh new faces to leadership, and a brand new website to commemorate the occasion.

Inspired by the Festival's Legacy, the new Board of Directors' round table sessions sought to further define the Heritage of the community and of the Heritage Festival. The Heritage Festival's new Board of Directors is led by Ms. Ruby Jackson, Festival Chairman & Events Coordinator, and Mr. William Sanders, Festival Chairman & Entertainment Coordinator. Ms. Jackson has served the Festival for over three years and has been an active board member as well as leading committees. Her organizational expertise brings a new strength to the Heritage Festival. Involved with the Heritage Festival since its creation, Mr. Sanders has served on the board of directors, has led committees, and has been instrumental in bringing a gospel element to the Heritage Street Festival.

The combined expertise of the new board members brings a diverse experience to the Festival's leadership. The Heritage Festival has a brand new website that captures the essence of the ten-day event. The new website features direct connections with the Heritage Festival's Board, an all-access pas to media updates, and awareness of what the Heritage Festival is doing throughout the community.

The Heritage Festival has a continued commitment with Title Sponsor Verizon and other sponsors including Fox 13 News, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, AAA Auto Club South, and Busch Gardens, and more.

The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is a ten-day event that features cultural enrichment activities including local and national speakers, musicians, poets, artists, and craftsmen. The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival offers the community of Tampa Bay a unique blend of African and African American art, culture, and history. It exists to support the culturally rich and diverse Tampa Bay community by ensuring all events are inclusive of its entire people.

For a complete list of Heritage Festival Events and additional Heritage Festival information, visit www.tampablackheritage.org or call 1.888.224.1733, ext. 3143

Last Chance for a Tax Break!
The work has already begun to produce TIGLFF21 and they can use your help raising funds. During this season of giving, please consider helping with a year-end tax deductible donation to start the new year. In appreciation we will send you two complimentary tickets for the 2010 Film Series when you donate $50 or more by December 31st.

You can make your donation now online at www.tiglff.com or by calling 813.879.4220 or mailing your check payable to: Friends of the Festival, Inc., P.O. Box 18445, Tampa, FL 33679-8445.

Please know how much we all appreciate your continued support as we begin the hard work to produce your next TIGLFF. Thank you again for all your support. Please take the time now to make your tax-deductible holiday gift. We’ll mail you your complimentary tickets before the January Film Series kick-off. You can use your tickets for any Film Series screening during the 2010 year.

The Baha'i Communities of Tampa Bay New Years Eve of the Arts
Join them on New Years Eve, Thursday December 31st 2009 from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., as they bring in the new year with the spirit of the arts sponsored by the Baha'i Communities of Tampa Bay.

Come enjoy live music, meet their local artists, enjoy international foods, teas and desserts. A special program of arts and crafts for children, storytelling, display of children's arts, musical instrument journey, face painting, and games. Potluck dinner and live entertainment. Bring friends and families, this is a FREE and kid friendly event.

Bring a dish for our International Potluck. We are also celebrating the culinary arts of international foods and desserts, Please bring a dish to add to our wonderfully international display of foods.

If you are an artist and would like to display or present your art please contact us, this is a night to celebrate and meet the artists. There is no vending at this event but feel free to network with the community.

Jazz Musicians, Samoan Fire Dance, African & Indian Drummers, Australian Didgeridoo, Native American Arts, Musicians - Cello, Guitars, Pianos, Flutes and Eastern Instruments. Plus cultural arts, visual arts, children's arts, dance, theater, improv, spoken word, written arts, photography, poetry, culinary arts...

The event is located at 2010 East Busch Boulevard in Tampa, FL 33612, above the mattress store 813-433-1965, 813-770-0870, 813-770-1014

A Few Interesting New Years Events on December 31, 2009
*Noon Year’s Eve Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
*Aqua-Eve at The Florida Aquarium
*The WMNF Tribute to 1979 Skipper's Smokehouse
Find out more about these events and others in the EVENTS section of our website www.tampaarts.com