Discover Arts & Culture Your Way in St. Pete-Clearwater
In St. Pete-Clearwater, arts & culture isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. In fact, you can tailor your own arts-centric vacation to create the perfect trip.
Watch a glassblower at work at St. Pete's Morean Glass Studio or sign up for a glass-blowing class.
Watch a glassblower at work at St. Pete's Morean Glass Studio or sign up for a glass-blowing class.
For the Hands-On Creator
St. Pete-Clearwater is a haven for those who want to create their own art. Here's where you can unleash your creativity.
At the Morean Glass Studio on Central Ave. in St. Pete, you can create your own glass art piece under the guidance of local artists. (Be sure to visit The Chihuly Collection and the Morean Arts Center next door for inspiration before your class.) Zen Glass Studio in St. Pete also offers glassblowing classes for all levels, and some are even open to kids! Speaking of hands-on arts adventures for kids, the Morean Arts Center, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Dalí Museum all offer interactive programming for children.
At the Clay Co-op in St. Pete's Warehouse Arts District, aspiring potters can check out classes and workshops ranging from a two-hour crash course called "Date Night: Wine & Design" to more intensive classes lasting several weeks. The Morean Center for Clay has a much broader scope than its name might suggest, with classes in jewelry making, glass, photography, metal sculpture and printmaking, as well as clay. The center also offers youth and teen classes.
In charming Safety Harbor, the supremely colorful Safety Harbor Art & Music Center offers clay classes and mosaic workshops with respected local artists. Once a month, October through May, the center hosts a free event called "Community Art Saturday" where you can create public art installations at local businesses and parks.
Events and concerts take place at the Baycare Sound in Coachman Park
Events and concerts take place at the Baycare Sound in Coachman Park
For the Performing Arts Enthusiast
Do you seek out live music, theater, opera and other performing arts wherever you go? Consider yourself a "Performing Arts Pro" with so much to look forward to in St. Pete-Clearwater! Winter and spring are the busiest seasons for performing arts in the area, but you'll truly find something going on all year long.
The BayCare Sound is an exciting new addition to our performing arts scene, hosting nationally touring acts in a beautiful open-air venue in the newly reimagined Coachman Park in Clearwater. It's a spectacular experience to attend an evening concert here, with the sun setting behind the stage. BayCare Sound is managed by the 2,180-seat Ruth Eckerd Hall, a respected performing arts venue known for its near-perfect acoustics.
Close-by is the Bilheimer Capitol Theater, a historic treasure that first opened in 1921. This intimate venue hosts a variety of performing arts and bands. (Tip: Call the box office for insider information on the best seats, as this historic theater has some seating with limited leg room, built at a time when people weren't as tall!)
Opera fans will want to check out the St. Pete Opera, a small-but-mighty organization with performances at the historic Palladium Theater in downtown St. Pete. The Palladium is a treasure for music lovers, offering up programming as varied as classical chamber music and contemporary dance to Broadway cabarets and popular jazz bands.
Also in St. Pete, the Mahaffey Theater is a cultural gem that hosts Broadway musicals, touring musicians and comics, as well as classical and pops concerts by the beloved Florida Orchestra. Be sure to come early to stroll along the bayfront next to the Mahaffey and enjoy a relaxed dinner at the elegant Sonata Restaurant before your show. Or just enjoy a glass of wine as you meander in the venue to see its rotating art displays.
Learn more about the best venues to hear live music >
Watch how the glass art at the Imagine Museum seems to dance with light.
Watch how the glass art at the Imagine Museum seems to dance with light.
For the Museum-Hopper
If you love exploring art museums, St. Pete-Clearwater is the perfect spot for your next vacation.
Our best-known museum is the acclaimed Dalí Museum in the Waterfront Museum District in downtown St. Pete, with an impressive permanent collection of the famous surrealist's works, as well as an exciting calendar of new exhibits throughout the year. The expansive Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg is nearby, where you can see art spanning 5,000 years. Spend the morning here, then enjoy lunch in the museum's bayfront Cafe Clementine or at one of the restaurants on Beach Drive, just across from the museum.
Our area is known as the "Glass Coast" because of its many art glass galleries and museums. The Imagine Museum in St. Pete's Grand Central District is one of them, featuring more than 1,500 pieces from around the world, as well as rotating exhibitions and art events.
If your style could be described as "quirky" or "vintage," you'll enjoy Fairgrounds St. Pete, which somehow manages to combine neon Florida nostalgia with an immersive, interactive art experience. It's located inside The Factory, a working studio and gallery setting for local artists that's open to the public.
The James Museum's sole focus is on western and wildlife art, but the museum has some great programming, too, with fascinating lectures and live music. The Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement has an expansive collection of beautiful, hand-made objects d'art.
You might also consider St. Pete's street art to be a public museum of sorts, available at any time of day and always free. Check out some of our 600+ murals on your next visit.
Learn more about our marvelous museums >