More than 75 local artists are part of Creative Pinellas’ Arts Annual, which kicks off this weekend

To fully experience Pinellas County’s art scene, you must venture beyond its museums. Places like the Museum of Fine Arts, The Dali, and the Tampa Museum of Art host some of the best contemporary art from around the world, but they rarely host local artists.

Creative Pinellas, on the other hand, routinely showcases work made in Tampa Bay.
Its largest local art showcase, Arts Annual, happens every November and brings together Pinellas County’s visual artists, performing artists, filmmakers, and writers for a month-long celebration of the arts.
This year, more than 75 local artists are participating, including Creative Loafing Tampa Bay darlings John Gascot, Chad Mize, Gabriel Ramos, Emily Stehle, Victoria Jorgensen, Carol Mickett and Robert Stackhouse.

Arts Annual kicks off Thursday, Nov. 9, with a catered party at the Gallery at Creative Pinellas, located in Largo. There, attendees can meet some of Pinellas County’s most talented artists and view their artwork. All while enjoying jazz performed live by St. Pete’s Siobhan Monique and the Negro Ninjaz.

The following Saturday, Nov. 11, Creative Pinellas offers a new ARTSventure —a free, family-friendly arts festival with an arts market, craft activities, food trucks, and live performances in Pinewood Park. Beth Gelman, Creative Pinellas’s Senior Director of Arts and Cultural Programming, called the Nov. 11 a true “Super Saturday.”

“ARTSventure should be off the charts with 30+ professional craft artists and fine artists in our first arts market along with terrific music, crafts, food, and live performances. Artisan Days will also be happening at Heritage Village, and special activities will be taking place in the brand-new Children’s Majeed Discovery Garden at the Florida Botanical Gardens,” Gelman added in a press release.

Arts Annual 2023, the exhibition, runs through Dec. 31 and brings artist talks to the Gallery at Creative Pinellas on weekends beginning Nov. 18. Head to ArtsAnnual.org for the details.