Scenes from around Tampa before Hurricane Milton made landfall. Credit: Photo by Dave Decker

It’s been a rough year for Tampa Bay artists. First, the state arts veto affected more than a dozen beloved Tampa Bay theaters, art museums and arts organizations. Then Hurricane Helene flooded artist studios in Pinellas County, damaging works of art and equipment. Now, a community waits to find out how Tampa’s Downtown River Arts neighborhood fared in Milton.

In the meantime, local arts organizations, Tampa Arts Alliance and Creative Pinellas, have stepped forward to provide resources for Tampa Bay artists who’ve been adversely affected by this season’s destructive hurricane season.

Creative Pinellas was the first to offer assistance. The week following Helene, they set up a web page for essential Hurricane Helene disaster relief resources, started a pet food and cleaning supply drive, began offering free temporary studio space for displaced artists, and announced that their November 9 Arts Annual party is now a Hurricane Relief Fundraiser.

Tampa Arts Alliance is assembling resources for Tampa artists post-Milton. They’ve already posted several valuable resources to their website, including tips for salvaging artworks, instructions on applying for FEMA assistance, and additional emergency funds and resources. The Tampa Arts Alliance recommends checking the webpage often for the most up-to-date information.

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