Students Explore Their Future at the Mahaffey Theater During BAM! Fest Career Day
The Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts invites the community to experience a truly inspiring event, the BAM! (Books, Art & Music) Outdoor Field Trip: Career Day, part of the Foundation’s acclaimed Class Acts Program, taking place Tuesday, October 21, at 10:30 AM at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater.
“BAM! Fest brings the arts, community, and career discovery together in a way that sparks imagination and purpose,” said Katrina Young, Vice President, Arts Education & Entertainment for the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts. “For many students, it’s their first time experiencing the Mahaffey Theater and meeting professionals who show them just how many exciting paths their future can take.”
This dynamic and educational day will welcome more than 800 students from local schools for an engaging morning of hands-on learning, creativity, and career exploration. Students will meet real-life professionals representing a wide range of fields, from dancers, actors, and stage technicians to first responders, paramedics, and even wildlife handlers, discovering how passion and profession come together in our community.
Each student will also take home a free book, reinforcing the Foundation’s mission to make the arts and literacy accessible to every child.
Applications Now Open for Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Emerging Artists Program
Gasparilla Arts (GA) is now accepting applications for its Emerging Artists Program at the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, which offers aspiring artists a platform to showcase their work at one of the nation’s premier outdoor fine art festivals. The Festival will take place February 28 – March 1, 2026, in Tampa, Florida.
The Gasparilla Arts Emerging Artists Program allows up-and-coming artists to present and sell their work to a large audience in a professional setting—often for the first time. Selected artists will gain invaluable exposure and the opportunity to connect with thousands of art enthusiasts, collectors, and patrons.
Salvador Dali protege unveils new 3D art exhibit at Mahaffey Theater
The Mahaffey Theater is known for its live theatrical and musical performances, but on Thursday, it debuts an actual art exhibit that will grace the walls of its lobby for the next few months.
Louis Markoya is one of the only artists still around who can say they painted right alongside Salvador Dali, and you can see Dali’s influence in every one of his works in the new exhibit, “Fluid Dreams.”
Mahaffey Theater Presents “Fractal Dreams”: Surreal Visions of Louis Markoya
This month, the Mahaffey Theater’s gallery will transform into a portal of perception with “Fractal Dreams: Surreal Visions of Louis Markoya,” a sneak preview of the exhibition opening on Thursday, September 18, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM that will be on display for a limited time. Featuring the work of surrealist and former Salvador Dali protégé Louis Markoya, the show invites viewers into a realm where mathematics, classical painting, and optical illusion converge.
For six years, Markoya worked directly with the legendary Salvador Dali. Today, his work builds upon that surrealist legacy by fusing traditional techniques with cutting-edge technologies, such as fractals and lenticular lenses. The result? Art that shifts, refracts, and even moves as the viewer does, blurring the boundaries between dimension and reality.
Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts Welcomes New President, Elizabeth Gelman
Bill Edwards, Founder and CEO of Big3 Entertainment and the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts, today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Gelman as the new President of the Foundation. Gelman, an accomplished nonprofit executive and arts leader, brings decades of experience in museums, cultural programming, education, and community engagement.
“Beth is an extraordinary leader whose vision and commitment to the arts align perfectly with the mission of our Foundation,” said Bill Edwards. “Her track record of elevating institutions, expanding access, and fostering inclusive cultural experiences will strengthen our work and ensure that Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts – benefiting the Mahaffey Theater continues to enhance youth education throughout the Tampa Bay area.”
Gelman most recently served as Senior Director of Arts & Cultural Programming at Creative Pinellas, where she led a strategic vision for the county’s premier gallery, quadrupled attendance, and set historic records for artist sales. She produced over a dozen exhibitions annually, launched new revenue streams, and forged dynamic community partnerships that deepened the gallery’s impact.