Gasparilla Arts provides art supplies to 20 Hillsborough County middle schools

Gasparilla Arts is providing art supplies to 20 Hillsborough County middle schools through its new ‘Making Space to Create’ initiative, funded by a grant from Community Foundation Tampa Bay. The program provides participating visual arts classrooms with supplies intended to give students more opportunities to explore different materials, develop their skills, and pursue an interest in art.

Gasparilla Arts chose to focus the program on middle school students because those years can be an important period for creative development, when students often begin identifying interests and talents they may continue pursuing in high school and beyond. On Sept. 4, Gasparilla Arts representatives visited Tomlin Middle School in Plant City, one of the 20 participating schools, to deliver boxes of art supplies and meet with students and art teacher Dillon O’Donell.

“Middle school is often when students begin to recognize their own creative potential,” said Clay Hollenkamp, Gasparilla Arts Advisory Board Member. “Arts education does more than build artistic skills. It encourages creative thinking, problem-solving, perseverance, and confidence that students can carry into every part of their lives. By providing teachers with high-quality supplies, we are helping give more students the opportunity to develop those abilities.”

Hollenkamp and Gasparilla Arts board member Sean Bevil spoke with students about how art can help develop creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills.

“Gasparilla Arts has always been about more than just our annual festival,” Bevil said. “As we evolve our brand, we want people to see the work we’re doing year-round: supporting artists, expanding arts education, and investing in our community. Making Space to Create is a perfect example of that commitment.”

The initiative is part of Gasparilla Arts’ broader effort to expand its year-round community programming. The organization is best known for producing the annual Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, but also supports programs focused on artist development, arts education, and community engagement throughout the year.

“ ‘Making Space to Create’ allows us to reach young people before they may even think of themselves as artists,” Hollenkamp said. “By giving them the tools to explore their creativity now, we hope we’re opening the door to possibilities they may not have considered.”