Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts teams up with The St. Pete Catalyst for the 2020 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Program

The creative collaborators successfully launched the first ever virtual talent showcase

Tampa, Fla. (June 25, 2020) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (“Tampa Bay BCA”) (“TBBCA”) was faced with the challenge of pivoting to a virtual Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships awards in lieu of the annual in-person ceremony. The non-profit forged a creative collaboration with new Chair’s Circle pARTner St Pete Catalyst, chosen as the exclusive publisher of the 2020 scholarships program.

“We were honored to be entrusted by TBBCA for their first ever virtual arts scholarships program,” said the St Pete Catalyst founder and publisher Joe Hamilton. “Through our Impact Catalyst series, we created video interviews with all of the judges and the young artistic prodigies, to encourage engagement and appreciation by a broader audience.” The series kicked off with the non-profit’s executive director, Susana Weymouth. “In the face of the COVID-19 challenges, it is the creative collaborations that help move us forward,” remarked Weymouth. “Our non-profit is grateful for the pARTnership and support of The Catalyst and Joe Hamilton, who are leading the way with innovative publishing platforms and a firm commitment to shining a light on the significant impact made by the arts and arts education.” She added, “The Catalyst additionally brought significant expertise to expand and enhance this year’s talent showcase.”

Published and launched exclusively by the Catalyst, TBBCA 2020 Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships 30-minute talent showcase finale video, filmed with CineView Studios, can be seen at https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-26-the-charlie-hounchell-art-stars-scholarshipfinale/

TBBCA Executive Director introductory interview https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep19-susan-weymouth-tbbca/

2020 Charlie Hounchell Scholarships awardees individual interviews:

Theatre: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-20-jordan-lakins-eugenie-bondurant/

Instrumental Music: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-21-karishma-chapalamadugu-paul-wilborn/

Literary Arts: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-22-vinh-hoang-lisa-unger/

Visual Arts: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-23-isabella-robe-joanna-robotham/

Vocal Music: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-24-eileen-lee-dawne-eubanks/

Dance: https://stpetecatalyst.com/impact-show/ep-25-caroline-henk-helen-hansen-french/

About TBBCA Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships Program

Since the TBBCA program’s founding in 2008 by the late Charlie Hounchell, the non-profit has awarded over $200,000 in financial tuition assistance and other support for higher education in the arts to talented Tampa Bay area high school students who excel at vocal music, instrumental music, theater, dance, visual arts and literary arts. Awardees are competitively selected based on talent and merit by judges who are experts in their field. To learn more about the 2020 laureates and judges: https://www.tbbca.org/programs-events/art-stars-scholarships/

About St. Petersburg Catalyst

The St Pete Catalyst is a social news platform with deep roots in the community and a strong journalistic voice. The St. Pete Catalyst’s arts section is called Create, because it’s dedicated to exploring and elevating the creative process, and all that it entails. Catalyst arts coverage is thorough, elucidating and entertaining. The Catalyst understands the significant impact made by the arts in the growth, development and health of St. Petersburg and beyond. The Catalyst is committed to shining a light on everything, and everyone, helping to keep our community compellingly creative.

Impact Catalyst is a unique platform, where donors, nonprofits, and volunteers gather to share information and opportunities, and to engage and feel inspired to transform our community