The Straz Center is a cornerstone in the cultural and economic life of the greater Tampa Bay area.  Lying on a 9-acre site on the Hillsborough River, it is the largest performing arts center south of Washington D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center. Opened in 1987 as the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, the venue was renamed in 2009 to honor the generosity of its largest donor (and one of Tampa’s …more…

Built in 1926 by architect John Eberson back when beautiful movie palaces stood like temples all across the country, the Tampa Theatre came upon tough times in the ‘70s as Tampa residents began leaving the city for the ‘burbs. But the Arts Council of Hillsborough County refused to let this historic landmark die and took over the Tampa Theatre’s management, screening films and scheduling performances and special events. ...more...