Tampa Museum of Art

Anyone interested in learning about local culture during a Tampa vacation will be sure to enjoy the city's unique attractions, such as Ybor City and the Gasparilla pirate festival, but there is also an array of educational and cultural things to do, including visits to the Museum of Science and Industry, the Performing Arts Center, and the lovely Tampa Museum of Art. The art museum has a fine collection covering antiquities, photography, works on paper, sculptures, and paintings spanning many periods.

Roman and Greek antiquities at the Tampa Art Museum range from pieces including the bronze Etruscan mirror that dates from the fourth century BC, as well as the first-century Roman marble statue of the Torso of Aphrodite.

The photographs featured at the museum cover a selection of color and black-and-white prints of landscapes, self-portraits, and modern and abstract works. Paintings include pieces in oil on canvas and wood, and acrylic on canvas, with examples of American Modernist, surrealism, and abstract styles.

Two ongoing attractions at the museum are the annual Pride & Passion event designed to encourage visitors, as well as current members, to participate in supporting the museum exhibits and educational programs. The annual event includes food, desserts, an open bar, and musical entertainment all included in the ticket price.

The Art After Dark takes place monthly at the museum and features local artists, volunteers, and area businesses providing entertainment, music, art, and photography.  Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar are included in the ticket price.

The annual pavilion event presented by the Tampa Museum of Art features food, wine, and live music with all proceeds benefiting exhibitions and educational programs. The Tampa Bay Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and it has a museum store and café on-site. Donations accepted in lieu of a set admission price.