News Summary
In March 2025, St. Petersburg will host the ‘Embracing Our Differences’ exhibition at Poynter Park, showcasing 50 billboard-sized artworks that promote diversity and inclusion. With contributions from 511 schools across the globe, the exhibition encourages local schools to participate through guided tours. A community celebration on March 8 adds to the excitement, and the exhibition is free for all to explore. This event, originally started in 2004, reconnects artists and students in a shared mission to foster understanding through art.
Exciting News for St. Petersburg: “Embracing Our Differences” Exhibition Is Back!
Hey there, St. Petersburg! Get ready to immerse yourself in a celebration of art, inclusion, and creativity this March as the “Embracing Our Differences” exhibition returns for its 2025 season. After a remarkable comeback last year, this beloved outdoor art show will be transforming Poynter Park into a vibrant gallery from March 1-31. Mark your calendars because you won’t want to miss this fantastic event!
A Journey Through Art and Inspiration
This year’s exhibition promises to be even bigger and better than before. Last year, over 400,000 people flocked to see the breathtaking artworks, which included larger-than-life pieces created by artists and students from across the globe. In fact, this is the second year in a row that St. Petersburg has hosted this amazing exhibition, which originally started in Sarasota in 2004. It’s hard to believe there was a 21-year wait before it returned!
With its roots dating back to 2004, the exhibition showcases an array of 50 billboard-sized artworks paired with uplifting quotes that resonate with messages of kindness and respect. This year’s contributions come from a staggering 511 schools around the world, featuring artists from 46 states in the U.S. and 122 countries participating. The incredible art pieces were carefully selected from over 10,000 submissions, with more than 65% of those entries coming straight from talented students. Talk about a wonderful opportunity for young creators!
Fun for Everyone!
One of the highlights of this exhibition is the opportunity for local schools to take part in guided tours. Groups of 10 or more can schedule an enlightening field trip to soak in the art and the powerful messages that it conveys. Last year, over 14,000 students took part in live and virtual field trips related to the exhibition. It’s a fantastic way to explore art and its importance in discussing themes of diversity and inclusion.
But wait, there’s more! For those who really want to celebrate, a vibrant community celebration is set for March 8, filled with engaging activities that involve the whole family. And the best part? The exhibition is free for everyone to enjoy during its entire month-long display at Poynter Park, located at 3rd Street and 9th Avenue South, right along the southern portion of the USF St. Pete campus.
Art Connecting Us All
As part of its mission, the “Embracing Our Differences” exhibition fosters community engagement through both education and art, showing how powerful artistic expression can be in promoting values of inclusion. While challenges related to funding and political pressures on themes of diversity and inclusion might loom large, the organization is dedicated to maintaining and growing this program for years to come.
In addition to celebrating the artwork itself, the exhibition also offers awards for both adult and student submissions, acknowledging and encouraging creativity in the arts. It’s a wonderful platform for all artists to shine and share their unique perspectives on the world.
By connecting through art, we can all embrace our differences and deepen our understanding of one another. So gather your friends, family, and classmates, and head on over to Poynter Park this March to experience this dazzling exhibition. With so much diversity and creativity on display, it’s sure to be an inspiring experience for everyone who attends!
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