News Summary
Terry Marks has officially stepped down as the CEO of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance after a transformative four-year tenure. Under her leadership, significant strides were made in promoting the arts in the St. Petersburg area. Marks will continue to participate in upcoming events, including the MUSE Awards and the SHINE Mural Festival. Meanwhile, GCAA’s St. Pete Artworks is relocating, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the local art community.
St. Petersburg, Florida
Terry Marks has officially stepped down as the CEO of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance (SPAA), concluding a transformative four-year tenure on May 9. Marks has expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to engage with the community, recognizing the honor it was to serve in her capacity.
Marks was appointed as the CEO in 2019, succeeding the organization’s founder, John Collins, who retired. Under her leadership, SPAA has made significant strides in promoting the arts throughout the St. Petersburg area, enhancing community engagement and support for local artists and organizations.
Before her role at SPAA, Marks had a varied career that included experience in education and 15 years on Wall Street as an insurance programmer and risk management consultant for Fortune 500 companies. She operated a nonprofit consulting company in Southern California for 17 years and served as the Chief Philanthropic Officer of the National Eating Disorder Association from 2009 to 2015. Additionally, she consulted for the Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative while based in Sarasota.
Ryan Griffin, chair of the SPAA board, praised Marks for her leadership and vision during her tenure, indicating that her contributions will resonate lasting effects on both the organization and the wider community.
As she bids farewell, Marks will remain involved in upcoming events including the MUSE Awards, which recognizes excellence in the arts across various categories. Six recipients will be honored at a ceremony on May 14 at Bayboro Brewing Co.. The notable awardees include Creative Clay for Visual Arts, Nate Najar for Performance Arts, Peter Kageyama for Literary Arts, USF College of Design for Art & Technology, the Milkey Family Foundation for Patron of the Arts, and Daryl DeBerry as Arts Ambassador.
Looking forward, the SPAA is organizing its 11th annual SHINE Mural Festival, scheduled for October 11-23. This year, the festival will highlight local artists exclusively, a strategic shift following the resignation of longtime festival director Jenee Priebe earlier this year. The Arts Alliance is positioned to carry on its activities seamlessly, with Griffin expressing confidence in SPAA’s future endeavors.
In conjunction with these developments, the monthly Second Saturday ArtWalk is set to take place on May 10, from 5 to 9 p.m. This event invites the public to explore over 30 artist studios and galleries throughout the city, complemented by various art shows and exhibitions at notable venues. Additionally, on May 14, in honor of Salvador DalÑs birthday, children 12 and under will be granted free admission to the Dali Museum, with adult tickets priced at $19.04.
The Museum of Fine Arts is also hosting a family-friendly event titled Painting in the Park on May 17, requiring pre-registration to participate.
In other news affecting the local arts scene, GCAA’s St. Pete Artworks is relocating to a smaller space in west St. Petersburg due to increasing rental costs, rebranding itself as GCAA Artworks. The ongoing rise in rental prices poses challenges for many artists within the local community, leading to concerns about affordability in established areas. Despite these challenges, GCAA remains committed to supporting local artists and groups, ensuring that programming continues in its new location.
The St. Petersburg arts community, while experiencing shifts and challenges, is poised to persevere through collective efforts and ongoing support from individuals and organizations dedicated to fostering creativity and cultural expression.
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Additional Resources
- St. Pete Catalyst: Terry Marks Stepping Down
- Wikipedia: St. Petersburg, Florida
- Patch: End of Era for Artist Co-op
- Google Search: St. Petersburg Arts Alliance
- St. Pete Catalyst: City Council Approves Arts Grants
- Google Scholar: St. Petersburg Art Community
- St. Pete Rising: SHINE Mural Festival
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Shine Mural Festival
