What they don't show you on opening night

Most of us experience art at the finished stage.

We see the mural after the paint dries. We attend opening night. We walk through the gallery. We hear the story after it's been polished and packaged.

But the really fascinating stuff often happens before that.

This week, we're stepping behind the curtain—into the conversations, decisions, histories, and people that shape Tampa Bay's creative landscape. From a brand-new podcast exploring the stories behind art and design, to a theater season built around bold choices, to the realities of public art and exhibitions rooted in memory and change, these stories invite us to look a little deeper.

At Tampa Bay Arts Passport, we've always believed the most interesting arts stories don't stop at a gallery wall, theater stage, or museum exhibit. That's the idea behind The Peanut Gallery, our new podcast hosted by Maggie Duffy and Jana Henson.

Equal parts insightful, curious, and delightfully unfiltered, the series explores the people, ideas, and cultural conversations shaping Tampa Bay's arts scene.

In the debut episode, Maggie and Jana bounce from immersive mermaid lore and major museum exhibitions to powerful local theater before sitting down with Powerstories Theatre's Claireann Despain to discuss Predictor, the remarkable true story of the graphic designer who helped revolutionize women's healthcare.

It's exactly the kind of conversation we love most—not just what's happening in the arts, but why it matters.

Whether you're watching, listening, or just looking for a new way to connect with the arts community, Episode 1 is ready when you are.

• Before a single actor steps onto the stage, a theater season begins with a series of choices. With its newly announced Season 13, Urbanite Theatre is embracing bold stories, challenging perspectives, and the kind of artistic risk-taking that has become its hallmark. Read the full preview to explore the productions, themes, and creative vision that will shape Urbanite's year ahead. Read More Here.
• Most people experience public art after the paint dries. Former SHINE Mural Festival leader Jenée Priebe knows the real story starts long before that. In a candid conversation about public art, entrepreneurship, and life after one of St. Petersburg's most influential arts initiatives, she shares the realities behind bringing large-scale creative projects to life. Read the full story to go behind the scenes of the murals that helped transform a city. Read More Here.
• Cities are constantly changing, but memories have a way of lingering. Through two new summer exhibitions, The Werk Gallery explores the intersection of personal memory, neighborhood identity, and urban transformation. Read the full preview to discover how these artists are documenting what changes, what remains, and what we choose to carry with us. Read More Here.

Every city is built from stories.

Some are painted onto walls. Some live on stages. Some hang quietly in galleries. Others are tucked into designs, memories, and conversations that continue long after the original creators have moved on.

Thanks for spending a little time exploring them with us. We'll be back next week with a few more reasons to look closer.

— Avery & the Arts Passport's Team