Tampa illustrate the rich

We invite you to discover Tampa by going on your own cultural mural city walk tour, and let the walls tell you our stories.

and colorful history of the people who have made Tampa their home. The beautiful murals of Tampa tell our city’ s stories, which are vast, varied and many.

Robin Nigh is the Director of Arts & Cultural Affairs for the City of Tampa, and has been in this position for twenty-six years. She shared that the murals play a vital role in Tampa’ s culture. She sees the murals as“ connecting one person at a time.” Ms. Nigh stated that the murals play a big role in community building“ by connecting people with their own cultures and

also connecting them with the cultures of others.” Ms. Nigh also stated that there is a rhyme and reason as to where the murals are placed and what they depict. Before a mural is selected, the particular neighborhood’ s cultural identity and its surrounding neighborhoods are considered and discussed with a committee of art experts, community leaders, and site and safety inspectors. Ms. Nigh feels that“ the arts and public expression of the arts, is an effective agent for change because art is not seen as threatening

and also because art makes you think of something you may not have thought about before.” She goes on to say that“ we are all together or we are not, and embracing diversity is embracing inclusion.”

One mural in particular stands out—“ Reflections of East Tampa” on North Jefferson Street near Perry Harvey Park. This mural depicts the Central Avenue community which once thrived on the edge of what is now Tampa’ s burgeoning downtown

Continued on page 21