Tampa

Uplifting the Art and Heritage of Tampa’s Black Communities

CitiesTampaUplifting the Art and Heritage of Tampa’s Black Communities

Bloomberg Associates helped Tampa create and promote a 46-mile arts and heritage trail centered around local Black communities.

Tampa Soulwalk is an incredible opportunity for our community to come together and learn about the rich and diverse history of Tampa… It will not only bring to light the contributions and creative resiliency of our city’s Black communities, but also provide a platform for discussions about equity, inclusion, and cultural diversity.

Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa

Relevant Expertise

Advance a Vibrant Arts and Creative Sector

Public Art and Events

Enhance City Communications and Resident Engagement

Events Attraction and Management

Challenge

Scattered across Tampa are many public art installations and cultural sites showcasing the rich history of its Black communities. However, there was no cohesive story or way to experience the sites together and understand a holistic history.

Approach

Recognizing the need to connect these cultural sites in order create a more meaningful narrative, the City of Tampa Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs enlisted the help of Bloomberg Associates to finalize and implement the vision for the Tampa Soulwalk, an arts and heritage trail with over 100 sites and several walking tours. Keeping the visitor perspective top of mind, Bloomberg Associates worked with Tampa to design a guidebook, signage, and other informational materials to make the trail inviting, informative, and user friendly. Our team also connected the city with Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app, to design an accessible digital guide. Together, these guides gave Tampa residents and visitors the opportunity to access information in a convenient and customizable way.

Impact

The Tampa Soulwalk has successfully connected important elements of the city’s history to educate and engage both residents and tourists. Going beyond the sites themselves, this project has also been used as a vehicle to boost residents’ involvement in the community through public events, educational programming, a video series, and even a cookbook showcasing the recipes of local families and chefs of color. The City has also commissioned new public art and historic markers to add to the culture and history that the Soulwalk highlights.