About

Our programs support artists and arts organizations of diverse backgrounds. We serve our community by providing spaces for their creative pursuits, and we engage the community through public events, including film screenings, performances, exhibitions, artist talks, poetry readings, and workshops. We welcome groups for tours, field trips, meetings, and private or public events. 

We house several independent galleries, Screen Door Microcinema, a black box theater operated by the Tampa Fringe, and an artist residency program hosted by Tempus Projects. The 3rd floor of the Kress building features 20+ individual artist studios and creative organizations, and on our ground floor, we are home to the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. Just five blocks south of our premiere location, we offer 50+ affordable artist studios and Kress Contemporary South, slated to open in early 2024, aiming to further expand the demographic population we serve.

At Kress Contemporary, we promote and celebrate all forms of art. We plan to expand our facilities to include specialized workshops and studio spaces in the near future. Our vision is to become a leading cultural institution that provides artists with the resources they need to thrive and serve as a hub for artistic expression and engagement.

Educational Programming

Kress Contemporary offers educational programming that caters to participants of all ages and skill levels. Through a variety of workshops and lectures, participants can explore various media such as drawing, photography, and printmaking while receiving guidance and support from experienced artists. The Kress also offers lectures on art history, theory, criticism, and the cultural history of Ybor City, providing participants  with a deeper understanding of the role of art in our society. These programs inspire critical thinking about art and its impact, cultivating a greater appreciation for the arts and creative expression. By connecting participants with local studio artists and historians, Kress Contemporary fosters a greater appreciation for the diversity and creativity of the Tampa Bay community.

Whats Next

Opening in 2025/26, Kress Contemporary South, located at E 1728 2nd Ave, is a nonprofit studio and exhibition complex that focuses on the development of local artists and provides innovative curatorial opportunities as well as artistic and cultural programming for the community. This space was established in 2023 by a group of artists, philanthropists, and art advocates with the intent of launching affordable studio spaces for local artists working in the community. 

KCS makes its home in what was once the Dave Gordon & Company facility that supplied Florida's citrus industry with supplies and equipment for processing oranges and grapefruit. Now, the building has been transformed into a community art space located in the neighborhood of South Ybor in Tampa, FL. The venue will house approximately 50 art studios, the Jerry Meatyard Family Gallery, and a cultural event space. 

The Jerry Meatyard Family Gallery will host contemporary art exhibitions featuring local, regional, and national artists and is dedicated to amplifying the voices of artists from an inclusive range of backgrounds and life experiences.  By highlighting underrepresented artists alongside early to mid-career artists, KCS introduces a fresh perspective to our city. 

Resident artists will have the unique opportunity to be part of an environment that fosters collaboration between multidisciplinary artists and will be invited to participate in annual members’ exhibitions. In addition to in-house curation, resident artists will also be invited to propose exhibitions to be reviewed by local art professionals for selection. KCS will actively encourage collaborations with independent curators and artist-run spaces via resident artist connections as well as solicited open calls for proposals.