When the roaming dessert table entered the museum, the crowd was amazed. And that was just one of the epic events that shocked the crowd at the 6th Annual Pride & Passion Fundraiser at the Tampa Museum of Art May 21.
More than 685 people turned out for the event, which is the official kick off to St. Pete Pride season in Tampa Bay, and most stayed throughout the event, which ended at midnight.
â┚¬Å”The Steering Committee should be wildly proud and is well deserving of a tremendous thanks from me and a self-pat on everyone's back,â┚¬Â event chair Rob Iles said after the event. â┚¬Å”Saturday was as close to perfect as it could have been.â┚¬ÂÂ
More than 100 people purchased tickets the night of the event and money raised benefits the museum. The crowds were huge, meaning the money raised should be impressive. Total numbers weren't available at press time.
â┚¬Å”On behalf of the museum, we are truly humbled and honored by [Pride & Passion volunteer's and staff's] commitment to this year's Pride & Passion,â┚¬Â said Molly James, director of development for the museum. â┚¬Å”It has been really amazing to watch what became an avalanche of support in every arenaâ┚¬â€ attendance, sponsorship and in-kind sponsors.â┚¬ÂÂ
Throughout the evening, Museum galleries were open to the attendees and several â┚¬Å”live artâ┚¬Â productions appeared in the lobby at specific intervals. One of the biggest hits was the entrance of a woman dressed as a chandelierâ┚¬â€Âwhich was a creation by Ybor City artist and LGBT everyman Mattieu Stanoch.
â┚¬Å”I'm so excited,â┚¬Â Stanoch said before his creation made her entrance down the grand staircase. â┚¬Å”I think it will go over really well.â┚¬ÂÂ
And it definitely did. Things literally came to a standstill when the living art made an entrance, and Iles was pleasantly surprised.
â┚¬Å”Who knew a chandelier would stop the crowd in their tracks?â┚¬Â he laughed.
While many familiar faces were in the crowdâ┚¬â€Âincluding Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner and St. Petersburg City Councilman Steve Kornellâ┚¬â€ there were several newcomers to the huge social event.
â┚¬Å”I wasn't sure what to expect,â┚¬Â said Joie Violet, who was accompanied by her girlfriend, Chloe. â┚¬Å”I absolutely love art and I've been to the Tampa Museum of Art a few times. But I've never come here for an event. The atmosphere is just amazing and it's for such a great cause. I hate that I've missed previous years' events, but I know now I'll be back next year.â┚¬ÂÂ
According to Iles, there were very fewâ┚¬â€ if anyâ┚¬â€Âglitches in the production of the mammoth event. There was only one minor security issue when a woman was quietly escorted away, and plenty of food and drinks were available throughout the night.
â┚¬Å”The crowd was very well behaved and we only one small incidentâ┚¬â€Âand she was whisked away immediately,â┚¬Â Iles said. â┚¬Å”We ran out of white wine, which was a first, but people happily accepted Cava instead and we did not run out of liquor or food.â┚¬ÂÂ
Several sponsors were overheard complimenting Pride & Passion staff and making plans for next yearâ┚¬â€Âwhich may seem like a long way away, but not to those directly involved.
Even while organizers finalize numbers to be released within the coming week, plans are already underway for next year's big Pride & Passion event. The fundraiser could very well become the largest event at the museum in 2012.
â┚¬Å”Please save Saturday, May 19, 2012 for Pride & Passion,â┚¬Â James said. â┚¬Å”It will be our 7th year.â┚¬ÂÂ
