The St. Petersburg Arts Experience
St. Petersburg is a vibrant and exciting city that is known for its arts and cultural scene in several distinct districts. One way to get a taste of it all is with the Morean Arts Center’s St. Pete Arts Experience ticket that includes four experiences in three distinct arts districts in the city.
For your first stop, we suggest the distinctive Chihuly Collection along beautiful café-lined Beach Drive in downtown St. Petersburg’s museum district. This stunning permanent exhibition by internationally-recognized glass artist Dale Chihuly will amaze you.
The exhibition is the perfect marriage between architect – Albert Alfonso – who designed the space specifically for the collection – and artist Dale Chihuly. If you can take a docent-led tour, we’d suggest that.
Then head up to the Morean Arts Center on Central Avenue within the Central Arts District. There are galleries of contemporary local art and a unique store selling locally-made art by some incredibly talented artists. Adjacent to the arts center is the Morean Glass Studio & Hot Shop with its expert glassblowers who demonstrate glass blowing four times a day to visitors.
You can even schedule your own private glassblowing experience before or after the public demonstrations – advance reservations suggested.
Then you can stroll around this district, which includes Florida Craftsmen Gallery, Michele Tuegel Gallery and the Holocaust Museum along with dozens of eclectic and Bohemian boutiques, galleries and artist studios.
Traveling along Central Avenue you’ll pass numerous galleries and restaurants in the Edge District before turning down 22nd Street toward the Warehouse Arts District and its anchor and first major tenant, the Historic Train Station – the largest working pottery in the Southeast.
The Train Station is just south of the Grand Central District’s funky shops and galleries and includes the Morean Center for Clay – where students learn to make pottery – and where with a few friends (bring your own wine) you can reserve time for a private session called Clay Friends and Fun.
Tour through the facility but keep in mind it is a working pottery. You can purchase locally made pottery from St. Pete Clay Company at the front of the building from some of the resident artists.
Once you’ve done this route, either by driving or by one of the trolleys that ply the routes, you are sure to go back because there is so much to see and experience along the way with the Morean Arts Center’s St. Pete Arts Experience.
Happy travels!
Chihuly Collection: 400 Beach Drive NE
Morean Arts Center: 719 Central Avenue
Morean Glass Studio & Hot Shop: 714 First Avenue North
Historic Train Station: 420 22nd Street South
727-822-7872
How Do I Travel 