Imagine Museum is a Blue Star Museum
ST. PETERSBURG — Imagine Museum of Contemporary Glass Art is participating in Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel, vets and their families during the summer. The 2026 program got underway on Armed Forces Day, May 16. It will continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
To learn more and find the list of participating museums, visit arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums.
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.
“Museums help military families stay connected — to each other, to their communities, and to the nation they serve,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “As our country approaches 250 years of independence, Blue Star Museums provides service members and their loved ones with meaningful opportunities to explore history and spark curiosity. For military families — who often face frequent moves and time apart — these shared museum experiences offer a sense of stability, belonging, and connection. By opening doors nationwide, this program ensures they can engage with the arts and history that reflect their sacrifices and strengthen the bonds that hold them together.”
At Imagine Museum, visitors will experience world-class contemporary glass art from international artists, offering a space of beauty, reflection, and creativity. Guests are invited to explore immersive installations that inspire connection, curiosity, and calm while spending meaningful time together.
This free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States military — Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps — vets, and up to five family members.
Imagine Museum is at 1901 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About Imagine Museum:
For information, visit www.imaginemuseum.com.
American Stage announces Summer Cabaret Series
ST. PETERSBURG — American Stage will present the Summer Cabaret Series, with performances set for July 11, 18, and 25, 7 p.m., in the Raymond James Theatre, 163 Third St. N., St. Petersburg.
Tickets are $35. Visit americanstage.org.
Audiences are invited to experience an unforgettable lineup of music, storytelling, and celebration as American Stage presents its Summer Cabaret Series.
“This year, we wanted to give folks a really wide variety of styles,” said Anthony Gervais, associate artistic director. The program kicks off on July 11 with “Beach, Please!” This cabaret is a tribute to yacht rock. The series continues on July 18 with “Black Girl Magic,” a show that will spotlight trailblazing women of color on Broadway. The series will conclude with “Sammy & Dino,” a cabaret inspired by the classic variety shows of the Rat Pack era. The 2026 series follows last year’s sold-out run, which featured celebrations of the golden age of musical theater, bossa nova, and fan-favorite miscast Broadway performances.
“I think this is a chance to get to experience our theater slightly differently in a more relaxed, intimate way,” added Gervais.
For more information about the Summer Cabaret Series and other upcoming performances, visit americanstage.org.
Morean Center for Clay to host event for two shows
ST. PETERSBURG — “Catch of the Day” by Nina Samuels transforms the front gallery into a whimsical fish market. “The Midwest Goodbye” by Erica Bleu envelopes the middle gallery in decadent greyscale porcelain. The two forces combine on Saturday, June 13, from 5 to 9 p.m., filling the Morean Center for Clay with a mastery of fine details.
The Morean Center for Clay is in the Warehouse Arts District at 420 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg. Visit www.MoreanArtsCenter.org for more information.
Samuels makes a splash, inviting visitors to shop in a ceramic fish market for artwork inspired by the ocean’s industries. This playful nod to the commodification of nature reflects the ways we assign value to the living world. Revisit the nostalgia of a Florida tchotchke shop that nods at how nature is packaged, priced, and consumed in modern culture.
Bleu, originally from the Midwest, showcases the artwork that came from her two years in Florida as a Morean artist in residence and current technician. She emphasizes the certain kindness instilled in the Midwest.
Bleu explains: “There are quiet customs we commit to that form strong communities. One of these habits that holds a place in my heart is the Midwest goodbye. When any sort of gathering or shared meal comes to an end, a goodbye is never enough. Friends and families involuntarily start new topics of conversation in an attempt to hang onto more time spent together.”
She shares the things that she has learned in this new community over the last few years and uses the closing night of the show to share her gratitude for the things she’s learned and the people that pushed her further.
“Here’s to another reason to gather together and talk a little longer before saying goodbye,” Bleu said.
Exhibitions are free and open to the public from Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Samuels’ work will be on display June 13 through July 3. Bleu’s work will be closing on June 13.
Werk Gallery to present ‘JOY’ exhibition
ST. PETERSBURG — An opening reception for “JOY: Be Yourself and Be Proud” will take place on Friday, June 5, 5 to 9 p.m., at The Werk Gallery, 2210 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg.
The Werk Gallery is celebrating its fourth annual Pride month call-for-art. This year, the gallery will exhibit entries from the community in all manner of media that express notions of “Joy.”
Joy is more than mere happiness; it is a deep and enduring state of contentment. Joy comes when one finally allows themself to live their truth.
“With this exhibition, we want to celebrate the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ community and the things that bring us all that deep inner joy that no one can take away, even when it seems like the world is against us,” a press release from the gallery states.
The exhibition will continue through June 28.
Founded in 2023, The Werk Gallery and Object Lab is a locally focused art venue with an international scope. The gallery displays a variety of art experiences, from a series of community-oriented, large group shows to solo shows by internationally established contemporary artists. Hours are Wednesday, noon to 5 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Visit https://thewerk.gallery/.
SAGES to stage ‘Memory Lane’
This summer, SAGES Theater will present “Memory Lane,” an original “play with purpose” performed by older adult actors. “Memory Lane” explores the emotional realities of caring for a loved one with dementia and memory loss. Unlike a traditional lecture or awareness event, “Memory Lane invites audiences into deeply relatable, true-to-life moments filled with humor, tenderness, frustration, resilience, and hope.
The performances are free to the public and include caregiver resources, community partners, goody bags, and post-show engagement opportunities designed to support families navigating one of life’s most difficult journeys.
Following is a list of upcoming performances:
• Saturday, July 11, at the Palladium, St. Petersburg
• Saturday, July 18, at Francis Wilson Playhouse, Clearwater
• Saturday, Aug. 1, at Catherine Hickman Theatre, Gulfport
All performances run from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. for resource tables, goody bags, and prize drawings.
“This isn’t just theater — it’s real life unfolding on stage in a way that helps families finally start conversations they’ve been afraid to have,” said Christine Hamacher, co-writer and director of “Memory Lane” and artistic and executive director of SAGES Theater. “Linda Goldman and I wrote this play from real experiences and emotions that so many families quietly live through. Much of what audiences will see reflects what I’m personally navigating with my own mom right now — the heartbreak, humor, exhaustion, love, and unexpected moments of hope that come with caregiving and memory loss.”
What makes the production especially unique is the cast itself: senior actors portraying stories that closely mirror real-life experiences happening in countless homes across America right now. The result is an authentic, emotionally powerful production that resonates across generations.
Free reservations are recommended at www.sagestheater.org.
Wild Space Gallery to host photography exhibition
ST. PETERSBURG — An opening reception for “An Unflinching Look: Elegy for a Landscape” will take place on Saturday, June 13, 5 to 9 p.m., at Wild Space Gallery at The Factory, 2606 Fairfield Ave. S., Building 7, St. Petersburg.
The reception will include a panel conversation with Benjamin Dimmitt, Robin O’Dell, and Ethan Coyle, moderated by curator Noel Smith, presented from 6 to 7 p.m.
“An Unflinching Look: Elegy for a Landscape” presents 37 photographs using film and a medium-format camera that imbues an ethereal quality to the documentation of climate change, saltwater intrusion, and development reshaping the landscape along the Chassahowitzka River. Benjamin Dimmitt has photographed the Chassahowitzka River and National Wildlife Refuge for over 45 years. Dimmitt’s black-and-white images reveal beauty, change, and loss. Yet these photographs also suggest that awareness and action can restore a landscape constantly seeking renewal.
Dimmitt engages in “Rephotography,” the process of shooting the same scene at two different moments in time, revealing the dramatic changes that have taken place in the Chassahowitzka landscape and Rephotography’s ability to document long-term ecological and environmental change.
The exhibition will continue through July 25.
Wild Space Gallery is an initiative of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, committed to fostering connections between art, culture, and conservation through exhibitions and community events. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 2 to 6 p.m. Visit floridawildlifecorridor.org/wild-space-gallery.
Rough Riders Museum becomes Blue Star Museum
TAMPA — Tampa’s Rough Riders Museum has been named the fifth Tampa museum to be designated a Blue Star Museum.
The Tampa Rough Riders Museum is found in the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Headquarters at 601 North 19th Street in Tampa. The museum is dedicated to keeping the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt and the members of the Rough Riders alive. Its focus is on educating the next generation about this historical era and Tampa’s connection to the Spanish American War.
The Rough Rider Museum joins the Florida Museum of Photographic Art, Museum of Science and Innovation, Tampa History Center, and the Tampa Museum of Art in partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of War and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.
The Rough Riders museum offers free guided tours with appointments at no cost Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule a tour, coordinate with the administrative assistant in advance by calling 813-248-1898, or by email at office@tamparoughriders.org.
TFO announces bonus concert
CLEARWATER — The Florida Orchestra will extend its 2025-2026 season with a special bonus concert celebrating the Music of Studio Ghibli. The concert will be presented on Saturday, June 20, 7:30 p.m., at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater.
Tickets start at $39 and are on sale now at FloridaOrchestra.org.
Experience the scores of “Spirited Away,” “My Neighbor Totoro” and more when members of The Florida Orchestra perform the music of legendary composer Joe Hisaishi. The whimsical films of Studio Ghibli have become cultural touchstones for an entire generation. Hisaishi’s enchanting scores have introduced millions of people around the world to orchestral music through some of the most beloved animated films ever created.
This performance will feature music only. Film clips will not be shown. Lawrence Loh will conduct.
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