Pride & Passion Celebrated 20th Anniversary
The Tampa Museum of Art hosted its annual gala to raise funds for the Artful Connections program.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Cultural
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The Tampa Museum of Art marked two decades of its signature Pride & Passion event this past Saturday. The gala brought the local community together for a night of entertainment to support the museum's Artful Connections initiative.
Why it matters
The event serves as a critical fundraiser for the Artful Connections program, which fosters inclusive community engagement through arts education. By sustaining this initiative, the museum continues its long-term mission of making art accessible to diverse local audiences.
The Pride & Passion event has maintained its commitment to the Tampa Museum of Art for 20 years. This milestone reflects two decades of continuous support for the museum's specialized Artful Connections educational programming.
The players
Esmé Russell
Esmé Russell served as the host for the 20th anniversary Pride & Passion gala.
Phase5 Band
Phase5 Band provided the live musical entertainment for the museum event.
Kylie C. Augusto
Kylie C. Augusto performed a tribute act portraying Cher for the guests.
Tampa Museum of Art
The Tampa Museum of Art is the institution that hosted the event and oversees the Artful Connections program.
The details
Guests at the Tampa Museum of Art enjoyed a curated evening featuring live music from the Phase5 Band and a special Cher tribute performance by Kylie C. Augusto. The festivities were guided by host Esmé Russell, who led attendees through a lineup of drag performances and cultural entertainment.
Timeline
September 19, 2026: The 20th annual Pride & Passion event took place.
Industry Dynamics
This anniversary highlights the shift toward community-integrated fundraising models in the museum sector. The event follows a pattern where cultural institutions utilize live performance and public-facing entertainment to sustain specific educational initiatives like the Artful Connections program.
The annual nature of this gala provides the public with a recurring opportunity to support local arts education while accessing specialized performances at the museum. The event remains a central fixture for community members looking to engage with both local artists and the museum's broader educational outreach.
The takeaway
The sustained success of the Pride & Passion event demonstrates the power of integrating performance art into institutional fundraising. Readers interested in supporting local cultural programs can look for similar community-driven galas that pair entertainment with educational goals.
Further reading
For more on community-focused initiatives in the area, visit Tampa Cultural.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WMNF 88.5 FM.
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