Visit Tampa Bay and Leadership Tampa Bay Unite to Create an Iconic Sculpture for Downtown

Donations now being accepted to partially fund installation on Poe Plaza.

TAMPA, FL (Feb. 12, 2018) – Two of Tampa Bay’s leading economic/community organizations -- Visit Tampa Bay and Leadership Tampa Bay -- have joined forces to create a new downtown landmark sculpture that will become a regional icon for residents and visitors alike. The unveiling is planned for early May.

The new sculpture by renowned Tampa Bay artist Dominique Martinez, owner of Tampa Heights-based Rustic Steel Creations, will reproduce Visit Tampa Bay’s award-winning keyhole-above-crossed-keys logo (a wink and nod to Tampa Bay’s love of pirates and the Golden Keys concierge honor) on a massive scale. The 8-by-8-foot sculpture will become a central meeting point on Poe Plaza just outside the newly opened Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center and a photo opportunity for all.

“We wanted to create something truly eye-catching and iconic for the community,” Fetterman said. “Joining forces with Visit Tampa Bay, who were exploring a similar option, was the perfect way to combine the two visions.”

Visit Tampa Bay and the Leadership Tampa Bay Class of 2017 will split the cost 50-50. The LTB Class of 2017 is offering all fans of Tampa Bay a way to show their support for the project. The group has created a Go Fund Me Page, https://www.gofundme.com/LTB17BCE to collect contributions. Donations will also go toward scholarships for Leadership Tampa Bay and toward supporting awareness of Special Needs children, in memory of a classmate’s son.

Donors of $100 or more to the project will get a personal invitation to the unveiling in early May and will be one of the first in line for their own personal photo op with this exciting new downtown landmark.

“We are thrilled to work with Leadership Tampa Bay’s Class of 2017 to create a true artistic legacy for this community we all love and call home,” said Patrick Harrison, Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Tampa Bay and a Leadership Tampa Bay alumnus. “The project will add Tampa Bay to short list of dynamic communities that boast landmark tourism art pieces and enable both visitors and residents to share their love of Tampa Bay with the world.”

About Visit Tampa Bay:

Visit Tampa Bay encourages adventurous travelers to unlock our destination's trove of unique treasures. They are a private, 501 (c)(6) organization that works with more than 750+ partners to tell the world the story of our home - the hip, urban heart of the Gulf Coast of Florida. The tourism industry is a significant driver of Hillsborough County's economic development. Aside from jobs and income, Hillsborough residents benefit from tourism due to the $347 million it generates in state and local taxes revenues.

Contact- Kevin Wiatrowski, Public Relations: KWiatrowski@VisitTampaBay.com

About Leadership Tampa Bay:

Transportation, economic growth, education, the environment, water, human services and good government cannot be separated by bridges, bays and political boundaries.  We are a region; an important part of Florida whose prosperity and vitality can be best promoted when viewed and guided as a region by enlightened leadership throughout Tampa Bay. That’s what Leadership Tampa Bay is all about. Contact- Amber Fetterman, President- Class of 2017, 813-417-4246