TAMPA, Fla. (October 18, 2023) β For over three decades, the Tampa Bay BCA has hosted
the highly esteemed Impact Awards to honor individuals and organizations in the Tampa Bay
region who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the arts community.
βThe arts are integral to all aspects of human experience and are present in everything around
us. The TBBCA IMPACT AWARDS is a significant event celebrating the future of art and culture
in Greater Tampa Bay. It recognizes the arts as a crucial strategy for community development.
Arts organizations and the creative industry are instrumental in the success of the Greater
Tampa Bay businesses,β said Zra Carrier, Ph.D., Executive Director of Tampa Bay BCA.
Time: Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Location: Armature Works, Tampa FL
This year, do not miss the opportunity to join us as we recognize:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IMPACT AWARD: MAUREEN AND DOUG COHN
Maureen and Douglas Cohn are a philanthropic couple who have been active contributors to
Tampa Bay Area cultural and artistic circles since they arrived in the city in 1970. They are
recognized for their generous support of the Tampa Jewish Community Center & Foundation,
which bears their names.
Maureen and Doug Cohn are passionate advocates of the Tampa Museum of Art and have
played a pivotal role in its growth and success. They had volunteered their time at the museum.
They served in various capacities, including the collections committee, the selection committee
for architects, and the search committee for previous and current museum directors.
ARTIST ACHIEVEMENT IMPACT AWARD: DR. ALEX HARRIS
Alex Harris, a singer, actor, and philanthropist, was born into a large pastor family. Young Alex
sought every chance to perform and quickly noticed his sibling’s; talent.
As his artistry developed, his audience expanded along with his gifts and talents. Alex Harris
has a growing worldwide following captivated by his electrifying and soulful performances.
Harris has performed at two Presidential Inaugural Galas, the Premier of Bermuda Gala, the
Prime Minister of Ireland Gala, and many other prestigious galas, schools, colleges, corporate
events, and festivals worldwide.
Alex Harris has headlined his shows and shared stages with entertainers and actors such as Al
Green, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Rush, Eric Benet, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, Lamman Rucker,
Leon, and many others.
But he is much more than his music. Alex Harris is the Arts Conservatory for Teens (ACT) co-
founder. In its seventh year in St. Petersburg, ACT provides before and after-school
programming that educates, empowers, and enriches the lives of over 500 underprivileged
youth.
BUSINESS IMPACT AWARD: STRATEGIC PROPERTY PARTNERS/WATER STREET
Water Street Tampa is a welcoming community with diverse experiences, and art is essential to
the neighborhood they created. Public artworks help to celebrate the incredible city of Tampa
and the cultural values of Water Street Tampa: inclusivity, resiliency, connectivity, and well-
being.
SPP collaborates with an extensive range of local, national, and international artists to enhance
the vibrancy of its streetscape. Numerous art pieces have been installed across Water Street
Tampa, including WATERFRONTIER by Ya Levy La’ford, All the Mornings of the World by
Bosco Sodi, and You Belong Here by Tavares Strachan. The art scene in the district continues
to thrive with the unveiling of murals by Pep Rally Inc., Leon Keer, Stephen Palladino, and Dyan
Mierzwinski. A visually striking and immersive installation by British artist Lucy Sparrow also
debuted at 1050 Water Street in early 2022.
SPP’s commitment to art extends beyond the public realm to its offices at Sparkman Wharf. The
company participates in the USF Contemporary Art Museum’s Corporate Partnership Program,
allowing SPP to display a carefully curated selection of rotating artworks in its office for the
enjoyment of its employees. All proceeds from the program support the museum’s exhibitions
and programs.
Please contact the Tampa Bay BCA Executive Director at zoracarrier@tbbca.org with any
questions.
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About Tampa Bay BCA
The Tampa Bay BCA is a trailblazing non-profit 501 (c) (3) that has been revolutionizing the
cultural landscape since its inception in 1989. As the first-ever Business Committee for the Arts
in Florida, Tampa Bay BCA has been leading the charge of connecting business leaders with
the arts and culture scene β both in the workplace and the broader community as a part of the
private sector network and national partnership Movement of Americans for the Arts:
We aim to educate the business sector on the significance of investing in arts and culture. By
doing so, we can attract and maintain corporations and highly skilled workers in the region,
improve local communities, and promote hospitality tourism, based on the philosophy that the
arts are good for business and business is good for the arts.