Money has been set aside to build the kind of facility that arts supporter Virginia Rivers wanted for her community.
By SHARI MISSMAN MILLER
Published May 30, 2003
Virginia Rivers died May 3, but her passion for the arts lives on.
Family and friends have taken on her goal of building a new creative arts complex to expand the community's access to the performing arts.
Currently, the city's creative arts offices are housed in the city-owned Mickey McGuire building at 6108 N Rome Ave. It's a small space, formerly a preschool.
"We are very cramped," said Jody Wren, creative arts coordinator for Tampa's recreation department. "It's very difficult to rehearse."
Rivers, the city's creative arts director for more than 30 years, lobbied city officials to set aside money for the new facility. Unfortunately, she died before she could see it become a reality. She was 67.
A former librarian and accomplished puppeteer, she dreamed of having a new complex where disadvantaged children could enjoy live theater near their neighborhood. She felt strongly that the arts should be accessible to everyone, her family said.
To further her goals, Rivers' children, Tim, Kim and Nancy, have set up the "Friends of Virginia Rivers" group and created a memorial fund to buy a plaque for the future complex.
"Virginia and her staff worked tirelessly for years," Tim Rivers said. "She wanted to ensure a site for free performing arts for Tampa inner-city children and families."
The city has not officially named the site for the new building, but creative arts officials say Tampa's budget includes about $555,000 for the construction.
Preliminary plans show the complex in North Hyde Park, near the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory on Howard Avenue. The first phase involves a workshop, audio studio, storage and rehearsal space. Phase 2 adds a theater.
City officials can't commit to a site until neighbors are notified of the plans and have a chance to offer input. A spokeswoman for Mayor Pam Iorio said Tuesday that the mayor sent a letter to Ross Ferlita, director of the parks and recreation department, requesting more information.
Tim Rivers said he and his sisters are also heading up a nonprofit organization called Arts for All to work on the project. He worries that if the city doesn't move forward with the plans soon, the funds could go toward other projects.
"Seventy-five hard-core artistic performers are dedicated to this happening," he said. "We want Arts for All to be a support system for Virginia's dream."
To contact "Friends of Virginia Rivers," call 254-5514 or write the group at P.O. Box 747, Odessa, 33556.
