Vision & Voice – Cultivating Identity, Purpose, and Creative Direction

The City of St. Petersburg ("City") is seeking responses from qualified vendors to deliver innovative, hands-on arts programming for middle school youth. This opportunity is designed to highlight visual and applied art forms—such as design, illustration, digital media, and other studio-based practices—that help students explore identity, develop emotional insight, and consider future pathways in the creative economy. Selected programs will be grounded in artistic exploration, integrated with wellness-informed practices, and aligned with emerging career pathways in the creative industries. Activities should help students develop confidence, explore identity, and understand how their artistic interests connect to their futures. The City currently funds youth programs in music, dance, and theater and is now expanding to visual, digital, and applied arts.

The City of St. Petersburg is dedicated to helping young people discover their strengths, explore creative pathways, and develop habits that support long-term wellbeing and academic growth. Consistent with Mayor Welch’s Pillars for Progress and Principles for Responsible and Accountable Government, Vision & Voice supports youth-serving organizations in building programs that help middle school students thrive through the arts. This initiative fosters self-expression, emotional growth, and future thinking by leveraging visual and applied arts as a gateway to career awareness and mental wellness.