Sen. Darryl Rouson, Commissioner Gwen Myers and other officials present the check for the Tampa Bay African American Arts & Cultural Center on Thursday, Sept. 3. 

Plans to establish the Tampa Bay African American Arts & Cultural Center in historic West Tampa received a major boost with a nearly $4.9 million investment from the State of Florida.

Sen. Darryl Rouson presented the $4.895 million allocation to leaders of the planned center on Thursday. The funding will support efforts to develop a permanent gathering place dedicated to preserving African American history, showcasing the arts and expanding cultural opportunities across the Tampa Bay region. 

Estimated completion is late 2026 with a total price tag of about $30 million, center leaders say.

Center leaders credited Rouson’s leadership and thanked state Rep. Michele K. Rayner for her advocacy in helping secure the investment.

The funding will help create a space where residents and visitors can learn about the contributions of African Americans, experience visual and performing arts, and participate in educational and community programming.

Rendering of the Tampa Bay African American Arts & Cultural Center (tampabayculturalcenter.com)

The 50,000-square-foot center will be located at 2103 N. Rome Ave. in West Tampa, a historically diverse neighborhood shaped by generations of Black, Afro-Cuban and Latino residents, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders.

The center will include an amphitheater, heritage trail, cafe, sculpture garden, and event spaces. It is also expected to create new opportunities for emerging artists and give local residents a place to celebrate and share their cultural heritage.

“This investment represents much more than dollars toward a building,” the Tampa Bay African American Arts & Cultural Center said in announcing the award on their Facebook page. “It is an investment in preserving African American history, elevating the arts, celebrating culture, creating opportunities and building a place that will serve Tampa Bay for generations to come.”

The latest investment follows action by Hillsborough County commissioners to support fundraising efforts for the proposed center. As planning and fundraising continue, the state allocation brings the long-envisioned project closer to becoming a reality.

Once completed, the cultural center is expected to provide a dedicated home for exhibitions, performances, educational programs and community events while ensuring that the stories and achievements of Tampa Bay’s African American community remain visible for generations.