Old Hyde Park Art Center

Old Hyde Park Art Center Mission Statement: Promoting artistic excellence by providing permanent galleries to gather, education, summer camp, outreach activities, and fellowship for artists in the Tampa Bay Area. A two-room wooden building was erected in December 1899 at 705 DeLeon Street in Tampa, Florida but was not ready for classes before January 1900. Therefore, it was a temporary location for elementary school classes. It was the end of the 1901 school year when construction of a new school building was proposed by the Riverside School Board. In October 1903, the permanent red brick building at 502 South Boulevard, the Hyde Park Grammar School was finished. The Hyde Park Grammar School was obtained with the land it was on in Riverside. The elementary school replaces the Hyde Park Grammar School which was built when Riverside was just a meandering dirt road on the southeast corner of Platt Street & Magnolia Ave in 1889. South Boulevard was the west city limit for Tampa. The building was to be only one story tall, but many protests were registered against "locating such an elegant structure out in nature". Many educators used horses to get to the school from downtown and from Palma Ceia. This was the first school west of the Hillsborough River. The area had large orange groves. It was home to many dairie...

Most reviewers stated that the location is a great place to showcase local artists' works. They cited the center's excellent lighting as a wonderful location to nurture creativity both for newbies and seasoned professionals. In addition, the place was recommended by one member who said that it had been a great experience. Alot of artists' works are organized in galleries, and the centre frequently hosts juried exhibitions. Those who have taken part in the classes stated that they enjoyed the experience, suggesting that it's excellent for both families and couples. The only critical comment, which was also the least critical of the available reviews, simply called it cute but still a place to hang out and enjoy great art with family and friends.