Tampa Pride & Passion returns to the Tampa Museum of Art on Saturday, May 17, and has a very appropriate theme of “A wedding.”
“We wanted to do something that’s current and brings awareness to the issues at hand,” said event chair Kevin Reder. “‘A wedding’ is appropriate given the headlines lately.”
Expect entertainment that’s over the top, Reder said. A theater production company is involved this year that features 23 actors appearing throughout the night. He said that the look of the museum will be different this year too, with blacks and silvers decorating the museum’s atriums and whites and blues greeting guests on the terrace.
“Before we had a couple reveals,” Reder said of the entertainment. “This will be ongoing throughout the whole night.”
And be sure to stick around all night, because Reder believes the “wow” moment of the finale will have people talking for months.
“It’s going to be a jaw-dropper,” Reder said. “It’ll take place in the atrium and make its way out to the terrace. The music will stop, these people will take their positions, spotlights will turn on and then there’s an incredible performance. It’s what I’m most excited to see.”
Pride & Passion, now in its ninth year, is the largest annual fundraiser for the museum. And with each passing year, the decor, the food and the “reveals” are more extravagant than the year prior.
“It’s intimidating,” Reder said. “I’ve been involved on many boards but this is the first time I’ve chaired an event and the first time I’ve been on a board benefitting a museum. There’s a learning process and learning how an institution work. Fortunately we have returning committee members who are passionate and who are back with some great insight. That’s helped us get to where it is this year.”
And where it is this year—so far—is way ahead of schedule.
Reder said that ticket sales are up for Pride & Passion, mostly thanks to motivated committee members and volunteers pushing ticket sales early. He expects the event to sell out this year at 800 tickets, which would be the most tickets ever sold for Pride & Passion.
Last year’s event came close to that mark, but didn’t completely sell out.
In 2014, there are a few new changes to the museum’s largest event in an effort to raise even more money for the museum.
“We’ve added a VIP ticket option,” said Reder. “Those tickets get guests in early at 7 p.m. and it’s limited to 150. It gives the VIPs space to enjoy the museum and it gives the access to specific food and unique entertainment for an hour.”
Those tickets are $175 before May 5. After that they are $200.
There’s also an incentive to purchase general admission tickets before May 5. The $85 tickets jump to $100 after that date.
“We’ve gotten some push back about the $10 increase in the base ticket prices,” Reder said. “But this is the first time in nine years there’s been an incrase. In retrospect, you get an open bar, high end food, entertainment and access to an incredible museum for a year, all for $85.”
Reder and his team hope that with new sponsorship opportunities and the VIP packages, Pride & Passion 2014 can raise $100,000 for the museum.
Last year the event raised $72,000, Reder said. The year before it raised $103,000.
“I think the most important thing is that people enjoy themselves while they’re there,” Reder said. “We want them to enjoy a fun event and want to come back next year. The good thing is they’re helping to support the museum and promoting some awareness for the LGBT community.”
And the LGBT community is always out in full force.
Out elected officials, television personalities and executives are always in attendance, as well as allied officials. That show of support says something about Pride & Passion to Reder.
“Tampa is known for being a diverse and accepting city,” Reder said. “I think that to have all of the support from these officials and so many influential people speaks to just how supportive everyone in Tampa is of each other. It’s almost like an intangible thing. It’s hard to put a finger on it. But this is so different from many other galas.”
Pride & Passion, Reder said, is high-end, but lacks “stuffiness.”
“This is where you can let your hair down, have a good time and still enjoy an experience with your friends and neighbors while supporting the Tampa Museum of Art.”
For tickets, visit PrideAndPassion.org.
