The Lights On Tampa program was developed by the City of Tampa’s Public Art Program, in conjunction with regional businesses, volunteers, and art supporters. It was an ambitious project that sought to reaffirm Tampa’s commitment to arts and technology by presenting highly visible, innovative light installations created by juried artists. The program opened on January 7, 2006, with six works by artists Jorge Orta, Wendy Babcox, Bay Stage Lighting, Erwin Redl, Tobey Archer, and Stephen Knapp. On opening night, 20,000 people braved the cold to be part of the Lights On Tampa experience, and thousands more viewed the installations during subsequent nights. Phase II of the program began March 17, with a video and sound installation by artist Jeff Whipple at the Tampa Museum of Art and a transformation of the Poe Garage by Janet Echelman.

Lights On Tampa Permanent Locations: The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and the Tampa Municipal Building.

Media Coverage for Lights On Tampa 2006: More than 3325 lines of print in 20 News publications, extensive coverage on News Channel 8, with additional coverage by Bay News 9.

lightsontampa.org statistics: More than 72,000 hits during January 2006.

Achievements: National recognition of Lights On Tampa installations by the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network.

Advertisements: Thirteen quarter-page and five full-page ads in the Tampa Tribune and Sunbelt Newspapers; 30 produced spots and 20 calendar listings on WFLA.