The University of South Florida is increasing opportunities for students and the general
public to engage with the arts. With the build-out of 3,100 square feet of space currently
underway, USF’s College of The Arts is expanding its museum into St. Petersburg. The
new gallery, named Generator: USF Contemporary Art Museum, will be an incubator of
new ideas and artistic experimentation with time-based art installations.
“The expansion of the USF Contemporary Art Museum across the bay to St. Petersburg
points to a new future for this university with an unparalleled socio-economic impact
on the region and state,” said USF College of the Arts Dean Chris Garvin. “Generator
will add to the constellation of arts venues across the city with a uniquely progressive
vision.”
On Sunday, officials from USF, the City of St. Petersburg and others gathered at the
location, an industrial space called The Factory, to celebrate the kickoff of the
museum’s new gallery. The move will provide internship and directed study opportunities
to all USF students interested in the arts. Artist and curatorial talks will connect
students and faculty with time-based installations and programming specific to important
environmental, social, as well as political issues and challenges. This extension
is another benefit of consolidation, which officially took effect July 1, 2020, when
the university began operating under a single accreditation for all campuses.
“Generator: USF Contemporary Art Museum will enable us to better connect with the
students at USF’s St. Petersburg campus, as well as the St. Petersburg community,
in an unconventional arts venue,” said Margaret Miller, director of the USF Contemporary
Art Museum and Graphicstudio. “Our curatorial team will present installations by a
diverse selection of leading and emerging artists using cutting-edge digital technologies.”
The expansion of the USF Contemporary Art Museum will offer a new dimension to the
established cultural community, contributing to the city’s prominence as an arts destination.
It will be a dedicated home for digital installations, public programs and special
projects that cultivate audience engagement and foster public exchange. Generator
is expected to present works by national and international artists, along with local
and regional artists. Similar to the USF Contemporary Art Museum on the Tampa campus,
Generator will be free and open to the public.
“Our organization believes in this project, and we were proud to be the first to offer
a financial contribution to support this work,” said Jason Mathis, CEO, St. Petersburg
Downtown Partnership. “The intersection of technology and art in this district with
this project is exactly the kind of leading-edge urban development work we hope to
support and nurture.”
Generator: USF Contemporary Art Museum is expected to open its doors in the fall of
2022. This project is a partnership between the College of The Arts, the USF St. Petersburg
campus, the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and the City of St. Petersburg.