09/04/2025  – 12/10/2025

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Kids Theater Program in partnership with Patel Conservatory Straz
Kids Theater Program in partnership with Patel Conservatory Straz
Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL

Firehouse Cultural Center in partnership with Patel Conservatory @Straz Center presents a Kids Theater Program.
This Free program will start Thursday, Sept. 4 through Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 10:30 – 5:00 pm. Schedule follows Hillsborough School Calendar. This program will conclude with “Show Off Production” for all to see. Limited Space for ages 7 – 15. Free Programming provided by Patel Conservatory. Underwritten by The Straz.

09/25/2025  – 10/23/2025

9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Intro to the Pottery Wheel
Intro to the Pottery Wheel
Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL

You’ll discover the joy of working with clay in this hands-on, beginner to intermediate course focused on the fundamentals of wheel throwing. In 5 weeks, you’ll learn how to center clay, pull walls, and shape basic forms like bowls, mugs, and cylinders. We’ll also cover trimming, surface decoration, and glazing techniques so you can finish and fire your own unique pieces. No experience necessary – just bring your curiosity and willingness to get your hands dirty! Includes 25 lbs. of clay, glaze and firing.
Thursdays, 9:30am until 12:00pm Sept. 25th – Oct. 23

10/02/2025  – 11/02/2025

9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Open Pottery Studio - A.M. Thursdays
Open Pottery Studio - A.M. Thursdays
Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL

Welcome to our Open Pottery Studio – a supervised, creative space where potters of all skill levels can explore, practice, and perfect their craft. This monitored environment ensures safety and support while offering access to professional-grade tools, wheels, and kilns. Whether you are hand-building, throwing, or glazing, our staff is available during all open studio hours to assist, answer questions, and maintain a safe, respectful studio atmosphere. Must have class experience to attend. Thursdays: 9:30am – Noon. Adults. Book March 2025 – December 2025.

10/02/2025  – 11/02/2025

6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Open Pottery Studio - Thursday Evening
Open Pottery Studio - Thursday Evening
Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL

Welcome to our Open Pottery Studio – a supervised, creative space where potters of all skill levels can explore, practice, and perfect their craft. This monitored environment ensures safety and support while offering access to professional-grade tools, wheels, and kilns. Whether you are hand-building, throwing, or glazing, our staff is available during all open studio hours to assist, answer questions, and maintain a safe, respectful studio atmosphere. Must have class experience to attend. Thursdays: 6:00 – 8:30 pm, Adults. Book from April 2025 – Dec 2025.

10/07/2025  – 11/07/2025

9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Open Pottery Studio - A.M. Tuesdays
Open Pottery Studio - A.M. Tuesdays
Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL

Welcome to our Open Pottery Studio – a supervised, creative space where potters of all skill levels can explore, practice, and perfect their craft. This monitored environment ensures safety and support while offering access to professional-grade tools, wheels, and kilns. Whether you are hand-building, throwing, or glazing, our staff is available during all open studio hours to assist, answer questions, and maintain a safe, respectful studio atmosphere. Must have class experience to attend. Tuesdays: 9:30am – Noon. Adults. March 2025 – December 2025.

10/17/2025  – 10/31/2025

9:30 am – 11:30 am
Homeschool Teen Clay Creators
Homeschool Teen Clay Creators
Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL

Teen Pottery Class – 3-Session Series (Ages 12 – 16). Session Length: 1  1/2 hours per session. 3 Fridays in October. Get your hands dirty and your creativity flowing in this fun and interactive 3-session pottery series designed just for teens! In this beginner-friendly class, young artists will explore the basics of working with clay through hand-building techniques and get an introduction to the pottery wheel. Create multiple works of art. All materials, tools, and kiln firings are included.

10/17/2025

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Try Your Hand – A One-Time Art Experience
Try Your Hand – A One-Time Art Experience
Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL

INTRODUCTION TO CLAY! Learn about basic clay types, tools, and techniques. Hand-build a piece using techniques like pinching or slab work. Form Your Piece: Shape your item with help from an instructor. Don’t worry about perfection—the charm is in the handmade feel. Surface decoration techniques like textures or carving & glazing.
Friday, October 17 at 6:00 – 8:00 pm.

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Democracy's Defenders: Inside Journalism Series
Tuesday, February 26, 2019    
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Our panel of outstanding Tampa Bay journalists will discuss the current state of play in their newsrooms and the daily battle for the truth, followed by audience Q & A.
Bourbon on the Bayou
Saturday, March 2, 2019    
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Bourbon on the Bayou featuring T-Bone Hamilton & The Big Easy Revue. Full Open Bar; Bourbon Tastings; Dancing; Food Stations (Feed the Senses New Orleans Style); Silent & Live Auctions; Free Valet Parking. Tickets: $85 pp  $150 Couple / Patron: $300 Couple Patron: $300 Per Couple Includes Private Patron's Cocktail Party 6-7 pm, Bourbon on the Bayou, Reserved Table.
Painting Studio S2
Wednesday, March 6, 2019 – Wednesday, April 10, 2019    
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
This is a multi-level class for anyone who would like to explore acrylic painting. Work with representational painting, abstraction and collage while improving skills with color, composition and techniques. A fun, flexible class for all students.
Spray Painting and Mural Planning
Saturday, March 9, 2019 – Saturday, April 27, 2019    
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Gain practice working with spray paint. Learn different spray-painting techniques, how to plan and execute large-scale murals, and create a collaborative class mural. In partnership with the Tampa Museum of Art. 
Musical Discovery Lecture Series
Tuesday, March 12, 2019    
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Music lovers of all levels, explore the fascinating inner workings of the musical world. Music from cultures around the world to popular 20th Century music genres will be presented. Monthly on Tuesdays, Oct. – May.
World of Wonder 2.0
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 – Thursday, March 14, 2019    
10:45 am
WOW 2.0 is a live performance that transports audiences into their imagination.
Mike Donahue & Third Man Out
Saturday, March 16, 2019    
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish tunes at the Firehouse Pub!
Painting with Watercolors – Session 2
Thursday, March 21, 2019 – Thursday, April 25, 2019    
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Students will learn and explore: color (complementary colors, analogous colors, the chromatic richness of neutrals); brush strokes (from flat and variegated washes to dancing with your brushes); techniques (from wet-into-wet to spattering, pouring, spraying, stenciling, scrubbing).
Comedy Night: Headliner Rahn Hortman, Featuring Devin Siebold
Friday, March 22, 2019    
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Rahn Hortman and Devin Siebold! These two great stand-up comedians are bringing a full headlining set to the Firehouse!
POETRY WORKSHOP The Powerful Pastiche: Learning from Great Women of Letters
Saturday, March 23, 2019    
9:30 am – 11:30 am
In the workshop, we will examine works by Emily Dickinson, Lucille Clifton, Rita Dove, and Natalie Diaz among others. After we've thoroughly examined and discussed each poem, participants will choose one poet's style to imitate in a work of their own.
Large-Scale Printmaking
Monday, March 25, 2019 – Wednesday, April 17, 2019    
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
A relief printmaking class for beginning to advanced students focusing on the creation of large-scale prints. In partnership with the Tampa Museum of Art.
Arts Education Straz Center Musical Theater: Grades 2 – 12
Monday, March 25, 2019 – Monday, May 20, 2019    
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
An overview of Musical Theater from the historical & performance perspectives. Students will explore American musical theater pieces; musical, theatrical and dance styles from throughout the 20th century.
Sonny and Perley
Saturday, March 30, 2019    
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Sonny and Perley interpret a mixed program that includes material from the ‘Great American Songbook’, Golden Age of Popular Song 1920's -1950's and the Post Golden Age of Songs from the 1960's - 1980's coupled with International Cabaret music and Brazil Bossa Nova.
Events on Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Events on Saturday, March 2, 2019
Bourbon on the Bayou
2 Mar 19
Ruskin
Events on Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Painting Studio S2
6 Mar 19
Ruskin
Events on Saturday, March 9, 2019
Events on Tuesday, March 12, 2019
World of Wonder 2.0
12 Mar 19
Ruskin
Events on Saturday, March 16, 2019
Mike Donahue & Third Man Out
16 Mar 19
Ruskin
Events on Thursday, March 21, 2019
Events on Friday, March 22, 2019
Events on Saturday, March 23, 2019
Events on Monday, March 25, 2019
Events on Saturday, March 30, 2019
Sonny and Perley
30 Mar 19
Ruskin