$25,000 Donation Given To Photographic Museum By iGas Founder Ben Meng

TAMPA, FL — A day ahead of #GivingTuesday, a Tampa philanthropist is making a major donation to the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, which is celebrating its 25th year in Tampa Bay.

Ben Meng, CEO and founder of iGas USA Inc., has presented a $25,000 donation to help fund the museum’s “Literacy Through Photography Program,” where instructors put digital cameras into the hands of under-served kids, helping to foster a new way to express themselves and community, develop a new skill and foster career paths.

Meng said the majority of his family migrated to Tampa from Asia, where they were able to find community and success. He said this is one way to thank the community.

“After my business has been prosperous in Tampa, it’s time to return the gift where I can help kids learn and create a better future right here in my hometown,” said Meng, adding that he's working on additional community program assistance and is considering setting up a charity platform to discuss social issues.

“As one of 10 museums across the nation dedicated to photography, we’re evolving our community programs that make a difference in people’s lives,” said Deirdre Powell, interim co-executive director at FMoPA. “The donation from Ben Meng is something unexpected, and we are grateful for this generous and meaningful contribution to our programs.”

iGas USA Inc. offers a full range of refrigerants for airports, hospitals, office buildings, restaurants, manufacturing, shopping malls, train stations, cold storage, super markets, apartment complexes, resorts, service centers and other industries.

In the spring of 2001, Tampa business owner Cynthia L. Flowers put forward the idea of starting a photography museum in Tampa. Shortly thereafter, attorney Charles J. Levin, art dealer Vincent Sorrentino and Flowers established the Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts, a museum dedicated to photography.

With the help of Madison Marquette, the owner of Hyde Park Village, the nonprofit museum obtained its first exhibition space. “Masters of Black & White,” the first show, consisted of 50 iconic black and white images borrowed from private collections.

From exhibiting the work of local photographers, the museum's mission turned to cultivating photographic talents when Flowers began the museum’s first children’s outreach program with under-served children at the University of South Florida/Patel Partnership Elementary School in Tampa.

Since then, the museum has developed a range of ongoing community programs such as the free "Children’s Literacy Through Photography Program" for at-risk children and fee-based adult photography classes, workshops and children’s summer camps.

In the summer of 2006, the museum was renamed the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and relocated to downtown Tampa and eventually to its current location in the Waterfront Arts District in Rivergate Plaza’s architecturally significant Cube, a soaring six-story atrium recognized as one of the most impressive interior spaces on the west coast of Florida.

The museum not only showcases talented professionals from Tampa Bay and beyond but hosts competitions for up-and-coming photographers of all ages including senior citizens through its Forever Young exhibition.

In the process, the museum hopes to shine a light on Tampa's history, social issues, culture, people, architecture and milestones.

On #GivingTuesday, donations this year will go to the "Childrens' Visual Literacy Through Photography Program."

A donor will receive free admission to the museum with a $5 gift.

A $45 gift provides an individual membership and photography props for a child in the program.

A $75 donation gifts the donor with a household membership and a camera for a child in the program

Click here to donate.

FMoPA has also launched a capital campaign to raise at least $500,000 to help:

• Identify and transition to a new location that will offer greater access and service to the community
• Support continuing operations during that transition, allowing grant-funded programs and signature educational programs expand.
• Cover accounts payable accrued during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic during which time the museum continued to inform, educate and engage virtually.
• Develop and propel a fresh new vision and strategy to make Tampa Bay’s FMoPA a premiere destination and arts centerpiece for the community.

Currently, the museum is preparing to host its Annual Members Show, a competition featuring the work of member photographers.

The opening reception for the Annual Members' Show will take place Friday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. during which first-, second- and third-place winners will be announced for each photography category (portraits, conceptual, documentary, nature and abstract) including this year's People's Choice award-winner, voted on by museum visitors through Dec. 9. Winners from each category will receive a prize awarded by the museum's partners and sponsors.

The members' show will run through Jan. 27.

Memberships are $25 for students and active-duty members of the military, $50 for individuals and $85 for families and include free entrance to the museum for exhibitions, openings, docent tours and lectures; discounts on all classes, safaris and workshops; a 10 percent discount in the Museum Store, the opportunity to enter one photograph in the Annual Members Show; and the opportunity to participate in FMoPA’s Member Advisory Panel.

Sponsor-level memberships include the $125 Educator's Circle, the $250 Collector's Circle and the $500 Director's Circle.

Click here for memberships.

Ongoing exhibits at the museum include:

• Transformations: A Gender Exploration by Mariette Pathy Allen through March
• Shane Brown: In the Territories and Reservation Dogs through February
• 11th Annual International Photography Exhibition online
• Veterans Exhibition in partnership with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, giving veterans an opportunity to share their unique perspective on returning to civilian life after many years in the armed forces.
• The museum will open a call for entries Dec. 12 to Jan. 15 for the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Benefit Sale, which will be on view beginning Jan. 27 in the community gallery. To participate in the benefit sale, photographers must become or already be a member of FMoPA. Prices of photographic artwork start at $50.

The museum, 400 N. Ashley Drive, Cube 200, is open every day from noon to 5 p.m. except Friday when the museum remains open until 7 p.m.

Admittance is free for museum members, $10 for adults and $8 for students, members of the military and seniors.