Live Nation and ACT Partnership Inspires Tampa's Next Generation of Creatives
Key Takeaways
Live Nation is investing in Tampa’s next generation by connecting local students with careers in live entertainment.
Through its partnership with ACT, Live Nation hosted 50 students at two major Tampa concerts this summer for hands-on learning experiences.
Students explored careers across production, design, management and performance—discovering how their creativity can translate into a career.
Behind the scenes: This summer, students from the Arts Conservatory for Teens (ACT) experienced live music in Tampa through a different lens. Across two Experiential Learning Events with Live Nation, students were encouraged to look beyond the stage and see the lighting, production, stage design, and the many people whose work brings a live event to life.
Across the summer, Live Nation hosted 50 ACT students at two Tampa events: Post Malone at Raymond James Stadium on July 8 and Jack Johnson with Lake Street Dive at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre on August 19.
Through its partnership with Live Nation, ACT students gained firsthand exposure to the live entertainment industry through experiences in Tampa that connected their interests and talents with potential career paths. Founded in St. Petersburg, Florida, ACT uses the arts to build confidence, create connections, and prepare young people for their futures.
From passion to possibility: For students like Vera Clark-Beard, who attended the Post Malone event, the experience offered a chance to see the technical side of a major stadium show up close and picture herself as part of it.
“It was such an honor to look at the technical elements of the show,” Clark-Beard said. “I am so thankful for this program and how many opportunities it has given me to succeed, meet new people, and feel comfortable in my position as a tech.”
That’s the opportunity these experiences are designed to create, showing students that live entertainment careers extend far beyond the stage, from production and design to management and performance, and giving them a firsthand look at where their own talents could take them.
Investing in what’s next: Live Nation and ACT’s partnership is about more than introducing students to the industry. It’s about investing in young people and creating opportunities that can shape what comes next.
For aspiring theatre artist Aoifa Maki, attending Jack Johnson with Lake Street Dive helped turn a future in entertainment from an ambition into something she could see for herself. “I’ve always loved watching artists do what they do, but getting to experience it on a more personal level was so inspiring to me,” Maki said. “It honestly made me realize even more that my dreams are completely attainable.”
By opening doors to experiences like these, Live Nation and ACT are helping young people see a place for themselves in live entertainment while building stronger connections between the industry and the communities it serves.