Historically coinciding with St. Pete Pride, the Drag Queen Docent Tour at the Chihuly Collection is a unique and entertaining way to experience the permanent collection of Dale Chihuly’s large-scale installations. Each sold out event in the past has helped the local LGBTQ+ community with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the St. Pete Pride organization. For a unique twist on this event for 2020, the Morean Arts Center and Chihuly Collection have created a virtual experience. The 2020 Drag Queen Docent Tour will support the mission of the Morean and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Metro Inclusive Health.
Ms. Bak Lava, a celebrated local Drag Queen has spent time in the Chihuly Collection training to be a docent and has guided groups through the exhibit adding well-timed humor, passion and lots of flair, making the tour distinctly different than any previous experience. In past years, the Drag Queen Docent Tour has been offered on a small scale, coinciding with St. Pete Pride, however with limitations of public access to the exhibit, and the postponement of the local Pride Celebration, the Chihuly Collection and Morean Arts Center have created a special virtual experience for anyone to participate in, local or not! Stay in on your own or gather friends together to celebrate National Coming Out Day.
Each “admission” is a party in a box that will arrive on your doorstep, complete with cocktail mixers (and suggested recipe card), fabulous accessories, private Zoom passcode, and much, much more! Virtual admission will be available individually, or a 4-pack option. An exclusive high-end ticket will be available for 10 people only, to experience the tour in-person, meet and greet with Ms. Bak Lava and enjoy light snacks and beverages at the Chihuly Collection. There is also a lower price ticket for those wanting to support the organization and participate in the virtual experience without the need for the party package.
All proceeds raised will support the Morean Arts Center’s education and exhibition programming year-round and Metro Inclusive Health. Metro Inclusive Health, established in 1993, provides quality health and wellness services that are inclusive, relevant, supportive and represent the lifetime continuum of the diverse people in our community. Active community centers provide services to the LGBTQ community including premier comprehensive HIV services and medical care, social activities, classes, support groups, counseling, health and fitness programs, youth programs, substance abuse programs, behavioral health services, free HIV testing and is committed to maintaining community health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s Drag Queen Docent Tour will occur on Saturday, October 10, coinciding with National Coming Out Day (NCOD). Celebrated annually on October 11, this LGBTQ+ awareness day was started in 1988, originally focused on supporting and bringing attention to the most basic form of personal activism, “coming out” to family and friends. 30 years later, NCOD is a large-scale celebration, as opposed to a necessity in order to raise awareness.
Calendar details –
Drag Queen Docent Tour: A Virtual Experience is sponsored by Creative Loafing and Nielsen Corporation and will occur on Saturday, October 10 from 5:30pm-7pm. Virtual Admission can be purchased through Eventbrite, also accessible on MoreanArtsCenter.org.
Ticket prices:
$20 – Virtual Admission ONLY – Single ticket
$50 – Virtual Admission with Party Package – Single Ticket ($180 – 4 pack ticket – a 10% per person discount) Must be purchased by Sep. 30th to ensure party kit delivery.
$100 – VIP Exclusive – Single Ticket – Includes Party Package, Light Snacks and Beverages