About The Center
The Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts is located in Clearwater between the still waters of Tampa Bay and the sparkling beaches of Florida's Suncoast. It is convenient to all Tampa Bay communities and serves a wide five-county area. Ruth Eckerd Hall was nominated one of the top five concert halls in the United States by a nation-wide industry poll of technicians, artists and their management. It comfortably seats 2,180 for concerts, recitals, plays and special events. In addition to the 200 events presented annually by the center, community groups and nationally recognized arts organizations, including The Florida Orchestra, lease the venue. Our volunteers and staff warmly welcome visitors and artists to our acoustically perfect chamber. View Detailed Seating Chart. The center is managed by a 501(c)3 non-profit management firm, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. The Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation, Inc. raises funds through private, corporate and public donations to meet the needs of the center's mission and to secure its future. Both administrative offices are located on-site.
Additional Facilities On Site
Dimmitt Family Atrium Lounge	The Dimmitt Family Atrium Lounge located above the East Side Cafe overlooks the grounds and is available for pre-show parties or private meetings. The Margarete Heye Great Room, located on the third floor of the center, accommodates up to 400 (depending on seating) for various events. The balcony offers a view of Alligator Lake and Tampa Bay beyond. In addition to scheduled pre-performance dining, this beautiful banquet facility is available for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, corporate parties and other special occasions.
Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute	The Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute accommodates the center's on-site educational programs; the Institute has been recognized as the largest arts education program of its kind in the state. The facility includes multi-functional classrooms, rehearsal space, a dance studio, recording lab and media center. The Institute is home to the center's touring theater group, Eckerd Theater Company. The Murray Studio Theater seats 200 in a black box style, perfect for recitals, family programming, classes and special events which are best enjoyed in the intimacy of this space.
What We Do
Our Mission The mission of Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. is to present the finest in the performing arts and provide performing arts education, making each available to all segments of the community. Our Vision Ruth Eckerd Hall at the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts is recognized as the leader in performing arts and education programming. It is inclusive of all people and demonstrates fiscal integrity. Our Educational Commitment Ruth Eckerd Hall is committed to educating all segments of the community in and through the performing arts. Its model education program at the Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute provides accessible, affordable, and the very finest education experiences in theater, music and dance to individuals and school systems throughout the Tampa Bay region, the State of Florida, and beyond. The Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute provides a wide range of experiences that benefit and impact the individual opening the door to a passion for high quality life-long learning. The faculty and staff are committed to providing professional guidance through exploration or mastery of the performing arts, ensuring that they are accessible and inclusionary. It is our desire to meet the artistic needs of the community at all levels, ignite the creative spirit in each individual, inspire an understanding of humanity and foster an appreciation, value and preservation of the arts. Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation Statement of Purpose The Purpose of the Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation is to secure, manage, and provide funds and assets to provide financial and economic stability for the development, operation, and debt retirement of Ruth Eckerd Hall.
What We Value
"Ruth Eckerd Hall - Where Everyone Is a Star!" We, members of the Ruth Eckerd Hall and Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation team, recognize that we have been entrusted to provide a dynamic environment for the development and the presentation of the arts. We believe this to be a sacred trust as the arts are vital to the life of our community. Therefore, it is to the benefit of all stakeholders - patrons, artists, volunteers, vendors and employees - that we are committed to these principles: To recognize the needs and generosity of those we serve. To provide experiences that inspire, enrich and entertain. To welcome all with the same friendly and helpful attention we would bestow on Ruth Eckerd herself. To attain the highest degree of service and professionalism. To maintain a safe, clean and comfortable environment. To extend courtesy, dignity and respect to each individual. To support one another for the common good and find innovative solutions to the challenges we face. We believe that this philosophy and practice will not only maintain the trust of our community, but also keep us worthy of it. In so doing, we will be a leader in our industry and ensure the successful future of this center.