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The Portal is a new artistic and educational outlet that mirrors how we learn. The intent is to raise awareness about the environment, health and wellness, and the humanities through providing free and open access to knowledge. This will be accomplished through digital exhibitions, contextualized images, and video. Content will also be reinforced with messaging in an entertaining and engaging manner.

The concept for the Tampa Portal developed through Lights On Tampa 2009 with the expectation that they would develop as a cultural resource for citizens and a key component for the Tampa Riverwalk Cultural Plan.

In January 2009, 2 LED screens were installed in the storefront windows of the Tampa Convention Center as a prototype. The content looped through a series of images with messaging, averaging 5-7 seconds per image/text, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 3 weeks.

Due diligence included a survey of existing models. While most were for commercial or advertising purposes; there are models that emphasize artistic and educational content. While most were for commercial or advertising purposes, there are models that emphasize artistic and educational content. The Tampa Portal is currently refining a content management process that is a hybrid of existing models to meet its needs and vision.