TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Tunes is installing a dozen pianos throughout Tampa as a way to bring new life into downtown. Officials with the organization say one of its missions is to allow people to feel free in today’s society regardless of socioeconomic status, race or religion.

“People are born into the family and community they are born into. Not much they can do about it. If they can’t afford a piano, then they can’t afford a piano. I want to make sure that no matter where someone comes from, what they can afford, they have access to music, they have access to art,” said Josh Holton, president of Tampa Tunes.

Alyona Garcia-Vianello has many talents, but her passion lies with painting.

“I’ve been painting since I was a kid, you know? Since I could remember,” she said.

For Garcia-Vianello, it’s a form of therapy. She says it helped her deal with her early childhood. Garcia-Vianello lived in an adoption center in Russia until she was 6 years old before being adopted and moving to Florida.

“It kind of allows me to do something and gives me an opportunity to dive into something other than real life. Everyone experiences trauma differently; I’m glad people are talking about these things more,” she said.

She was painting a piano as part of the Tampa Tunes project.

“It’s going to be very colorful,” she said.

The organization’s goal is to permanently install 12 pianos throughout Tampa Bay.

“My vision is to paint tigers on it, then also pimped out low riders, kind of making it a vehicle but it’s a piano,” she said.

The project aims to open minds and inspire people to feel free to be themselves.

Pianos are being donated by residents in the area; then they’re dropped off at places in the Ybor Historic District for Garcia-Vianello to test out.

“It sounds good; it needs a little bit of attention, but I think after that, it should be alright,” she said about the piano.

All this effort leading up to this point for artists.

“Being part of the art community, I think it’s a really great opportunity for people to showcase their talents. People who don’t have access can play on something really nice,” she said.

Garcia-Vianello’s piano will be finished and debuted at the Gasparilla Music Festival.

The organization’s plan is to install one piano a month in Tampa, but also has bigger goals.