Miami Art Strong: Miami-Dade arts organizations unite for a common goal
When the going gets rough, really rough, the Miami arts scene comes together. Launched by Miami newcomer Kathleen Drohan, Vice President of Public Relations at New World Symphony and America’s Orchestral Academy—along with her many colleagues at various Miami-Dade arts and culture organizations—Miami Art Strong (MAS) is an initiative meant to strengthen and support the arts in Miami.
The program recently kicked off with the launch of an interactive digital marketing campaign that invites Miamians to share their favorite, inspiring, local art experiences using the hashtag #MiamiArtStrong.
From world-class museums to renowned symphonies and dance companies, artist residencies and studio spaces, and a thriving community of creators, Miami has emerged as one of the foremost arts and culture centers in the world. But COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for Miami (and the world’s) arts community, both financially and in the ability to connect with one another.
The MAS campaign aims to create connections digitally and also connect leaders from cultural institutions to share resources, information, and strategies to support each other through an unprecedented time.
“It has been inspiring to participate in and build the Miami Arts Strong campaign. Our city’s cultural infrastructure is comprised of a wide variety of arts organizations, all producing such valuable content. Through Miami Art Strong we have connected our cultural entities and mobilized this creative output to engage our community in a truly profound, collaborative way,” explained Julia Rudo, communication manager at the Bass and MAS committee member.
Participating institutions include: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; The Bakehouse Art Complex; Fountainhead Residency and Studios; Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, FIU; The Jewish Museum of Florida - FIU; Miami Children’s Museum; Miami City Ballet; Miami New Drama; Museum of Graffiti; and many others.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
As for how independent artists are being supported right now, a handful of MAS participants can point you in the right direction:
Oolite Arts recently announced that it has acquired new works from seven Miami-based artists, who are or have been Oolite residents. The talented group will create works which will launch the organization’s first collection. To further the artists’ careers, Oolite Arts will eventually donate the works to museums across the country, so that more Miami-based artists will be represented in major collections. The collection is one of several ways Oolite Arts has further invested in Miami-based artists since the pandemic and resulting economic impact on artists and the art sector. Other initiatives including a $250,000 artist relief fund and the Close Quarters film festival, which commissioned filmmakers to make new works in quarantine. Learn more at oolitearts.org.
For artist relief programs and initiatives, you’ll find one of the most comprehensive lists around on the Locust Projects website, locustprojects.org.
The Bass recently launched a new program titled “New Monuments” adding a fifth plinth (to their existing grouping of monuments) to Collins Park and are calling for artists to create the temporary new monument. The museum will pay for all costs related to the selected project and the selected artist will also receive a $5,000 honorarium. Learn more at thebass.org.
Information about Miami Arts Strong can be found on miamiartstrong.org.
To watch the organizations official launch video, click on the link below.
*Erica Corsano is a multimedia journalist with almost two decades of experience as a storyteller. She currently serves as the head of content at The Jewish Museum of Florida and The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University. Follow her @ericacorsano.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 10:57 AM.