LTC 470-2020 Miami Beach Open House Announces Participating Artists & Nonprogit Cultural OrganizationsDocuSign Envelope ID: 2E7DE1 DE-6128-43A6-9A35-A7EA3781 E075
M IA M I BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
470-2020 NO. LTC#
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Mayor Dan Gelber and Memb~f the City Commission
JA
Raul Aguila, City Manager
December 22, 2020
Miami Beach Open House Announces Participating Artists & Nonprofit
Cultural Organizations
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide the Mayor and Commission with
information regarding Miami Beach Open House (the "MB Open House") a public/private
program for the selection and placement of artists and non-profit cultural organizations
(the "Artists"). The goal of MB Open House is to entice artists to Miami Beach and unite
residents and businesses through art. For years, Miami Beach has been a source of
inspiration for artists but the lack of affordable studio spaces has caused many artists to
leave Miami Beach. MB Open House will address the artistic need for space by activating
empty storefronts in Miami Beach commercial districts while attracting, retaining, and
supporting the revitalization of our artistic community. MB Open House is funded by a
$200,000 FY20/21 budget appropriation by the Mayor and City Commission.
Scheduled in conjunction with the relaunch of Culture Crawl in late January 2021, MB
Open House selected artists to exhibit their works or create artistic/cultural activations in
commercial corridors of the City, within privately-owned properties participating in the
program. The activated storefronts will house the artists and their work for at least thirty
(30) days, including the scheduled Culture Crawl events (the third Thursday of every
month). The program encourages property owners to bring innovative cultural business
to Miami Beach and create a place for cultural tourism. Additional property owners are
sought to participate and activate their vacant spaces.
Artists and non-profit cultural organizations were asked to submit no less than ten (10)
images/videos of previously realized work, a project statement detailing the initial
approach to the project, an artist statement, and a curriculum vitae. Additionally, non-profit
cultural organizations were asked to submit a project statement, a mission statement, and
a copy of their 501(c)3 determination letter.
Participating property owners were encouraged to allow occupancy of no less than thirty
(30) days. The exact term of leases will be negotiated between the property owner and
selected artists/non-profit organizations. The City is not involved in lease negotiations.
After receiving 323 applications, a curatorial advisory committee comprised of three (3)
members of the Miami Beach Art in Public Places Committee (Ai PP) - Maria Elena Ortiz,
Michael McManus, and Yolanda Sanchez - and two (2) representatives from the City of
Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council (CAC) - Dawn McCall and Laurence Moser - (the
"Open House Selection Committee"), selected 71 artists and nonprofit cultural
1
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2E7DE1 DE-6128-43A6-9A35-A7EA3781 E075
organizations to participate in MB Open House. The MB Open House Selection
Committee evaluated the submissions based on the quality of previously completed
projects, artistic accomplishments, cultural impact, project diversity, and the completeness
of their application package.
Each selected artist will receive a stipend, of $2,500, to realize their project and assist with
incidentals such materials, moving expenses, insurances, parking, utilities, marketing and
publicity. Only artists and organizations selected through the MB Open House Selection
Committee and operating in a recognized Miami Beach storefront are eligible for the
stipend. Selected artists are encouraged to sell their work, increase their network,
collaborate with Miami Beach institutions and exhibit their work.
The MB Open House Selection Committee is pleased to announce the 71 participating
artists:
Nubia Abaji Chris Friday Charo Oquet
Studio Kai Gajraj Edison Peñafiel
AMLaMATD
Jason Aponte Lucila Garcia de Onrubia Devora Perez
Fama Art Mauricio Giammattei Lee Pivnik
Jenna Balfe Jessica Gispert Sandra Portal-
Andreu
Cameron Basden Sammy Gonzalez Juan Requena
Hannah Kristin Guerin Timothy Reyes
Baumgarten
Thomas Sils Jacquelyn Guerrero Shamelle Roberson
Liene Bosque Alan Gutierrez Dinorah de Jesús
Rodriquez
Scott Brennan Rachel Hovnanian llisa Rosal
Belaxis Buil Yi Chin Hsieh George Sanchez-
Calderon
Laura Casanas Bas Fisher Invitational Nathaniel Sandler
Domingo Castillo Carla Jerez Tom Scicluna
Beatriz Eriberto Jimenez Anita Sharma
Chachamovits
BABA Collective Jennifer Kronenberg Barron Sherer
Penny Crane Summer Jade Leavitt Magnus Sodamin
Carolina Cueva Natalie Lewis Schere Misael Soto
Cara Despain Justin Long Erin Thurlow
Bernadette Monica Lopez De Victoria Eric Trope
Despuiols
Gianna Laura Marsh Alejandro Valencia
DiBartolomeo
Giannina Dwin Juan Matos Joshua Veasey
Jenna Efrein David McCauley Michelle Weinberg
Christian Feneck Colette Mello Michael Williams
Colin Foard Najja Moon
2
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2E7DE1DE-6128-43A6-9A35-A7EA3781E075
For more information, please contact Lissette
LissetteArrogante@miamibeachfl.gov or x26597 or
RickelleWilliams@miamibeachfl.gov or x26186.
Garcia
Rickelle
Arrogante
Williams
at
at
cc: Eric Carpenter, Assistant City Manager
Marcia Monserrat, Chief of Staff, City Manager
Lissette Garcia Arrogante, Director, Tourism and Culture
Rickelle Williams, Director, Economic Development
Heather Shaw, Assistant Director, Tourism and Culture Department
Brandi Reddick, Cultural Affairs Manager
3