The-Host-Becomes-the-Collector
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical,
historic community.
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2019
The Host Becomes the Collector
— City of Miami Beach to Expand its Public Art Collection Via Acquisition at
Art Basel Miami Beach —
Miami Beach, FL – As Art Basel Miami Beach enters its 18th year, the City of Miami
Beach deepens its commitment to contemporary art and its relationship with Art Basel by
establishing a new acquisition program for purchasing a work of art at the fair. The
Legacy Purchase Program, under the city’s Art in Public Places (AiPP) division, will
allow residents to be involved in the acquisition of a world-class art piece for the
municipality’s public collection.
“We look forward to the city’s strategic expansion of our current public art collection by
leveraging Art Basel’s ability to attract exceptional art and allowing our residents to be a
part of the excitement,” said City Manager Jimmy Morales.
Artwork that could be considered includes painting, photography, sculpture, video and
installation-based works. The Legacy Program is funded from the city’s AiPP fund which
is dedicated to the purchase of public art, with a limit of up to $100,000 from the AiPP
that includes the purchase, commission and all other associated fees. Maintenance and
conservation of the piece will fall under Art in Public Places Fund 147 and the city’s AiPP
guidelines. These funds have been designated to purchase first-rate works of art, so that
is exactly what the Tourism and Culture department has set out to do.
“The city’s curatorial vision is to pursue artwork that is reflective of our community,
echoes artistic excellence, is the work of a nationally and/or internationally recognized
artist, and is a valuable addition to the Art in Public Places collection. It is important that
we include the residents — to allow them to be a part of the excitement of a world-class
art fair and to include their voices in what piece of art becomes a part of their permanent
public collection,” said Director of Tourism & Culture Matt Kenny.
Galleries taking part in the Nova and Positions sectors of the 2019 fair will receive a
“Call to Artists” from the City of Miami Beach and Art Basel to submit up to two works
that meet the Legacy Program’s curatorial vision and guidelines. From those
submissions, the city’s AiPP Committee will select six artworks to view in person at Art
Basel Miami Beach on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical,
historic community.
Following this viewing, the AiPP Committee will select three works of art to put to a
public vote online. Voting will be open from approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday,
December 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 5. The work of art with the most votes will
be announced on Friday, December 6 and will be acquired by the city on that same day.
The artwork will be displayed within a dedicated, publicly accessible area of the Miami
Beach Convention Center or the surrounding City's Civic and Cultural District (if the work
determines an outdoor location).
“We’re delighted to strengthen our relationship with the city through the new Legacy
Program, which will give emerging artists from our Nova and Positions sectors the
possibility of establishing a permanent home here, for residents and visitors to enjoy
long after the fair closes in December,” said Noah Horowitz, Art Basel's Director
Americas.
The city’s Art in Public Places collection includes works by renowned artists such as
Franz Ackermann, Elmgreen & Dragset, Dan Graham, Ellen Harvey, Joseph Kosuth,
Sarah Morris, Joep van Lieshout, and Tobias Rehberger, among others.
###
To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five -day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or
participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2489 and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
About Art Basel
Founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel today stages the world's premier art shows
for Modern and contemporary art, sited in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Defined by its
host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, artworks
presented, and the content of parallel programming produced in collaboration with local
institutions for each edition. Art Basel’s engagement has expanded beyond art fairs through a
number of new initiatives such as The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report, Art Basel
Cities, and more recently Art Basel Inside. For further information, please visit artbasel.com.