Arts & Business Council: 
20 Years Serving the Arts in South Florida

The Arts & Business Council (ABC) is a unique organization—the catalyst for building working partnerships between the corporate and cultural community—and it is 20 years old. It supports arts groups through volunteer programs, leadership training, customized board retreats, educational workshops, collaborations, networking events and executive consultancies.  By providing leadership opportunities and spearheading innovative programs and initiatives, the Arts & Business Council has made a lasting impact on the business community, arts and cultural organizations, and the whole region.

Since its inception in 1985, Arts & Business Council staff, volunteers and outreach has contributed more than seven million dollars in services to the cultural community.

The essence of ABC’s focus is reflected in its mission to foster and build partnerships between business and the arts that are mutually beneficial and contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of Greater Miami and the South Florida region.

“We accomplish this mission with programs that promote voluntarism, build arts management capacity, gather and disseminate relevant information, and advocate closer ties between business and the arts,” says Laura Bruney, executive director.

The key programs include: Arts Board Miami, a unique project to recruit, train and match business people with the boards of cultural groups; National Arts Marketing Project Miami, a national program, funded by American Express, to provide high quality professional training to help arts groups develop sophisticated marketing strategies that build new audiences; Arts Connection, a direct service volunteer program for business people to participate in the arts; South Florida Arts Database, a collective marketing initiative to help the arts build new audiences through targeted, customized mailings and outreach; and Business Volunteers for the Arts, the premier volunteer program for business, provides meaningful opportunities for business professionals to share their skills with the executives and board members of more than 500 cultural groups in Miami-Dade.

Here is the mission statement offered by ABC as it enters its 20th year: “As we mark our twenty-year anniversary and look toward the future, we see new challenges facing the cultural community. The services of ABC have never been more in demand from both our cultural clients and corporate partners. Change is inevitable and proactive arts organizations are planning to do business differently. The Arts & Business Council provides the catalyst for creating working partnerships between the corporate and cultural communities, which provide the necessary tools for internal change and create more productive and stable non-profit groups. The Arts & Business Council is well prepared to embark upon a new era in arts management, arts development, arts partnership and arts advocacy.”

Since its inception, ABC staff, board and volunteers have contributed time and services valued at over seven million dollars to Miami’s cultural community. ABC currently works with more than 500 cultural organizations and is one of the only local groups assisting small, midsize and emerging arts programs. It also assists more than 2,500 artists. The Council has developed several innovative programs to support Florida artists and organizations. Many arts organizations, particularly small and emerging groups, need to strengthen their management capability in order to make more efficient use of existing resources, and to increase their chances for securing additional resources. The Council accomplishes this in part by linking skilled volunteers from the business community with arts organizations through direct service and integrated projects, training programs, information systems, networking events, workshops and board development to help prepare future arts leaders and managers. In addition, such organizations must have the sophistication and the strategies to develop beneficial and ongoing relationships with the business community. An increased portion of business support is generated from marketing and public relations budgets—rather than from philanthropic contributions, making it critical for arts groups to be more creative in their efforts to establish partnerships with businesses.

Local Theatres Set Sights on Carbonells

Just mention the Carbonell Awards and you will get the attention of theatre directors and executives immediately.  It is the dream of all local theatres to join the exclusive list of Carbonell recipients. It has been that way since 1976.

Created by South Florida’s arts critics and columnists. The Carbonell Awards are among the nation’s senior regional arts awards, along with New York's Drama Desk and Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards, and predates others including Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes and Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards.

In 1994, the South Florida Critics Circle invited the Theatre League of South Florida (formed in '91 to represent the region's theaters and individual artists) to jointly administer the program. In 2001, The Broward Center for the Performing Arts invited the Carbonell Awards to be among its events, and became the third partner in this prestigious cultural tradition.

In 2002, the critics circle voted to turn the awards program over to a new, community-based board and administration in order to fulfill both the awards and scholarship programs' potential. The board of trustees includes the region's most respected arts executives and patrons, assisted by an awards council comprised of theater and arts administrators, journalists and arts activists throughout the region.

The Carbonell committee includes the region's most respected arts executives and patrons, assisted by an awards council comprised of theater and arts administrators, journalists and arts activists throughout the region.

Scholarship Program

The annual awards ceremony was originally designed to raise scholarships for students in the tri-county area, to study at accredited colleges and universities for careers in the visual and performing arts, and in journalism. Since the first, single $500 scholarship was given in 1978, dozens of students in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have received a total of approximately $100,000.

Internationally renowned sculptor Manuel Carbonell is the creator, namesake and Grand Benefactor of South Florida's Carbonell Awards. Mr. Carbonell designed the original solid bronze-and-marble award in 1976. His gallery, Beaux Arts Gallery, Ricardo J. Gonzalez III, director, casts and donates each statuette to this day. Born in 1918 in, Cuba and educated throughout Europe, his art works now adorn museums, galleries, private collections and public projects throughout the free world.

Voting Members

Members of the Carbonell voting panel are Iris Acker; Kay Brady; Harvey Burstein; Jerry Cohen; Mary Damiano; Ellen Davis; Christine Dolen; Cheryl Dunn; Bychek; Hap Erstein; Tony Finstrom; Betsy G. Weisman; Bill Hirschman, Richard Janaro; Jay W Jensen; Mark Keller; David Knight; Ron Levitt; Amy London; Roger Martin; Marjorie O'Neill-Butler; Charles Passy; Michael Peyton; Al Price; Skip Sheffield; John Soliday; and Jack Zink.

Officers are President Leslie J. Feldman; Vice President Judith A. Mitchell, secretary, Charles Cinnamon; Treasurer Rhoda Levitt and directors Ricardo J. Gonzalez III, Jay H. Harris. Mark Nerenhausen, John Poland, and  Mary Riedel.

DCA Supports Arts 

The Dade Cultural Alliance (DCA)—a nonprofit network of individuals and organizations committed to increasing awareness, and support for a vibrant, diverse cultural community in Miami-Dade County—is gong into its second decade.

The DCA acts as a collective voice politically to empower the cultural community to advocate for cultural issues. This includes community awareness, political advocacy, communicating with and educating the public about arts issues, and recommending candidates to the electorate who support the needs of the arts community, according to longtime executive director John Casbarro.

Each year, DCA surveys, interviews and recommends candidates who support the arts and culture and its Cultural Leaders Forums are designed for local arts leaders to meet together, informally, for networking.

In collaboration with the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Department and the Arts & Business Council, there are forums to obtain and exchange new information.

Past chairs of the DCA have been Timothy A. Blake, Abbey Chase, Lilia Garcia, Susie Guber, Ron Levitt, Richard Milstein, Dori Morales, Mel Morgenstern and Don Slesnick. Current Chair is Barry Steinman.

Miami-Dade Fair has Projects 365 Days a Year

Awarding more than $500,000 annually in scholarships, awards and premiums along with outstanding educational student and youth programs, the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Inc., is more than just an 18-day fair and a sought after venue for community events and festivals held throughout the year.  The not-for-profit organization is a South Florida institution that is there for the community throughout the year.

“It is a common mistake to think that our work begins and ends with the 18 days of The Fair,” commented Richard Krinzman, Chairman of the Board for The Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, Inc. “Despite the fact that The Fair is a big part of what we do, a significant portion of our work takes place, outside of The Fair.  We are big supporters of the community and for us that is a full-time job.  In fact, the funds raised during The Fair and off-season facility rentals go toward supporting countless youth and adult achievement programs in Miami-Dade throughout the year.” 

The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Inc. will be celebrating its 55th year beginning March 16th to April 2nd, 2006 and is expected to attract more than 800,000 visitors.  Ranked among some of the largest and most successful fairs in the nation, the Miami-Dade County Fair is an 18-day event which includes some of the best rides, games, food and shows in Florida.  In addition, during the off-season, the Fair Expo Center serves South Florida as a venue for community events, youth programs, summer camps for kids sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Parks Department, competitions, festivals, shows and corporate functions.

Some of the activities of The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Inc. that support the community include:

Miami-Dade County School District—The Miami-Dade County Fair maintains a close relationship with the Miami-Dade County School District and extends both financial and in-kind support throughout each year.  Not only does each student receive free admission to The Fair each year but the Fair Expo Center is host to the School Discovery Showcase, which attracts more than 8,000 elementary and middle school children and their parents.  The School Discovery Showcase is an annual event that gives students the opportunity to learn more about career choices.

Scholarship Program—The Fair offers more than $100,000 each year in scholarship opportunities to dedicated Miami-Dade County high school seniors, making it the largest local scholarship sponsor for high school seniors in Miami-Dade County.  In fact, The Fair has awarded hundreds of students with more than $1.8 million dollars in college scholarships since the inception of its scholarship program in 1972. 

Youth Achievement Programs—In keeping with its tradition of honoring outstanding young achievers and recognizing their dedication to the community, each year The Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, Inc. sponsors The Walter B. Arnold Jr. Youth Hall of Fame, which recognizes two outstanding public or private school students, one at the high school level and the other in middle school, that have demonstrated unselfish commitment of time and energy to the community. 

Agricultural Ambassadors Program—The Miami-Dade County Fair’s Agricultural Ambassadors Program was recognized by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) with an Award of Excellence.  With an elite core of students selected from 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) clubs throughout the county, the Miami-Dade County Fair Agricultural Ambassadors program serves as a link between urban fair visitors and Miami-Dade County’s rural agricultural background.

The Fair’s Athletics Program—Through invitational sports competitions sponsored by The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Inc., middle and high school students in both private and public schools have the opportunity to participate in competitive sporting events that otherwise would not have been available.  Sporting competitions include swimming and diving, cross country, tennis, track, golf and wrestling.

Agri Council—Through a $10,000 donation each year to the Agri Council, The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Inc. helps support the administration of the council, which represents the agricultural interests of South Miami-Dade County.  $20,000 per year is provided in scholarships to outstanding students pursuing a career in agriculture.

Florida International University (FIU)—A total of $6,000 in scholarships is awarded annually  to performing arts students from FIU.  In the past, The Fair has made contributions to the building of FIU’s Performing Arts Center, the FIU Community Stadium, shared parking and the FIU Metro Dade bus terminal.

Miami-Dade County 4H Club—Through the Miami-Dade County 4H Club, approximately 9,000 students learn leadership, citizenship and life skills. This year, The Fair donated $30,000 to the Miami-Dade County 4H Club to support youth programs that included sending 28 students to a one week 4H camp, 15 students to the Tallahassee Mock Legislature and 12 to the 4-H State Competition in Gainesville. In 2005, the 4H Department had 1,086 exhibits at The Fair.

Youth Agricultural Programs—Since 1985, The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition has donated approximately $325,000 to create and support ongoing educational horticulture, animal husbandry and general farm life programs designed for children.  The Fair was one of the first organizations who sponsored the Amelia Earhart Farm, created to educate the youth about the County’s agricultural past.

Pet-Friendly Hurricane Evacuation Center—Most recently The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition was named the only pet-friendly hurricane evacuation center in Miami-Dade County.  As a result, at The Fair’s Sunshine Pavilion, which was built to withstand category 5 hurricanes, hurricane evacuees and their pets registered with Miami-Dade County, have a place where they can be safe during hurricanes.  For information or to register call 786-331-5354. 

Student Exhibits—The Fair provides an outstanding opportunity for local students to showcase close to 50,000 exhibits.  Each year, students vie for cash awards, medals, trophies, plaques and ribbons that are awarded by The Fair in recognition of outstanding achievement.

The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition Inc. remains committed to the people of our community 365 days a year.  From processing Cuban refugees during the Mariel boat lift to housing 3,000 National Guard troops after Hurricane Andrew, The Fair will continue to be the South Florida institution that it is and will continue to support the Miami-Dade community in and out of “fair time.”

National Foundation for Advancement in Arts to Celebrate 25th Anniversary with Gala

Vanessa Williams, Michael Tilson Thomas to Receive Awards

Marking 25 years as one of the nation’s foremost advocates of artistically gifted young people, the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) will dedicate its annual An Affair of the Arts Performance and Arts Gala, Saturday, January 14, at 6pm to a celebration of the Miami-based organization’s years of success and as the occasion to honor the New World Symphony’s internationally acclaimed Music Director, Michael Tilson Thomas, as recipient of the Sixth Annual 2006 Arison Award.

Actress/singer Vanessa Williams, who as a teenager was an NFAA ARTS winner, will also be honored as the recipient of NFAA’s First Annual Alumni Award.

“We are very excited about the sheer array of artistic power that will be joining us to mark this unprecedented occasion,” said NFAA President Dr. William H. Banchs. Major sponsors from last year’s gala are renewing their participation, including SunTrust and PricewaterhouseCooper. In addition, Gibson Guitar and Baldwin Piano are the sponsors of Ms. Williams’ NFAA Alumni Award.”

Held at Miami’s Bayfront Park overlooking the bay, a major highlight of the evening will be Maestro Thomas conducting the New World Symphony in one of its own works; as well as performances by Vanessa Williams, Presidential Scholar in the Arts violinist Jennifer Koh, and several NFAA alumni. Past Arison Award recipients Mikhail Baryshnikov, Placido Domingo, Quincy Jones and Jacques D’Amboise have all confirmed their attendance among the more than 1500 international guests and stellar celebrities.

NFAA was born in 1981 when Lin and the late Ted Arison offered an initial $5 million seed grant to fuel the budding institution and to help put Miami on the cultural map. Following months of discussions with authoritative consultants, NFAA declared its mission to be a strongly focused effort to identify emerging artists and assist them at critical junctures in their professional development.  

NFAA launched its ongoing journey to every high school in America inviting 17- and 18-year-old artists in all art forms to submit their work for evaluation. From the thousands of applicants, 160 will be selected to come to Miami in January for ARTS Week to participate in workshops, master classes, personal adjudications, and the opportunity to receive financial rewards. In addition to scholarships, the top 20 are named Presidential Scholars in the Arts, and go to the White House where they receive the gold Presidential Medallion. As part of the celebration, the Scholars in the performing arts are showcased at the Kennedy Center, and the Scholars in the visual and literary arts are featured in an exhibit at one of the major Washington, D.C. museums.

In its 25-year history, more than 150,000 high school students from across the nation have applied, approximately 3,000 have passed through Miami’s doors; 478 having been named Presidential Scholars in the Arts; five million dollars has been distributed in cash awards; and more than $80 million in college scholarships have been granted to NFAA participants by NFAA affiliated institutions.

In naming Michael Tilson Thomas recipient of the Sixth Annual 2006 Arison Award, acknowledgement is given to an artist whose life work and personal commitment has been an inspiration to all who have followed his brilliant career. The award was created by NFAA in honor its founder, Ted Arison. Through five decades of an illustrious career, Maestro Thomas has been universally praised for his innovative, adventurous programming. Currently Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles-born conductor/composer counts a career noted for such musical landmarks as Musical Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Principal Conductor of the London Symphony, Composer-in-Residence for the Aspen Festival, an exclusive recording contract with CBS Masterworks, six Grammy awards, and the creation of CBS-TV’s New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts. Named “Player of the Year” by National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” Maestro Thomas has also been awarded international honors including France’s Chevalier des Arts et des Letters.

Vanessa Williams, who will be receiving the first annual NFAA Alumni Award, is a clear example of the nurturing climate that attends the launch of an exciting performing arts career. An ARTS program winner as a singing teenager, the Milltown, N.Y. native began entering beauty pageants soon after. Representing New York in the Miss America contest, Williams became the first African-American ever to be crowned the winner.

Williams starred in her first Broadway role when she took over the lead in “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” Soon after, Williams recorded the commercial version of “Colors of the Wind,” the theme to the Disney film “Pocahontas” which was a huge hit winning the Academy Award.  She was nominated for Broadway's 2002 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for the revival of "Into the Woods," and is currently starring in a new TV show called "South Beach.”

NFAA Gala co-chairs are Mary and Howard Frank, Jane and Gerald Katcher, Toni and Carl Randolph, and Hazel and Larry Rosen. Ticket prices range from $600 to $1,000 per person.

Further information is available by calling Pilar Pava, 305-377-1140.

About NFAA:

Dedicated to empowering the arts for America’s future, the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1981 by businessman and visionary Ted Arison. NFAA’s mission is to identify emerging artists and assist them at critical junctures with their educational and professional development; and to raise the appreciation for, and support of, the arts in American society.
Arts Recognition and Talent Search® (ARTS) is a program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). The ARTS program is sponsored, in part, by: Carnival Cruise Lines, The Coca-Cola Company, Gibson Musical Instruments, Baldwin Piano and The Gibson Foundation, International Association for Jazz Education, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Trust, Music for Youth Foundation, Northern Trust, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Smithsonian Magazine and SunTrust. ARTS Week 2005 was made possible, in part, with support from American Airlines, The State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Tourist Development Council, the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners.
For more information about NFAA, visit the website www.NFAA.ARTSawards.org.

PHOTO IDS

1. Vanessa Williams
2. Michael Tilson Thomas

Renaissance Festival In Deerfield Beach Coming in February / March

The Florida Renaissance Festival 2006 is coming to South Florida and the February-March event is being hailed as one of the most unique times in the area. Produced by National Award Winning Bobby Rodriguez Productions, Inc, the Festival is slated this year for February 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 & March 4, 5, 11, 12, from 10 am to 6pm; including Monday President’s Day Feb. 20th. What can you expect at the Renaissance Festival:

Knights in full armor jousting, sword fighting and performing tournament games in the tradition of the day by internationally recognized professional artists; Birds of prey - in full flight by a Master Falconer; 12 stages - with continuous entertainment; Educational demonstrations - period trades and crafts; Hundreds of costumed professional performers - lending atmosphere and authenticity to the event; Over 100 artisans - demonstrating, exhibiting and selling their wares; Delicacies of the Middle Ages to tempt the palate - Food Fit For A King; Royal Feast – 5 Course Gourmet Meal Served Once a Day, Feast Ticket includes:  Admission; Meal; Unlimited Beer, Wine and Soft Drinks; Exclusive Entertainment & Preferred Seating at Final Joust; Merchant’s Marketplace - sponsors display their products and services; and Kid’s Kingdom  - educational demonstrations, competitions and exhibits.

The event is hosted by Broward County Parks and Recreation at: Quiet Waters Park in the City of Deerfield Beach. The promoters of this event say that they intend to create an entertaining, cultural and educational opportunity by making history come to life for both children and adults and to gain insight and appreciation of the era known as the Renaissance

Adults - $20; Children  (6-12) - $7; Under 6 – Free. Royal Feast - $63 - gourmet 5 course meal with King Henry the XIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon, includes unlimited food, beer, wine, mead, entertainment and festival admission.

Theatre League Grows Since the 1990s

A small group of theatre directors and theatre enthusiasts met at the Mayfair Ballroom in  Coconut Grove in November of 1993 to discuss the formation of an organization which would bring all of them together professionally. Although it wasn’t until two years later that the Theatre League of South Florida incorporated, that meeting was really the foundation of one of South Florida’s major arts groups.

Its mission has not changed since its inception: To promote attendance at theatres in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties through cooperative marketing, networking and resources; to provide services and programs designed to enhance opportunities for theatrical and/or performing artists; and to advocate for theater and theater education.

Today, the TLSF (and it is known by its initials) has formed a Playwrights Alliance, has an annual award s presentation, publishes a much-anticipated Talent Directory, became a co-sponsor of the Carbonell Awards, has sponsored the National Theatre critics convention in Miami Beach, published the Theatre Facts Book, co-sponsored the Southeast Theatre Conference, developed a two for one Ticket Madness program, developed a program of united auditions to assist some 25 theatres, initiated a play contest, publishes a newsletter and has strengthened corporation via a Producers Forum and its meetings open to directors, actors, writers and other theatre enthusiasts.

Dorothy Miller is the Executive Director. LSF's Board of Directors are nominated and elected by TLSF members, Current officers are: Marjorie O’Neill Butler, President; Andy Rogow, Vice President; Tony Finstrom, Secretary; and Laura Turnbull, Treasurer. Board members are Joseph Adler, Madeline Kern, Michael Peyton, Meredith Lasher, Eileen Suarez, William Hayes, Dave Knight and Danielle Karliner. Past president Barry Steinman and Rem Cabrera, of the Dade Cultural Affairs Council staff, are ex-officio board members.

In addition, TLSF has an advisory board consisting of Julie Peeler, James Samuel Randolph, Harvey Burstein, Iris Acker and David Sexton.