9 January 9-15, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | Culture | Cafe | MusiC | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | The Next 365 New Year’s resolutions from Miami’s arts community. BY LIZ TRACY J ust as we each have a list of resolu- tions, whether spoken or unspo- ken, that we aim to tackle to enrich our lives in the coming year, Mi- ami’s arts and culture leaders have ambitious plans to reinvigorate the cultural scene for both locals and visitors in 2025. New Times spoke with a selection of the Magic City’s most prominent tastemakers about their visions for the future of our cre- ative community. They shared their hopes and expectations for the city as its art scene continues to gain greater attention from global audiences. Caroline Cabrera and Melody Santiago Cummings, Co- directors at O, Miami O, Miami is a monthlong festival and year-round initiative that aims to build community interest around poetry through innovative collaborations and platforms. For more information, visit omiami.org. “If this year’s [Miami Art] Basel program- ming is any indication, Miami’s art scene is only becoming more Miami. We saw so many local artists deservingly featured for recogni- tion from this global audience, among them our Miami-Dade Poet Laureate, Caridad Moro-Gronlier. “O, Miami is re-doubling our commitment to featuring hyper-local artists — even our youngest artists. In the spring, we’ll unveil a project that features student poems as inno- vative multimedia pre-show content in part- nership with the Philip and Patricia Frost Museum Planetarium. “We’re also looking forward to new work from Arsimmer McCoy, Pioneer Winter, and Malcolm Lauredo.” Dejha Carrington, Commissioner Founder Commissioner is an innovative platform that supports artists with the tools they need to thrive and showcase their work. The organization commissions pieces from local artists and hosts studio visits and conversations with collectors, among other events. For more information, visit commissioner.us. “Commissioner’s practice has always been to follow the artist’s lead. There’s something to be said about getting out of the way and providing artists with the creative space and support they need to bring ideas to life unen- cumbered. So, [in 2025] expect more listen- ing, experimentation, and spaces to build connections. Hopefully, this approach will have an enduring ripple effect. “Personally, [I would like] to see every- thing that I didn’t get to [see] during Miami Art Week, including Ayiti Toma III: Spiraling, Silence, & Sirènes at Central Fine, Alien at Da- vid Castillo [Gallery], and Invisible Luggage at Historic Hampton House. I’m also excited about Najja Moon at Tunnel, the artist-run studios and project space in Little Havana. “Look out for more bylines and thoughtful arts coverage by Miami-based writers. There’s an inspiring group of journalists and experienced writers sharing resources and encouraging art historians, artists who like to write, and curators to pitch bold and global. Carolina Drake, who helps keep our Miami Arts Writers WhatsApp channel active, has likened writing to collecting for me: ‘Anyone can do it if you have the access and a good story — we have both because we’re part of the communities who live here.’ Though in- creasingly fewer arts publications are open to freelancers, I hope we’ll continue to see an uptick in stories by local voices genuinely in- vested in and rooted in our shared experi- ence. “With Com- missioner, we’re going further be- hind the scenes with artists and organizations, learning more about the inner workings of acquisitions, conservation, and process. Our first event of 2025 is an intimate introduction to the Wolfsonian’s Annex, the museum’s seldom-seen storage space and a portal through time. We’re also looking for- ward to visiting Fared Manzur at Rice Hotel and our day trip to West Palm Beach for Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing [at the Norton Museum of Art] with curator Arden Sherman.” Bari Newport, Producing Artistic Director at GableStage GableStage has brought award-winning drama and comedy to South Florida audiences for 45 years. Since 1998, it has produced theater that reflects the interests of its community at the Biltmore Hotel, garnering 64 Carbonell Awards for exceptional Miami theater. For more information, visit gablestage.org. “GableStage is producing three Miami premieres (Appropriate, Summer 1976, Fat Ham) plus a taste of our long-awaited Miami Vice the Musical production at our annual gala showdown on March 15. “I’m really looking forward to Sarah Silverman at the Fillmore [on Saturday, January 11]. For 2025, I predict attendance hitting pre-pandemic levels and then... surpassing them!” ▼ Culture Melody Santiago Cummings (left) and Caroline Cabrera (right) have both worked at O, Miami for several years. “We’re going further behind the scenes with artists and organizations,” says Dejha Carrington of her platform’s expectations for 2025. Bari Newport expects GableStage attendance numbers to surpass pre- pandemic levels in 2025. Photo by Chantal Lawrie Photo by Gesi Schilling MIAMI’S ARTS AND CULTURE LEADERS HAVE AMBITIOUS PLANS TO REINVIGORATE THE CULTURAL SCENE IN 2025. Photo by Alex Fox >> p10
