10 OctOber 5-11, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Sanctuary of the Arts blossoms in Coral Gables. BY CAROLINA DEL BUSTO A lush, bushy tree with flowers that resemble yel- low trumpets blooms in front of the Sanctuary of the Arts in Coral Gables. The façade of a former church stands just as stately as ever. Four tall columns with ornate tops hold up the entrance. Etched in the stone, the words “First Church of Christ, Scientist” still appear — but don’t be fooled. Principal managing director Rafi Maldo- nado-Lopez opens the doors to the building and reveals how immediately inside this mini Pantheon is an intimate 314-seat theater. He removes the hanging ropes blocking the stairs and heads upstairs. The wood creaks with each step he takes. On the second floor, he motions to the view of the entire space. Maldonado-Lopez explains how litigator Mike Eidson and his wife, Dr. Margaret Eidson, founded Sanctuary in 2019 and in- vested heavily in refurbishing the historic 1942 building. The venue has been retrofitted with sound panels, a proper stage with a har- lequin dance floor, and a new electrical sys- tem — the whole nine yards. “Sanctuary of the Arts hits two of Mike’s loves, which are historic preservation and the arts,” says Maldonado-Lopez. A small blue plastic gem left over from a recent perfor- mance lays discretely on the floor by Maldo- nado-Lopez’s foot. Throughout the pandemic, the cultural center began to properly develop — both structurally and organizationally. It opened in 2021 with a handful of local community events and festivals. In 2022, the program- ming took off with a residency by violinist Joshua Bell and an official grand-opening celebration. Sanctuary of the Arts spans two lo- cations and three buildings. There’s the main theater and the adjacent offices and class- rooms in Coral Gables, and in Coconut Grove, the non- profit acquired the old St. Mary First Missionary Bap- tist Church, renovating it into a performing arts space as well. Maldonado-Lopez has known Mike for many years, so when he was approached to join the team at Sanctuary, it was an easy decision. “With Mike, you have someone who has the bird’s eye view of the arts, and I had the worm’s eye view of the arts.” Together, the pair make an exceptional team and share the same vision to create a cultural space that truly supports the commu- nity. They’re working to bring top-tier talent to perform, train, and mentor at Sanctuary. Sanctuary has forged partnerships with the Miami City Ballet, Cleveland Orchestra, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. With performances all year round, the venue is amping up its programming. This season alone, top names like flutist Nestor Torres will perform on various dates. Synco- pate Collective is slated to perform during the holidays, and the venue will host the Mi- ami Chamber Music Society Mozart Festival next summer. Sanctuary is so much more than just a venue. In addition to hosting performances — from dance to music to book launches — the cultural space is also home to various companies. “The campus is larger than just the theater. We have classrooms and offices, and we also have an interna- tional training program for profes- sional dancers who come from all over the world. This property is activated all the time,” says Maldonado-Lopez, looking around proudly. His pristine posture shows off his extensive background as a choreogra- pher and dancer. Two dancers practicing for an upcoming performance spill out from a nearby room. As one reviews the wardrobe and runs her fin- gers over various dresses hanging from a roll- ing rack, the other sits on the floor and bends her body to touch her toes. When it comes to the young and emerging talent at the cultural center, Maldonado-Lo- pez perks up as he speaks. “We provide them with space, yes, we provide them with a per- formance venue, but we also mentor them in administration, marketing, and everything that has to do with running their own non- profit.” The goal, he says, is for these companies not to need the help of Sanctuary anymore because they’re able to sustain themselves on their own. As managing director, Maldonado-Lopez sees his work — and that of the cultural cen- ter — to be summed up into three tiers. “Our first tier is to provide world-class entertain- ment. Our second tier is to support the orga- nizations that are already around and support the community. And our third tier is to sup- port the next generation of artists. The idea is to stimulate cultural economics.” Sanctuary of the Arts. 410 Andalusia Ave., Coral Gables; sanctuaryofthearts.org. Photo by Gabriela Yero/Sanctuary of the Arts MAKE ROOM Rafi Maldonado-Lopez (left) and Mike Eidson have collaborated to make the Sanctuary of the Arts a reality. “We provide them with space, but we also mentor them.”
