03 Nov THE JORGE M. PÉREZ FAMILY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2021-2022 CREARTE RECIPIENTS and DOUBLES TOTAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Pérez Family to Distribute $3.2 Million in Grants in Support of South Florida’s Artistic Ecosystem

MIAMI (Nov. 2, 2021) – The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation (The Foundation) at The Miami Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the prominent Pérez family, today announced the grantees for the second edition of the Pérez CreARTE Grant Program. Following an open call that saw hundreds of high-quality applicants, The Foundation selected 25 cultural organizations across Miami Dade County to receive a share of $3.2 million, nearly double the amount disbursed in the program’s inaugural cycle in 2019.

“The last 18 months have been incredibly trying for our local arts community, which is why, as a family, we wanted to honor the individuals and organizations who persevered in their mission,” said Jorge M. Pérez, family patriarch and prolific philanthropist. “We are fortunate to be able to double down on the program, including reinvesting in existing organizations as well as adding new ones, to continue to support the creatives who add such joy and cultural richness to our city and region. We cannot wait to see what each grantee accomplishes in the coming months and years.”

First established in 2019, Pérez CreARTE is dedicated to identifying and supporting exemplary cultural organizations that cultivate a vibrant, connected and culturally stimulating ecosystem in Greater Miami. The program fulfills the Pérez family and The Miami Foundation’s joint vision of making South Florida an equitable, culturally prosperous global hub.

The grants, which range up to $200,000, will be distributed over the next two years and will build upon the work of existing partners while also creating new opportunities for first-time CreARTE grantees.  Holistically, the funding will help bridge gaps in key areas impacting the creative community most, including access to affordable workspaces, cultural equity and arts education. The CreARTE selection committee focused on non-profits across three key areas:

• Arts Access: Supports meaningful and diverse public engagement with, and access to, various forms of high-quality art across Greater Miami and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life.
• Arts Education: Focuses on high-performing, innovative organizations in Greater Miami working to ensure that all young people have equitable access to arts education opportunities.
• Artist Fellowships and Residencies: Encourages the creation and/or expansion of artist fellowship and residency programs to expand local options for artistic professionals to hone their talents and showcase their work.

An influential external advisory board, with the assistance of The Miami Foundation staff, Pérez Family members, Related Group staff selected this year’s recipients. The winning proposals exhibited effective approaches for addressing the needs of the rapidly changing creative environment and promoted programming to communities that are traditionally underserved by the arts, among other factors.

The 2021-2022 grantees include:

Artist Fellowship & Residence: Bakehouse Art Complex; Community Justice Project; Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator, Inc (DVCAI); HistoryMiami Museum; Miami Dade College – Miami Book Fair; Miami Light Project; Oolite Arts; The Fountainhead Residency

Arts Access: Bookleggers Library; City Theatre; Commissioner; Sweat Records + Books & Books

Arts Education: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County; African Heritage Cultural Arts Center; Arts for Learning, GableStage; Guitars Over Guns; Homestead Miami Mariachi Conservatory (MAC); Juggerknot Theatre Company; Miami City Ballet; Miami Music Project; Miami New Drama; Nu Deco Ensemble; O, Miami; Young Musicians Unite

CreARTE’s grantees are having a transformational impact in our community, and it is an honor for The Miami Foundation to work with the Pérez family to foster a thriving art scene in Miami,” said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “Our partnership with the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation offers the family flexibility, agency, and ease in their grantmaking. We are grateful for this opportunity to strengthen our community in meaningful ways and to create equitable access to the arts across Miami.”

To date, CreARTE has awarded upwards of $5 million, contributing generously to the creation of local spaces for the development of art and opportunities for all South Florida residents to access the arts.

This year’s CreARTE grants announcement comes shortly after the Pérez family gifted their long-time family home to The Miami Foundation, which sold the property for $33 million shortly thereafter. The proceeds from the sale will go towards supporting a variety of local causes, including the arts.

For more information on The Pérez CreARTE Grants Program, please visit Miamifoundation.org/JMPerezFamilyFoundation.