Miami Art Museum Ball

Raises $550,000 for Vital Educational Programming and Exhibitions

Nearly 500 Miami Art Museum supporters raised approximately $550,000 for the Museum’s educational programs and exhibitions at this year’s MAM Ball, held at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Miami Art Museum is South Florida’s largest provider of arts education outside of Miami Dade Public Schools and the MAM Ball is the Museum’s main annual fundraiser.

Lin Arison, National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts founder, served as honorary Ball chair, and Solita and Steven Mishaan served as Ball chairs. The evening paid tribute to Arison for her unwavering support of Miami’s arts community, and Miami Art Museum Board of Trustees Chairman Aaron Podhurst announced that a student art competition would be created in her honor.

“The impact of Lin’s support can be felt throughout the arts community, and MAM is no exception,” said Podhurst. “Education is at the heart of Miami Art Museum’s mission, and it is due to this support that MAM is able to bring art into the lives of thousands of children every year through free student programming.”

During the cocktail reception at the Fontainebleau’s legendary Bleau Bar, guests purchased Artful Chances tickets for items ranging from weekend getaways with hotel accommodations to Mediterranean cruises and beautiful clothing, accessories and jewelry. A portion of the proceeds from Artful Chances will help bring art supplies to local schools and community centers. Guests enjoyed dinner in the ballroom elegantly designed by The JGroup, LLC, and danced into the night to The Steve Chase Orchestra.

In 2013, Miami Art Museum will move to an expanded facility at Museum Park, which will include an educational complex, further expanding the reach of MAM’s educational programming. Expanded exhibition space will bring world-class exhibitions to Miami-Dade County and will provide room to showcase growing collections. The final design of the new Miami Art Museum at Museum Park received critical acclaim when it was unveiled in October. The new facility, scheduled to open in 2013, has been designed by Herzog & de Meuron to achieve silver LEED [Leadership in Energy] certification and integrate the surrounding park into the museum experience.

Held annually since 1983, the black-tie ball is one of the most anticipated events of the Miami social calendar. Miami Art Museum depends on private donations in addition to public support to help fulfill its role as a civic and cultural institution. More than 50 percent of its annual support comes from corporations, individuals, foundations and members. Since its inception, Miami Art Museum has worked closely with the community to develop and carry out the largest museum arts education program in Miami-Dade County. It became a collecting institution in 1995, and has worked to build a permanent collection dedicated to international art and to present lively exhibition programs. In October, Miami Art Museum opened the most comprehensive survey of Guillermo Kuitca’s work ever presented in North America.