Cultural Affairs Program

The Cultural Affairs Program in the Department of Tourism and Cultural Development serves as an invaluable resource for the Miami Beach community and beyond. Working closely with the Cultural Arts Council, the advisory board which was founded in 1997, the Program sustains, develops and supports the arts in Miami Beach for the enjoyment, education, enrichment, and benefit of residents and visitors.

Since 1997, the City of Miami Beach has awarded nearly $5 million to approximately 88 not-for-profit groups through an annual cultural grants program. Further, the Cultural Affairs Program also partners with the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority to award grants for Beach-based cultural tourism events and to help promising local arts groups to develop programming and audience.

The City of Miami Beach makes an ongoing commitment in excess of $6.5 million annually, which includes the cultural grants funds, to support programming and operations of artistic organizations in this community. In addition, the City maintains an ongoing cultural investment in the community’s cultural facilities in the amount of 58 million dollars. This investment directly reflects the City’s commitment to the support of a cultural landscape that is an integral part of the services provided by Miami Beach.

Recent additions to the program include a cultural facilities management initiative administered under the Cultural Affairs Program to insure the effective management of the City-owned Colony, Byron Carlyle, and Little Stage Theaters. Also included is an extensive arts education program developed in partnership with Arts for Learning/Miami which assists in educating and developing audiences and lovers of culture for today and tomorrow.