With the new open call for its 2023 Pérez CreARTE Grants Program, more than $3.5 million is now available in the form of two-year grants ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 for cultural organizations in Miami-Dade County seeking to build vibrant and interconnected arts communities. The program was founded by the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation.

Jorge M. Pérez, internationally recognized philanthropist and founder of the Pérez Family Foundation, said:

Art is a powerful tool – it allows artists to not only communicate personal emotions and ideas, but also inspire entire communities. The importance of this dynamic cannot be understated, especially as our city and region go through tremendous change.

The CreARTE program for 2023 will focus on three main areas:

1. Access to the arts
2. Artistic education
3. Scholarships and residencies for artists

Applications close May 26 and winners will be announced in the Fall. Eligible organizations can apply here.

CreARTE 2023

The third edition of Pérez CreARTE will cover the key areas that impact the creative community the most, including access to affordable workspaces, cultural equity, and education.

The three focus areas broken down in more detail are as follow:

1. Arts Access: Funding to support 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.
2. Arts Education: Funding to support high-performing, innovative organizations in Greater Miami working to ensure that all young people have equitable access to arts education opportunities. This area aims to invest in the most effective, scalable, multidisciplinary arts education programs, in school and out of school, as well as pre-professional training programs that prepare future artists in a variety of disciplines.
3. Artist Fellowships and Residencies: Funding to support 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.

“We’re firm believers that art feeds the soul, ultimately benefiting the entire community in a unique way. Pérez CreARTE has made such a profound impact over the past four years, and we're honored to continue our efforts toward making Miami-Dade a global hub for artistic excellence,” added Pérez.

We had the pleasure of hosting generations of outstanding leaders from 20+ years of Miami Fellows who showed up, rain or shine, to build relationships and dream big about the future. A huge thank you to all who attended and brought sunshine and joy despite the stormy weather. pic.twitter.com/03dGZR5wrF

— The Miami Foundation (@MiamiFoundation) April 14, 2023

Who benefits

To date, the program has made a total investment of more than $6.3 million in 30 organizations throughout Miami-Dade County, enabling them to reach more than 400,000 people through grant-supported programs, development capacity building, and impact evaluation.

Current funding recipients include:

• Bakehouse Art Complex — It used its most recent $200,000 grant to support the Bakehouse Art Complex Studio Residency program
• Community Justice Project — It used a $150,000 grant to expand its social justice-focused artist-in-residence program
• Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (DVCAI) — It used its $100,000 grant to fortify and expand its existing Miami Artist-in-Residence program for emerging artists from the Latin and Caribbean Diasporas
• GableStage — It used its $150,000 grant to grow its educational department with pivotal new hires
• HistoryMiami Museum — It used its $100,000 grant to launch a fellowship program for local documentary photographers in concert with an accompanying educational program component for youth.

“Partnering with the Pérez family on their philanthropy is a win for the Miami social sector. We are proud to leverage our Foundation’s staff, community knowledge, and expertise to help produce a transformational giving program for our community. The generosity of the Pérez family is unparalleled, and their vision for impact and bold approach to giving sets a tone for what philanthropy can be in Miami,” said Miami Foundation President and CEO Rebecca Fishman Lipsey.

There will also be a webinar on April 17 for those who would like to learn more about the program. Click here to register.