Latest news with #YoungMusiciansUnite
Axios
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
"Immediate pain:" Arts and culture community rallies against proposed budget
Local arts and culture organizations are sounding the alarm about a proposed 50% cut to the county's cultural grant funding, urging residents to sign a petition that's already garnered more than 3,000 signatures. Why it matters: Arts and cultural leaders say the $12.8 million in proposed cuts would devastate small organizations and local artists, and threaten programming for the city's youth. Moreover, they say the lack of funding will hinder the arts community's ability to boost the local economy and it would undermine decades of investment that made Miami a global hub and cultural destination. Catch up quick: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava this month proposed budget cuts between 10% and 35% for some departments and consolidations for others to offset a more than $400 million deficit for 2026. Included in the proposal was the merging of the Department of Cultural Affairs into the Public Library System and the elimination of the director of cultural affairs position. The big picture: The proposed cuts come a year after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million for arts and cultural initiatives from the 2024-25 state budget, costing more than 120 Miami-Dade organizations a combined $6.5 million in funding. By the numbers: For every $1 invested in the arts by the county, $42 is returned through economic activity and matching private support, according to the Miami-Dade Arts Action Alliance, an arts advocacy organization. Per the group, the arts generate $2.1 billion annually, support 32,000 local jobs and attract 4.2 million cultural tourists. What they're saying: The proposal "feels disproportionate and short-sighted," said Sheila Womble, executive director of Arts For Learning, in a news release. "When we start to lose the arts, we lose more than most ever realize until it is too late," Womble said. Sammy Gonzalez, CEO of Young Musicians Unite and president of Arts Access Miami, told Axios he recognizes the tough position Levine Cava is in and that she's been a "big advocate for the arts," but argued the cuts need to come from somewhere else. "There are other areas that are bloated, I'm sure," he said. The other side: During her news conference announcing the proposal, Levine Cava said the budget is "fair, balanced and resident-focused." Zoom in: A 50% cut is anywhere between 5% and 15% of an organization's budget, Sammy Gonzalez, CEO of Young Musicians Unite and president of Arts Access Miami, told Axios. If approved, the county's public schools could see "a good 30% of programming go away," he said. "It's immediate pain." There's an understanding that kids go to school and have access to music or art classes, Gonzalez said. Many people "don't understand that [programs like] Guitars Over Guns isn't part of the school district." And with public schools already facing budget shortfalls, "there's no way the district" will be able to fill in the funding gaps.
Miami Herald
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Student musicians at festival celebrate the power of music to inspire and uplift everyone
It was a joyous event when more than 600 students took to the stage to perform at the fourth annual Miami Gardens Youth Music Festival. Celebrating with them were 2,000 attendees including city officials, music education leaders and industry professionals. Held at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex, the festival showed how music can transform lives and open doors to careers in performance, sound engineering and the music business. 'Music shaped my journey — from my first piano notes to a lifelong appreciation for the arts,' Councilwoman Linda Julien said in her opening speech. 'The Miami Gardens Youth Music Festival is more than an event; it's a stage for young artists to find their voice and build their future. I'm honored to support this celebration of talent and opportunity.' While the festival showcased the immense talent of Miami's youth, it also spotlighted key challenges in music education. Many schools and communities here still lack funding, resources and the infrastructure needed to provide high-quality music education, especially in underserved communities. 'The Miami Gardens Youth Music Festival shows the power of music and the arts to inspire, connect and uplift everyone. It is a celebration of creativity and community, proving what is possible when we invest in our youth,' said Alan Valladares, Arts Access Miami Manager. The event was organized by Arts Access Miami and Young Musicians Unite in a partnership with Julien. YMU is a key program within Arts Access and plays a vital role in expanding students' musical horizons beyond traditional classroom settings. As Miami-Dade County continues to grow as a hub for arts and culture, Arts Access and YMU are committed to ensuring that music education is not a privilege, but a right for all students. Arts Access Miami is 'powered by philanthropist Daniel R. Lewis, managed by Young Musicians Unite, and incubated at the Miami Foundation in cooperation with the Miami-Dade County Public School System., Valladares said. You can help by becoming a mentor, or donating to the Arts Access Fund at LOCUST PROJECTS CELEBRATES BOWIE Get ready to channel your favorite David Bowie look at the upcoming Spring Fling Space Oddity fundraiser hosted by Locust Projects. The annual benefit dinner is 7-10 p.m. April 26, at 297 NE 67th St., Miami. The event also serves as a celebration of the premiere of Tomas Vu's 'Blackstar' exhibition, an immersive installation focused on Bowie's contributions to contemporary culture. Central to the exhibit is a geodesic dome inspired by the work of futurist architect Buckminster Fuller. The dome is a recurrent motif in Vu's practice and serves as a platform for projection mapping and a site for continuous immersive visitor engagement. This fun-filled evening will feature a silent art auction, live music and lip sync performances. Tickets start at $200 at JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT SEEKS VOLUNTEERS Something that has always been extremely important is teaching school kids early on about money: how to earn it; save it; spend it; share it. Young professionals who want to mentor Miami-Dade and Monroe County public school students in developing financial literacy are invited to join the nonprofit Junior Achievement of Greater Miami's Young Professionals Network. The group also provides work, career and college prep as well as hands-on programs in high schools in which students start their own small businesses. Programs are free, interactive and organized through the school systems. To better position the organization for greater outcomes in graduation rates and decreasing absenteeism, the nonprofit recently added new team members and expanded to new offices in Coral Gables. Learn more and get involved at MERRICK HOUSE TALK APRIL 6 The next gathering at the historic Merrick House in Coral Gables will feature Miami native June Thomson Morris speaking about 'Fortunes Gained and Lost: Miami's Visionaries and Their Fatal Passion to Create.' The event is part of the '100 Voices: Yesteryear Stories of Coral Gables' to celebrate the city's centennial. The Merrick House is at 907 Coral Way, and tickets for the April 6 event are $5 at Thomson Morris will also tell the story of her grandparents that inspired her play 'Greetings from Paradise,' which premieres at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre April 29 and runs through May 3. Write to ChristinaMMayo@ with news for this column.
