September 29, 2025 Dear Colleagues, The Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine Cava and the Board of County Commissioners held the second and final County Budget Hearing on Thursday, September 18, 2025. As a result of this process, the Department of Cultural Affairs remains an independent department and will continue its mission to support and grow our vibrant cultural ecosystem.
Thanks to the leadership of the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and the tireless effort of our cultural community, funding for the Department’s competitive grants programs has been restored. The FY 2025-2026 budget includes $23.19 million in grants funding. Importantly, $12.8 million in General Fund support was restored, reaffirming the County’s commitment to the arts and recognizing the essential contributions of our cultural organizations and artists in our cultural life and local economy. This will allow the Department to award nearly 800 grants, continuing to expand access and opportunity across Miami-Dade County.
During the budget hearing, more than fifty artists and representatives of cultural organizations were present at the hearing—many of whom spoke or registered in support. Their presence underscored the strength and unity of the cultural sector and reinforced the importance of sustained investment in the arts.
The Cultural Affairs Council, led by Chairman Brian May, asked us to share a letter of gratitude from the Council to the Cultural Community, extending their sincere thanks for your dedication, professionalism, and advocacy throughout this process. Click here to read the Chairman's Message.
In the year ahead, through the leadership of the Mayor, the Board of County Commissioners, and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Department looks forward to working with the community to advance long-term, sustainable strategies that will strengthen and support the cultural arts sector throughout Miami-Dade County. To kick off this process, we are convening an Arts & Culture Innovation Task Force to provide community input. Please click here for details and consider signing up to serve.
The Department of Cultural Affairs will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026 —a milestone marking five decades of cultural growth, innovation, and impact in Miami-Dade County. I am deeply honored to have been named Interim Director of the Department by Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine Cava. It is a privilege to serve a department I’ve long been connected to—as a former cultural grantee, Chair of the Miami Emerging Arts Leaders, and as a dedicated administrator. I look forward to working alongside all of you to honor this legacy and continue building a future where the arts thrive in every corner of our community. With gratitude, |
