Miami Beach is set to transform from a sun-soaked getaway into a hub of global art as Art Week Miami Beach returns from Dec. 1 to Dec. 7. The annual event will feature a curated mix of public art installations and exhibitions, offering visitors a rich cultural experience amid the city’s beaches, luxury hotels, and fine dining scene.
"Art Basel Miami Beach is an unparalleled marquee event that completely energizes our city," Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner told Miami Beach News. Miami Beach is once again set to become a global art hotspot, welcoming both locals and international visitors. This year, Art Basel will feature 283 galleries from 43 countries at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Preview Days for industry insiders will take place on Dec. 3 and 4, ahead of the public exhibition from Dec. 5 to 7.
The city's very own No Vacancy, Miami Beach, now in its sixth edition, is also returning to weave art into the everyday urban fabric, dotting 12 swanky hotel lobbies with installations created by local talents. These site-specific treasures, funded through a partnership with the Miami Beach Visitors and Convention Authority, come with a sweet pot of $35,000 in prize money, including a $10,000 public prize. "No Vacancy is a juried art competition that supports and celebrates local artists, provokes critical discourse and encourages the public to experience Miami Beach’s famed hotels as art destinations," notes the official press release.
Not to be sidelined, the City of Miami Beach Legacy Purchase Program is making a return, waving the culture flag with pieces previously acquired from notable artists like Sanford Biggers and Amoako Boafo. The artwork voting contest is now open to the public who can cast their vote to decide the next piece that makes a permanent home in the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Apart from the beachfront canvas, Miami Beach is facilitating an art-imbued commute, including complimentary water taxis connecting Miami Beach with downtown Miami as well as a fleet of free dedicated shuttle buses whisking visitors to various art fairs. For the full schedule of cultural activations and travel specifics, interested parties can hit up the Art Week Miami Beach website.
