culture

As the Adrienne Arsht Center enters its 5th year enriching and engaging Miami with the power of the performing arts, the community’s support has never been stronger.

In today's New York Times "Arts Beat" blog, Kate Taylor describes changes afoot at the Miami Art Museum. MAM, she reports, has named Thomas Collins, currently the director of the Neuberger Museum of Art, as its new director. The news comes on the heels of an announcement that the museum will break ground this year on a brand-new, $131 million building designed by Herzog & de Meuron. The new museum will open in 2013.

In another key step toward downtown's urban revival, the Miami Art Museum is eligible to receive $100 million in county bond proceeds, removing the biggest hurdle to start construction on the facility's long-sought new home in Miami.

Back in early 2007, when Sen. Barack Obama was beginning his long-shot campaign for president, he turned to his friends. One name came to mind in Florida.

“Call Ricky Arriola,” Obama told the state’s campaign finance chief, Kirk Wagar. “He’s the person who knows me best in Florida.”