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| South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center rendering. |
They're going to build a international-level performing arts center where? South Miami-Dade County? Yes, specifically in Cutler Bay, formerly Cutler Ridge (before that known as the sticks or boonies). That's right. It's coming. And even if the
South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center is several years behind schedule, county officials are more than happy to report that the project is primed to be on budget.
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| When finished the interior will look something like this, we think. |
Michael Spring, director of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, says that the contractor is working on interior finishes, putting in the center's 966 seats and installing public art work. "It's going to be an architectural landmark," Spring says of the near $40 million Arquitectonica-designed venue. Construction crews will hand over the keys in December, with county staff moving in early next year. A soft opening is scheduled for April 2011.
When the final questions about the once troubled construction project are asked, focus will invariably lead to what kind of performances and events the performing arts center will feature, and who will go see them. "It's going to be a center that highlights the finest performing arts the community has to offer including music, dance and theater," Spring says, adding that New World Symphony and the Miami City Ballet have already agreed to give performances.
Additionally, he says the venue's open spaces and courtyards were designed as a place to cultivate local art, artists, and even host farmers markets, and other community gatherings. "We're interested in taking things that might never make it to South Dade ordinarily and have them featured at the center," he says.
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| The exterior was designed to support community gatherings like farmer's markets. |
As to whether the surrounding community will give the center the support it needs to be successful, Spring says he has no doubt. He says that prices will be kept reasonable and that the diverse surrounding communities will respond. "We're going to be pioneers. No one has done this before. This is the first major cultural facility built in this end of the county and we are absolutely confident that we will have the interest and response from the community."
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