MIAMI, FLA.- “The time has come to spearhead a new global movement, by the artists for the artists,” said Maria del Valle, ArtCenter/South Florida’s Executive Director. “A radical new educational approach for artists is paramount, a much-needed alternative to the traditional programs that are expensive and falling short.”

This new initiative was presented at the recent two-day forum titled Recess: Art Pedagogy & The Social Sphere organized by ArtCenter/South Florida and co-hosted by Pérez Art Museum Miami. Guest speakers included visionaries from the UCSD Cross-Border Initiative, the New Centre for Research & Practice, Bruce High Quality Foundation University, the San Francisco Art Institute, and Es Baluard Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art in Palma de Mallorca.

The forum addressed questions at the heart of today’s global crossroads for artists:
— What are the common needs around the world that today’s artists are asking for?
— How can we provide more affordable and successful education platforms for artists?
— What’s new on the horizon for artist-centric institutions?

As a result of this forum, the participating organizations invited to Miami by ArtCenter/South Florida have announced a commitment to create a meta-platform to bridge between their alternative new models and the traditional institutions such as universities – to work together moving forward to address these needs for improvement in the education of artists.

ArtCenter/South Florida announced several new international initiatives, including the first pilot semester of the new fellowship program MFU: Miami which will continue to develop several partnerships such as this first one with Bruce High Quality Foundation University (BHQFU).

“We asked how we as an artist-centered organization can best contribute to the artists’ development and education was at the core of all the conversations. Through experimentation and time there will be a multiplying effect,” adds Maria del Valle.
During the past year, ArtCenter has implemented a series of new pilot programs in ways that have never been attempted before in South Florida, including: new types of fellowships for visual artists and cultural practitioners (live and work space and support); mentorships; applied artistic research initiatives; one-on-one experiential education; and innovative artist residencies that expand beyond traditional boundaries, unleashing the artists from the traditional confines of their studios.

“Through collaboration with other institutions around the world and a willingness to test multiple approaches, these new educational platforms reach for the very highest levels, emphasizing a rigorous and progressive educational experience for the artists,” said Maria del Valle. “With this forum, ArtCenter propelled a much-needed dialogue about alternatives to education and community engagement. Arts education is a basic requirement for our society to succeed and thrive, we will play an important role in supporting this. Artists and their creative output allow all of us the freedom to address the uncomfortable, thorny issues in our world,” said del Valle. The forum was attended by artists, cultural leaders, art educators, practitioners and community stakeholders.