The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC) is launching a new, Miami-based project for local artists to showcase their talents. The project, titled SMDCAC Sessions, supports local artists in Miami financially, emotionally, and creatively during this difficult time.
The Center is reaching out to local performing artists who have an ongoing relationship with the center to perform a three to five-minute video performance that will be broadcast on the Facebook Watch Party platform. SMDCAC Sessions is set to launch on Thursday, May 14th at 7pm and will continue on a regular schedule every Thursday until further notice. This virtual cabaret will be an opportunity for the selected artists to showcase their talents and promote themselves to a larger audience.
During the current state of social distancing, local artists have been left without the stability of an income or job. As a result, SMDCAC will provide a guaranteed fee to each artist who participates as well as a call-to-action for audiences to donate to the artist or their cause during the performance. Viewers will have the ability to interact with the performers through the chat function, as well.
“Our top priority is to support the artists in our community that are struggling to showcase their talent and make ends meet and we are able to do this through the ongoing support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs which operates the center,” said Eric Fliss, Managing Director of the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center. “Miami thrives on an artistic and cultural scene that, unfortunately, has been put on pause due to this virus.”
Sessions allows SMDCAC to remain engaged with patrons and give artists a community-based platform to make artistic and cultural performances accessible to all. Aside from Facebook Watch Parties, the performance videos will also be available on the SMDCAC website. The Center has currently confirmed the performances of the following artists: Nicole Henry, Martin Bejerano, Wendy Pedersen and Jim Gasior, Aaron Lebos, Albert Castiglia, Siempre Flamenco, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, Mr. Pauer, and Flamenco Puro.
More information about the Center and its programs can be found at www.smdcac.org