Life Is Art

Prosperity Through Creativity

Facebook instagramlogo twitterlogo

  • Join
  • Events
  • Artists
    • Submission Form
  • Donate
  • About
    • The Plan
      • Programs
        • Plugged In – Arts Booking
        • River Of Art – Presentation
        • Art/Work – Education
        • Culture Builds Communities
    • Impact
      • Testimonials
    • The Life Is Art Family
    • High Res Logos
    • Contact
  • Support
    • Partners
    • Volunteer
    • Merchandise
    • Open Calls For Artists
    • Submit Your Call For Artists
    • COVID-19 Resources for Artists

THE PLAN

The issues facing us, not just in Miami, but across the nation, across the world, are systemic, systematic, massive, and complex; therefore, our approach must be systemic, systematic, massive, and complex.
We must address the core issues, not just the symptoms.
All good change comes from the bottom up, not the top down.
Four key elements are necessary for monumental positive outcomes: Hope, Connectedness, Opportunity, and Enlightenment.
These are the tenets which inform and drive our new programmatic strategies.
To accomplish this, Life Is Art is seeking significant growth funding.
To learn more, contact CEO and Founding Director James Echols using the form to the right
.
Please, help us save the world.

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Tell us a little about your interest area.

    Strategic Plan

    The full Strategic Operational Plan is coming, all 60+ pages of it. Until then, find below a short summary of our planned programs.

     

    Summary Vision Deck

    If you would like to download this as a PDF, please click here.

    VISION: Prosperity Through Creativity
    MISSION STATEMENT: Promoting vibrant, connected Miami-Dade communities through arts advocacy, education and collaboration

    A Brief Overview

    Founded in January 2009, Life Is Art, Inc. is a South Florida based 501(c)3 not-for-profit dedicated to building a stronger society through cultural infrastructure. We have 3 primary areas of operation: Education, Presentation, and Facilitation.

    Our approach to consensus-building and community has allowed artists to hone their craft, learn the nuances of earning a living as an artist and build bridges between disparate communities which might not normally find common ground. To date, Life Is Art has organized over one-hundred events, exhibitions, lectures, networkers, fairs, festivals and other arts-oriented happenings, all in collaboration with other entities.

    “Art/Work” EDUCATION Department
    * Conferences * Seminars * Workshops * Salons

    Through entrepreneurial education, the goal of the Art/Work programs is to provide all people, artists and art lovers, with the knowledge and tools necessary to create robust art commerce. This is achieved through a variety of educational formats, including workshops, seminars, salons, roundtables, visitations and interactive experiences. The educational programming culminates in an annual international art conference.

    “River Of Art” – PRESENTATION Department
    * Festivals * Fairs * Exhibitions * Performances

    The River Of Art exhibition programs are designed to engage the community by bringing people and art together. These programs are anchored by two major annual events, a community music festival and an international art fair, which are fed by monthly local shows across the county. An important economic engine for participants, event locations for the monthly shows are selected with the goal of dispersing opportunity throughout Miami-Dade to bridge the cultural accessibility gap and provide greater exposure for the arts while providing favorable circumstances for local artists and businesses to engage potential patrons.

    “Culture Builds Communities” – FACILITATION Department
    * Advocacy * Collaboration * Housing * Development

    The Culture Builds Communities programs are designed with the goal of enhancing opportunities to leverage artistic work for the benefit of the community and the artists. These programs include working with other entities, municipalities, non-profits and businesses, to help them bring art to enhance their own projects. One of the largest projects in this department is the creation of artistic centers across the county, community cultural hubs with affordable living, creative and exhibition space for artists where residents and visitors can enjoy the arts and businesses can thrive.

    For many more testimonials, click here.



    PROGRAM OVERVIEW

    “River Of Art” – Presentation Overview

    The River Of Art programs serve to bring people together in strategic venues to foster appreciation for the arts while providing opportunities for local artists and businesses to engage potential patrons. An important economic engine for participants, the event locations are selected with the goal of dispersing opportunity throughout Miami-Dade—in much the same way the Miami River flows through the region.

    Miami Featured International Art Fair – shining the light on south Florida arts

    • This event is designed to be the missing bridge of that chasm between the local emerging artists and the international arts scene.
    • A major contemporary art fair that includes art from all over the world, but also provides opportunities for south Florida based artists to participate through scholarships.
    • It also hosts the finalists from the River Of Art shows.

    River Of Art Socials – bringing people and art together

    • Using artistic works as a back-drop, social networkers engage a broad set of business professionals, innovators, entrepreneurs, change-makers and civic organizers through pop-up exhibitions in locations around the County.
    • These social exhibitions provide opportunities for local artists to display their works, introduce new people to local art appreciation and showcase community organizations and businesses.
    • The shows are anchored by visual art, but may include music or performance, as well.

    Soul Of Miami Festival – signature music and community festival

    • With artistic, community-engagement and educational programming, this major outdoor festival features all that is awesome in South Florida, everything conducive to a healthy, happy and prosperous culturally-rich environment.
    • Anchored by headlining music acts, featuring the best of local music and highlighting talented emerging artists, this show is designed to blow up the live music scene in south Florida, while providing space for changemakers and community-builders to promote their missions.
    • It also hosts the finals of the Soul Of [City] Shows.

    Soul Of [City] Shows – community stories through music

    • Through music showcases, this program highlights local communities and uplifts artists by employing hometown experiences as cultural well-springs.
    • The Soul Of [insert City name] Show is a series of competitive events across the County at which emerging music artists from the local areas submit original works that reference their life in their respective community.
    • The local qualifying showcases culminate with a final major annual event to bridge the cultural accessibility gap between the communities and provide greater exposure for the artists.

    “Art/Work” – Education Overview

    Through entrepreneurial education, the goal of the Art/Work programs is to provide all people with the knowledge and tools necessary to create robust art commerce. This is achieved through a variety of educational formats, including workshops, seminars, salons, roundtables, visitations and interactive experiences.

    Art/Work Conference – major annual international arts conference

    • This large-scale event is designed to bring together all aspects of the art community from all over the world to learn, share and discuss best practices and trends in the art world.
      The conference is a weekend of educational breakout sessions, keynote speeches, plenaries and socials.
    • Renowned international leaders and local experts are tapped to deliver presentations for three segments of the art community: Artists, Arts Administrators and Art Enthusiests.
    • The Conference is intended to not only educate attendees, but also advance Miami’s reputation as a serious, thriving arts metro to both international and local observers.

    Art/Work Connections – business power for artists

    • These seminars create a support network for artists by bringing them together with experienced business leaders, arts professionals and educators who share their knowledge regarding the entrepreneurial aspects of art as a business.
    • As emerging artists become knowledgeable in such topics as contract negotiation, copyright law, financial planning, marketing and art sales, Miami becomes known for its art/work infrastructure that supports a sustainable art ecosystem.
    • Seminars are held at galleries and other art spaces to provide host-partners with exposure and allow gallerists and artists to connect.

    Art/Work Collections – art appreciation for emerging collectors

    • The Collections series works in a social capacity to bring emerging art enthusiasts together with experienced collectors, curators and artists to educate and grow the local base of collectors.
    • These sessions take a variety of formats, including visitations to experienced collectors’ homes to gain insights into their collecting and social discussions at galleries to learn from established curators or artists about their backgrounds and motivations.

    Art/Work Conversations – critical discussions about art

    • Conversations bring a much-needed critical, but not elitist approach to art and creates a platform upon which deeper discussions of art and, specifically, local art can take place.
    • Held as roundtables, panels or salons, each session has a specific topic.
    • Topics can include a current exhibition, a specific artist, an individual piece of artwork, even a trend or a movement within the art community.
    • One goal of each session is to create and publish a white paper regarding the topic.

    “Culture Builds Communities” –  Facilitation. Infrastructure. Advocacy Overview

    The Culture Builds Communities programs are designed around facilitation, infrastructure and advocacy. The goal of these programs is to enhance opportunities to leverage artistic work for the benefit of the community and the artists. Advocacy is directed at supporting the artists and assuring their best interests are served.

    Imaginarium Artistic Hubs – building the foundation of the arts

    This program has three primary goals:
    1) Provide cost-effective live/work space for local artists through philanthropic scholarships.
    2) Create a cultural hub, bringing traffic to the area, through exciting and interesting programming.
    3) Provide opportunity for neighborhood businesses to open up in the area through partnerships and education.

    • Designed as cultural and economic hubs, the Imaginariums include cost supported live/work space for artists, exciting cultural programming to drive traffic to the area, business education through partnerships with local colleges, and capital services through partnerships with local banks.
    • Each Imaginarium has the dual purpose of providing much-needed services for artists to build their practice, and providing opportunity for local residents to build their businesses.
    • These cultural hubs include cost-supported artist apartment/studios, a shared exhibition/performance space, and a communal garden/meditation space.
    • Each Imaginarium is crafted in collaboration with the local neighborhood, working in tandem with municipalities and community leaders.
    • Key to the success of this program is maintaining the land used for the complexes to remain in the public interest, operated by Life Is Art, providing continuity and sustainability for generations to come.
    • By providing artists with affordable spaces to live and create art, as well as providing residents with a dedicated area within their community to enjoy the arts, all sectors of the region benefit.
    • The live/work spaces for artists are kept affordable by scholarships that Life Is Art provides through philanthropic funding.
    • A prime consideration for locations is the opportunity to be economic drivers, bringing in businesses to the surrounding area like restaurants, boutiques, lounges and other creative economy entrepreneurs.
    • To facilitate this economic growth, the Imaginariums provide business seminars for local residents, in collaboration with a local college or university.
    • Our goal is to have at least six running across Miami-Dade County within five years.

    Facilitation Projects – helping others help others to help themselves.

    • The keystone to this program is working with other entities to enhance the quality of their programs and projects through art while maintaining quality benefits for the artists.
    • Primary partners are municipalities, other not-for-profit organizations and for-profit companies.
    • These entities often wish to incorporate art into their projects, but do not have the knowledge or experience to do so with meaningful outcomes.
    • Artists have creative vision and ability, but often lack the knowledge or experience to put their creative genius to work.
    • Life Is Art bridges this gap by serving as facilitator managing communication, dialogue and resources.

    – – – – – –

    Friends, Supporters, and Sponsors

    305 Creative Group
    Aarons Catering
    Action PR
    Adriana Oliva, theAOinsight
    Adrienne Arsht Center
    Aiza’s Divas and Gurus
    Alban Communications
    Alex de Carvalho, Visual Storytelling Institute
    Allen F. Bennett, Bennet Intellectual Property
    Allure Rejuvenation & Antil Aging
    Amazing Events
    AMC Liaisons
    Amy Rubinstein
    Andy Toonz Studios
    Anthony Jordon
    Art & Business Council Miami
    Art Deco Weekend
    Art Studio Miami
    Artcenter/South Florida
    Artisan Lounge
    Artway66 Gallery
    Association for Women in Communications South Florida
    Auboom Media
    B2 Miami
    Baccano Cafe
    Badges of Courage
    Bahama Breeze Kendall
    Bakehouse Art Complex
    Balans
    Bar 721
    Barefoot Wine
    Baron Tequila
    Bass Museum of Art
    Batch GastroPub
    Becks Beer
    Bell’s Brewery
    Best Buddies
    Bleu Moon Resto-Lounge
    Blo – Blow Dry Bar – Midtown
    Blu Moon Studio
    Blue Nectar Tequila
    Bombay Sapphire
    Brasileiro
    Brikolodge
    Brisky Gallery
    Broward New Times
    Bubble Wrap Miami
    Buffettes Shoe Shine
    Burger & Beer Joint
    Burger Beast
    Buskerfest
    Cafeina Wynwood Lounger
    CANDO Arts Co-op
    Caron Paris
    Carrabba’s Italian Grill
    Casa Panza
    Cat Shell
    Catalyst Miami
    Celebrate Diversity Miami
    Chang Beer
    Charity: Water
    Children’s Trust
    Chophouse 305
    Cibo Wine Bar
    City of Hialeah
    Cockspur Rum
    Cocktail Collection at Tobacco Road
    Cognosante
    Conscious Acts of Kindness
    Creativas
    Creativas Branding | Public Relations
    CreativGlu
    Culture in the City
    Culture Network
    Day Music Died
    Debra Cortese Designs
    Dine Design and Explore Art
    Dinino Ceviche
    Discounts for a Cause
    DJ Silvio
    DOC IT! Detect Ovarian Cancer in Time
    DocMiami
    Downtown Development Authority
    Downtowner Saloon & Steak
    Dreyfus Ashby & Co.
    Du20 Holistic Oasis
    Dwntwn Art Days
    Eat Your Poem
    Dr. Ronald & Deacon Mary Echols
    ECOMB
    Edward Oberle Lopez
    Ekena
    El Cristo Restaurant
    El Dorado Demerara Rum
    el Jimador Tequila
    El Nuevo Herald
    Eleazar Delgado Studio
    Electric Pickle
    Elegant Parties
    Elwoods GastroPub
    Erin Mia
    Erotic Signature
    Event Rhythm
    Fab C. Productions
    Fabriqueart
    Fabulous Miami
    Faudlin Pierre
    Freebee
    Freshly Squeezed
    Fusion Gitana
    GAB Studio
    Galleria Adelmo
    Galleria Ft. Lauderdale
    Gallery 212
    GAPAL
    Geronimo Schmidt, Friends With Benefits
    Gerry Kelly
    Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau
    Greg Pitts
    Grolsch Beer
    H2Organic Water
    Haute in the City
    Health Council of South Florida
    Health Council of South Florida, Inc.
    Heart for Humanity
    Heineken
    Henry Stone Music
    Heroines Choir
    HistoryMiami
    Home Depot
    Hotel Astor
    Indie Film Club
    Indiegals
    InSense
    Irreversible Magazine
    Jeremy Roth, Liebler, Gonzalez & Portuando
    Jessica Kizorak
    JLPR
    John Mahoney
    Joshua Kingston
    Joy Taylor Studios
    Julia K. Wakefield
    Kathleen Carignan
    Kenneth Drew Carrington
    Kikimora Studios
    KIND Bars
    Kondoit
    Krisp
    Kroma Gallery
    La Boca House
    La Mexicana Cantina
    Laradiva Jewelry
    Last Carrot
    Leah Arts District
    Leblon Cachaca
    LegalArt
    LeKoKe Wine & Bites
    Life Extension Foundation
    Lifefood Gourmet
    Logistical Outsourcing
    Lombardi Properties
    Louis Balbirer – Kaufman Rossin & Co.
    Love Intelligence Group
    Mad Chiller
    MaiTardi
    MANO Fine Art
    Maria de los Angeles
    Marley Coffee
    Marlins Ayuda
    Mrs. Mary Echols
    Mary Giuseffi
    Mary Siaz, Insuring Sources, Inc.
    Maura Shiffman, Health Council of South Florida
    Mayor Carlos Gimenez
    Mayor Tomas Regalado
    McCormick Place
    MEC261
    MedAesthetics Miami
    Mediterranean Mansion
    Megacity Events
    Metro 1
    MI-VI Nightclub
    Miami Art Space
    Miami ArtZine
    Miami Beach 411
    Miami Beach Festival of the Arts
    Miami Center for Architecture and Design
    Miami Community Redevelopment Agency
    Miami Crawls
    Miami Dade County
    Miami Foundation
    Miami Herald
    Miami International Art Fair
    Miami International University of Art and Design
    Miami Made
    Miami New Times
    Miami Parking Authority
    Miami Rescue Mission
    Miami Shirt Company
    Miami Social Marketing
    Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs
    MiamiTV
    Midtown Development
    Milander Center
    Monica Reyes, Alexandra Kontos, and Lisa Ehrenreich, RKE Law Group
    More Than Art Group
    Morningside Mortgage
    Motivational Edge
    Multiversal Group
    Neighbors4Neighbors
    Net Impact
    New Tropic
    Opa-locka CDC
    Oski Gonzalez
    PALO!
    Papi Wines
    Parafernalia Studios
    Paris Perfumes
    PARK Project
    Patrick Barbanes
    Paul S. Vicary, Esq.
    PAX
    PhilanthroFest
    Porcao Farm to Grill
    PressItOn Gallery
    Pridelines Youth Services
    Prince Aderele
    Prosound Productions
    Rainbow Circus
    Real Estate Sales Force
    Red Dot Art Fair
    Reed V. Horth, Robin Rile Fine Art
    Renda Writer
    River Lounge
    Robin Rile Fine Art
    Rodez Art Gallery courtesy of George Rodez
    Sandra Garcia, Creative Healthcare Marketing
    Schnebly Winery
    Scratch Bakery
    SeaFair MegaYacht
    Sean Dugan, Hayes Company
    Sex and the Beach
    Sex Drive Energy Drink
    Shops at Boca Center
    Shore Club Red Room
    Social Media Club South Florida
    SocialBuzzOnAir
    SocialMedia305
    Societe Perrier
    Soho Studios Miami
    Sol Gallery
    Sparkle Communications
    Spectrum Art Fair
    Spris
    Stage Miami
    StarMar Events
    Steaz Teas
    Surfcomber Hotel
    Sweat Records
    Switchboard Of Miami
    Tacontento
    Tamarind Thai Restaurant
    Ted VanCleve
    Tobacco Road
    Tongue & Cheek
    Tony Major Events
    Tropicult
    Ultrecht
    Unite 4: Good
    Unity Coalition
    Urban Tour Host
    UV Vodka
    Van Dyke Upstairs
    VeeV Acai Spirit
    Venture Law Project
    Vikerrious
    Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music, Art & Dance
    Virtual Relief
    Vita Coco
    Vitamin C Events
    Wall Brawl
    Waste Management
    Wells-Fargo
    WeMerge
    Whereby.US
    Whole Foods
    Will Call
    William Pena Wells
    Wokstar Eleanor Hoh
    Wood Tavern
    Workscapes
    World Of Beer Midtown
    Wynwood Warehouse Project
    Yelp Miami
    YO Miami
    Yo Space
    Yuval Ofir
    Zak Mann, National Planning Corporation
    Zen Village
    Return to Top

    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
    • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
    • Click to print (Opens in new window)
    [footer_backtotop text="Top of Page"]
    Copyright © 2023 Life Is Art
     

    Loading Comments...