December 5. 2008
Knight Foundation Gift Creates ‘Art + Research’ Partnership for University of Miami, Alumnus Craig Robins
CORAL GABLES, FL – (December 5, 2008) The University of Miami was awarded $1.8 million by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation during the Foundation’s inaugural Knight Foundation Arts Partnership ceremony December 1.
The Knight Foundation Arts Partnership is a five-year, $40 million initiative to transform South Florida arts. The effort includes endowment grants to leading arts institutions, plus a community-wide contest to fund the best arts ideas.
The grant to UM, the largest among over $8 million in matching grants committed by the foundation, will help create an innovative arts project for the University in partnership with alumnus Craig Robins, a real estate developer best known for his role in developing Miami’s sought-after visual art and design scene. The project, known as ‘Art + Research’ will be a two-year residency for up-and-coming artists to live and create at a space owned by Robins in the Miami’s Design District, under the mentorship of internationally known artists.
“It’s a very innovative project,” said UM President Donna E. Shalala, who attended the Knight Foundation announcement. “We’re going to identify the next generation of emerging artists and they’re going to get a couple of years in Miami to do their work.”
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Michael Halleran, who will be part of a search committee to hire the program’s director, explained that Art + Research will operate independently from the University’s MFA program.
Other UM alumni who received significant Knight Foundation awards were Sam Rega and Josh Miller, 2008 School of Communication graduates. They will receive $750,000 to develop the Miami World Cinema Center, which aims to help South Florida reach its potential as a juggernaut of global movie production. The Knight Foundation connected the pair with former Miami International Film Festival director Patrick de Bokay, who will serve as CEO of the nonprofit organization.
After the awards were announced, Knight Foundation CEO Alberto Ibargüen asked all recipients to stand together for a moment at the front of the auditorium, which was populated by many of South Florida’s political, business, and arts-world heavy-hitters. “I want you to look at the potential of this group,” he told the audience.
“This is a great arts community,” said President Shalala. “It’s another economic engine for the community, and we want to make sure we’re a part of it.”
For a complete list of grantees, visit www.knightarts.org.
# # #
About the University of Miami
The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. www.miami.edu
About the Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation invests in journalism excellence worldwide and in the vitality of U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org .
Media Contact:
Margot Winick
305-284-5500
