Exploring the

any great things come to mind when you think of Miami: year-round sunshine, a bevy of beautiful beaches, global cuisine, and lively nightlife scene, to name a few. Art also ranks very high on that list as the city is also a top destination for art enthusiasts around the world. What was already a rich tradition of art due to the Magic City’s rich and eclectic culture has seen a bit of a boom in recent years. Today the city plays host to impressive collections, exhibits, touring acts and series, both local and international. Here are some of the cultural standouts to add to your itinerary.

Marvelous Museums

If you want to get a sense of the arts in terms of how they relate to the city’s rich history, then museums are a great place to start. At the Jewish Museum of Florida–FIU (JMOF-FIU) in Miami Beach, you can learn about more than 250 years of Florida Jewish history while taking in the more than 100,000 items and exhibits housed inside two restored synagogues. For a deeper dive into Miami’s Jewish heritage, explore the Holocaust Museum. With its proud Jewish heritage, Miami Beach was the ideal place for this powerful monument, created in memory of Holocaust victims.

The HistoryMiami Museum in Downtown Miami is another excellent destination to learn more about the city’s arts, culture, and history. This Smithsonian Affiliate offers a wealth of exhibits and multimedia experiences. The museum’s own collections include more than 37,000 artifacts that cover everything from prehistoric archaeological finds to 20th-century Afro-Cuban folk art. Its massive archives and research center collections feature permanent and temporary exhibits and educational events.

Cool Collections

Beyond these iconic institutions, you’ll find a wide variety of other art collections, ranging from the austere to the eclectic to the erotic. A good place to start is Miami Beach’s Bass Museum of Art. This truly immersive artistic experience was recently renovated and features four new galleries, a Creativity Center, a museum store, a café, and 6,000 square feet of public space that includes an enclosed courtyard. You’ll also want to head to the Art Deco Historic District, where you’ll find a variety of collections that are worth a look. The Wolfsonian–Florida

International University is a museum, library, and research center focusing on the power of art and design and its role in social and political change. The district also features The Multi-Museum Building, which houses both the George Daniell Museum and the Naomi Wilzig Erotic Art Museum. Finally, check out ArtecHouse, for one of the most innovative and immersive experiences, including Viva Magenta, celebrating Pantone’s Color of the Year 2023. Explore different rooms with textures and interactions that showcase the power of the hue. This digital art space curates interactive exhibits that makes visitors active participants in a hightech artful experiment.

Another artful treasure is the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), located in Downtown Miami’s Museum Park. The impressive Herzog & de Meuron–designed structure has a world-class collection of contemporary, multidisciplinary, and multicultural fine art. It’s a feast for the senses.

Nearby, in the Design District, you’ll find the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Miami, which hosts a variety of contemporary and experimental works. The space promotes innovation by offering scholarships and research opportunities to talented artists. Finally, don’t forget to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in North Miami, which features a significant collection that connects diverse audiences, and helps nurture a lifelong love of the arts.

Top Art Districts

As mentioned above, the Art Deco Historic District is a destination you won’t want to miss. With its sleek facades, geometric shapes, and eyecatching architectural styles from the 1920s and 1930s, the district has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. Stroll around this one-mile zone, and you will notice striking pastel-colored buildings that will inspire you to stop and snap a few photos. Admire iconic properties like the Carlyle, which has appeared in films such as Scarface and The Birdcage; the postcard-perfect Colony Hotel, built in 1925; the Clevelander Hotel with its popular rooftop bars; and the classic Beacon South Beach. Don’t miss the Spanish-style Villa Casa Casuarina at the former Versace Mansion. Wynwood is another area that is a must-visit for its eclectic street art and graffiti masterpieces. A former warehouse district, the neighborhood has been transformed and now features the world-famous Wynwood Walls and block after block of massive and colorful murals created by artists from all corners of the globe. The district is a hub for galleries, art walks, live performances and even its very own music festival: the iii Points Festival.

Finally, make sure to add the Miami Design District to your itinerary. This creative neighborhood is built around innovative upscale fashion houses, interior design stores, architectural wonders and impressive art. Known for its sleek modern architecture, the district is an epicenter of contemporary museums, public art spaces, top restaurants, and fine art stores.

Incredible Performances

If the performing arts are more your style, then Miami has you covered there, as well. Any time of year, you will find riveting theater performances, symphonic series and concertos, world-class ballet, Broadway shows, cultural festivals, and more.

Past To Present

By Gianna Nolte

One of the largest performing arts centers in the country can be found right here in the heart of Downtown Miami. The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County hosts theater, dance, opera, jazz, classical music as well as popular performances, Broadway musicals, family shows, and more throughout the year. Three resident companies make their home here as well: Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, and New World Symphony.

Downtown Miami’s Olympia Theater is an ornate jewel whose origins date back to the 1920s. You’ll also find the legendary Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater, which still maintains its historic charm.

The New World Symphony Concert Hall and Music School also has a robust schedule of shows and educational programs for the musically inclined, and the New World Center —

Though Washington Avenue is known for being one of the trendiest scenes on South Beach, with STORY Nightclub and Big Pink diner located just around the bend, it also bears a historical side that has moved visitors since 1995. Housed in the first synagogue in Miami Beach is the Jewish Museum of Florida–FIU (JMOF-FIU), a respected landmark that boasts art exhibits, walking tours, educational workshops and a collection of over 100,000 items surrounding the heritage of Florida’s multicultural society.

The museum collaborates with Florida International University to offer impactful and interactive experiences for a deeper look at the history of Jewish culture in Florida and the people who have shaped such traditions through the years.

Their new exhibition, “Sanctuary,” highlights the museum's architecture and its history, such as its stunning stained-glass windows, along with a selection of significant artifacts from the original Mosaic collection, originated by Marcia Jo Zerivitz, L.H.D, Founding Executive Director.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Mondays and holidays. For more information on the museum and to see a calendar of weekly events, visit www.jmof.fiu.edu.

Jewish Museum of Florida - FIU “The Jewel of South Beach”

The Jewish Museum of Florida - FIU on Miami Beach tells the story of more than 250 years of Jewish History, art and culture in the Sunshine State. Housed in two beautifully restored art deco former synagogues, the museum is a must see when visiting South Florida.

301 Washington Avenue

Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Phone: 305-672-5044

Open Wed.-Sun.,10am-4pm

Closed Monday, Tuesday & Holidays. www.jmof.fiu.edu the home of the New World Symphony — is a state-of-the-art concert hall in Miami Beach designed by star architect Frank Gehry.

The Ultimate Art Fair

Each December you can enjoy an incredible international modern and contemporary art fair known as Art Basel Miami Beach. It’s a sister fair to Art Basel Switzerland and one of only four Art Basel shows in the world (the other two are in Paris and Hong Kong). The spectacular event features more than 280 galleries from over 35 countries and attracts a large international crowd of artists, art dealers, and collectors from around the world, as well as celebrities and jetsetters. It’s a great opportunity for artists to show and sell their works to collectors, museum directors, and curators.

The primary art exhibits take place at the expansive Miami Beach Convention Center, but you will also find satellite fairs, cool after-parties, public art installations, and more as the party overflows into Wynwood, the Design District, and Downtown Miami. Thanks to its multicultural influences, incredible talent, and renowned venues, the city we call home is poised to continue making its mark as an international arts hub.