Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA): DWNTWN Concert Series - Chana with Afrobeta
The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is not playing around!
Last month I covered the first showcase of local Miami musicians as part of their DWNTWN Concert Series, and Rachel Goodrich and Jacob Jeffries killed it. They couldn't have asked for a better kickoff for this monthly event.
Here comes Part 2: Friday, February 13, 2009 (did you know February and March both have Friday the 13th's?) Miami DDA and the Rhythm Foundation bring Chana and Afrobeta to the Tina Hills Pavilion in Bayfront Park.
A bit of background: the Miami DDA is an organization that has actually been around for a very long time - since 1965! Unfortunately, when driving through the delapidated downtown area, the general impression is that it has been disregarded and forgotten since Henry Flagler first ran rail into the heart of Miami (especially after dark). Even further, the Miami DDA was rife with inefficency and internal disorganization until last year. Projects would start but never reach completion, only further leading to the general lack of upkeep in the area.
Thankfully things are changing rapidly with the new administration and the problem of unfinished projects that held the Authority back in the past is disappearing. The DWNTWN Concert Series is one of the projects actively moving forward thanks to a grant of $150,000 by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Miami Dade Dept of Cultural Affairs (Knight Arts) from Knight Foundation on Vimeo.
Other projects include creating a more "walkable" downtown with $2.08 Million for capital, urban design, and transportation improvements, teaming with the Beacon Council to bring more business downtown, revamping their website so information can be better distributed, and various programs to improve the downtown storefronts.
Local musicians and artists take note. Here is an organization that has some really important people associated with it: Commissioner Joe M. Sanchez (Chairman), Commissioner Audry Edmonson, Nitin Motwani (principal of the massive Miami Worldcenter project planned for the Park West section of downtown), prominent local attorney Jay Solowsky, and Jerome Hollo (son of local developer Tibor Hollo, who is negotiating with the city under a new rent-a-park program that seeks to use vacant land as temporary park space).
Afrobeta
These people feel that local music and arts can further their goals of developing the downtown area.
How's that for justification of the strength of the music and art scene? Let's put it in perspective for a second. This group has access to hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, to develop a strong business center in downtown Miami. These people don't "believe in the scene" or have a true passion for the music or the arts - in the idea that they're willing to blindly throw money at the arts for the sake of supporting the arts. They invest in a business (in this case local musicians and artists) only if that business will benefit their projects and their pockets. They've looked at what we're doing here for music and arts and they feel that YOU,as an artist and musician, can help them make money and create a successful downtown area.
This sort of recognition should not be taken lightly. If we, as a budding community of artists and musicians, can prove that we are worthy of their investment and favor, the benefits can be unbelieveable. For example, live music venues are limited in their locations because of zoning laws. Live music is not seen as either an economic or political benefit to the people who make the laws in this city, so they shoo music venues off to the worst parts of the cities where people won't complain about the noise and drunk people.
If politicians and power brokers start seeing the music and arts as a viable way of gaining power and money then they be willing to change the laws and allow live music venues to open in the "nicer" areas of the city. Nicer areas means safer venues, which would allow for the fan base of the entire scene to grow. Imagine having dedicated music venues in Coral Gables, Kendall, or even Pinecrest.
I urge anyone involved in the scene to promote these shows and the accomplishments of the Miami DDA and the Rhythm Foundation. Their success runs hand in hand with the success of local music and arts, and with their resources, almost anything can be accomplished.
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The majority of the factual information in this post comes from: Miami Downtown Development Authority's interim leadership looks for accountability by Yudislaidy Fernandez, August 28, 2008.
PRESS RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ana Maria Colmenares
The Apple Organization
305-937-1581 ext. 109
AnaMaria@appleorg.com
WHAT: Downtown Miami Concert Series-- February 13th performance to feature Chana
WHEN: Friday, February 13, 2009 5:30 pm-8:00 pm
WHERE: Bayfront Park
Tina Hills Pavilion
301 N Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL
DETAILS: The public is invited to attend the February installment of the Downtown Concert Series presented by the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and produced by the Rhythm Foundation. The concert will feature LA-based singer Chana.
Chana makes fun dance music that is also interesting and captivating, influenced as much by Stereolab and Gorillaz as Aterciopelados and Julieta Venegas. Her first batch of demos includes "No Me Mandes Flores," which got significant exposure on Latin radio and television.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, call (305) 579-6675, or visit www.miamidda.com.
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If You Enjoyed This Post, You May Also Like:
- Miami DDA: DWNTWN Concert Series - March: Spam Allstars
- DWNTWN Concert Series, Jan 9 2009: Rachel Goodrich & Jacob Jeffries
- Steve’s Photo journal- DWNTWN Concert Series, October 9, 2009: Suenalo, Fancy Me Yet, Jahfe
- ¿Que Bola? February 12 - February 15
- A Smorgusboard of Music, Art, and Events
NOTE FOR COMMENTS: Do not flame or leave obnoxious comments, THEY WILL NOT BE APPROVED. Constructive criticism should always be welcomed by any artist, but don't be a d-bag, show some class. Thanks. - REVMiami Staff
