Helping out the little guys

Volunteering on the Miami Arts Marketing Project Committee for the Miami Arts and Business Council is something that brings me tremendous satisfaction. I joined them over three years ago and it's been a pleasure each year knowing that just the little I've done has somehow benefitted the smaller cultural arts groups that rely on our workshops.By attending our series they learn how to maximize their publicity, marketing and social media efforts. I feel we provide an invaluable resource to these groups that operate on skeletal staffs with minimal budgets. Our workshops have been extremely well attended this year and that brings a smile to my face.I also applaud the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation because they regularly award grants to these smaller groups as well. It's fantastic to know that a quality art house like O Cinema receives funding from them and that they recognize the talent that's operating this place. Last year they awarded 34 grants throughout South Florida to groups like the 6th Street Dance Studio in Little Havana, the Coral Gables Art Cinema, The LAB Miami and the list goes on and on. You can see it all here.It's exciting to see the little guys thriving in our cultural community. They deserve to have their moment in the spotlight and showcase their artistic talent  and creativity as much as the bigger established groups. It's only fair.