MIAMI BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Miami City Ballet has been awarded $3 million in support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The grant is part of a $37 million Knight Foundation investment announced Monday to further strengthen Miami art and culture organizations that fill out the city’s arts ecosystem, bringing Knight’s total investment in the sector to $165 million since 2005.
This transformational support — $3 million over five years — will be used to further strengthen the Miami City Ballet’s cultural relevance in Miami by supporting a new administrative and leadership infrastructure emphasizing experimentation, diversity, equity, and inclusion. It will support the institution’s strategic vision to expand audience and community engagement to serve a large, diverse and inclusive population; to increase Miami City Ballet School programs with a focus on inclusivity, accessibility and diversity; to grow audiences through enhanced marketing efforts including data insights and digital initiatives; and to increase the development of partnerships and collaborations with schools, neighborhoods and other arts organizations.
At the center of Miami City Ballet’s leadership infrastructure is the recently appointed Executive Director Tania Castroverde Moskalenko as well as Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. Miami City Ballet is one of the few arts organizations, globally, boasting not only an all-female leadership team, but also having two women of Hispanic origin — Castroverde Moskalenko and Lopez are both of Cuban descent.
“We are deeply grateful to Knight Foundation for this remarkable gift that re-affirms what we do,” said Castroverde Moskalenko. “Knight Foundation’s support will allow us to strengthen our institution with new administrative and leadership infrastructure emphasizing innovation and inclusion, both onstage and off.”
Miami City Ballet is one of the country’s premier ballet companies. Led by Castroverde Moskalenko and Lopez, Miami City Ballet performs for more than 100,000 patrons each year in Miami and locations throughout South Florida. The organization also has one of the most respected ballet training schools in the country with more than 1,000 students participating in its programs. The grant will allow the Company leadership to expand these programs and reach even more arts lovers, allowing South Floridians the opportunity to experience Miami City Ballet.
