So while we wait (—of couse, we’re making this all up) we would like to comment on the arts and Miami. We don't want our blog readers to think our only obsession is political corruption in Miami. Actually, all forms of fraud attract our attention.
Dan Ricker’s online "Watchdog Report" informs us that an additional $100 million is required, for which there is no budget, to buy land and build a parking garage for our favorite white elephant, the Carnival Performing Arts Center.
You see, it wasn’t enough to build a $400 million monument to the performing arts in Miami: it had to be built with no parking or any guarantee that local performing arts institutions are fiscally sound enough to warrant such an investment.
To be fiscally sound, Miami needs to develop LOCAL audiences for the performing arts. It sort of makes sense the way planning for a parking lot for a $400 million building makes sense.
But you see, we are a parochial place at heart.
And this is the main aggravation that that has irked us since the beginning planning stages for the PAC: Miami's public school arts programs are so underfunded that teachers actually have to go out and buy their own materials so kids can make art in the classroom.
Cultivating audiences for the performing arts should start in our schools. But here, as elsewhere, its more profitable to pour money down the bricks and mortar drain than into fund arts programs for children’s fertile imaginations.
It is apt that the Performing Arts Center is named for a cruise ship line, an industry whose profits pass-through to foreign corporations.
We’re sure our Miami audiences for the arts, especially the blue-haired crowd, are just dying to walk to the Performing Arts Center from Overtown in the rain.
Anyhow, we invite them to wait for us at the valet station, as we wait in the shadows of a $500 million monument for that press release from the builders disavowing themselves of fraudulent activities in the Miami Dade Housing Agency.
We suspect the press release would be more entertaining than any of the Broadway road shows the PAC will have to take in, to even remotely begin to cover its operating deficits.
Speaking of which, we haven't read anything from the Miami Herald on those operating deficits, or will they just pass through as a charge on visitors' hotel bills?
6 comments:
5 years ago, land in the area was almost give away, more good planning and vison from our local government.
I went to the ballet last night. There is no place to eat unless you want to go to the Radison Hotel. There is parking a few blocks away but there are no lights on the street between the American Airlines Arena and Performing Arts center so it is too scary to walk. Was disappointed with the design of the building. Nice bathroom. There was a lot of uneven pavement bricks outside, etc. Perfect situation for falling.
And, what is with Florida audiences? They leave during the curtain call. In the program it even says: Don't leave during the curtain call because it is rude. I have never seen a program that included rules of conduct (i.e. unwrap your mints/candy before the show) for an audience before. I have to say, the rules were nicely presented and NECESSARY judging by the audience's behavior.
Watch for the next disaster. Bicentennial Park. The waterfront park should stay green. The two groups that want to pave the park are supposed to raise at least $208 Mil. They must raise over $208 Mil to get the taxpayer money and the $200 Mil in waterfront land. No way they can raise anywhere near that amount. Let us hope this does not become another PAC disaster.
Miami gets the worst from the best architects.
Like the Libary, MAM, and Historic Museum of South Florida complex before it, I believe that the PAC will be another fantasy of the powere elite that fails to pan out. Moreover, like the libary bunker complex from Philip Johnson, why do we always end up with the "worst" building from these "famous - star" architects. In the PAC case its Cesar Pelli. They pawn off this crap on us, most likely designed by lower ranking employees on their staff. Ther is nothing in the exterior to brag about with the PAC, nothing.
Good comment about Miami getting the worst of the world's star architects. The PAC is pretty horrendous, isn't it? Arquitectonica's arena holds up well, but it can't overcome the stink of the way the deal was done by Alex Penelas and the broken promises for public land/park.
Watch the Miami Art Museum scam. They want $300 Mil and they do not want to pay for any parking. The nerve. Miami Art Museum has no permanent collection and they demand $200 Mil in City land and another $300 Mil in construction money. And they are not planning for parking. Duh. PAC Center anyone?
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