In December 2009 Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz opened a new space in Miami's Design District to showcase their personal collection of international contemporary art. The three-story 30,000 square foot structure designed by John Marquette serves as an extension to their home, which has been available for public viewing for the past twenty-five years.
The de la Cruz Collection Contemporary Art Space is privately funded by Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz. The primary purpose of this museum is to provide education in the visual arts showcasing its collection of contemporary art, organizing exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, lectures and outreach programs for our community. All programs and admission are free of charge.
As an initiative to support the local art scene, artists are invited to propose ideas for site-specific installations that are exhibited throughout the year. Artists are encouraged to create works based on art as a temporary experience and establish an open platform using non-traditional art practices. In order to serve the local schools a series of workshops and classes were established in collaboration with Dade County Public Schools. These programs are intended to give our local students an opportunity to learn about different approaches to the creation and presentation of contemporary art. Students are encouraged to visit the space and library throughout the year and apply for internship positions.
A series of lectures and programs concentrate on creating public awareness of art history and contemporary art practices. As of June 2010, the de la Cruz collection started a residency program collaborating for the first year with the SculptureCenter, New York. Artists are invited to stay in Miami for a period of four to six weeks. The residency is an opportunity to connect with the diverse and active local community and to explore the history, culture and natural resources of South Florida.
In the spirit of collaboration with national and international institutions, 2 projects, which originated at the de la Cruz Collection Fighting, Kissing, Dancing and Liquid Matter, are currently and will remain on view during the summer of 2011 at The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia.
The de la Cruz Collection is open throughout the year, Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Visiting the collection, programs, lectures and access to the library is open to the public at no cost.
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