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Miami: Where My Story and The Art Dome Began

By Eduardo Ojeda
In this personal reflection, our Chief Visionary in Office (CVO) shares the story of how Miami shaped his creative and entrepreneurial journey. From rich cultural roots to the spirit of reinvention, discover why The Art Dome could only have been born in this vibrant city.

Miami as a Cultural Canvas: The City That Shaped The Art Dome

Yes, I could have asked AI to write this — but it wouldn’t sound like me.
It wouldn’t capture the imperfections, the lived experiences, or the voice behind The Art Dome. So, today, I’m writing this piece my way — about the city that shaped me, the journey that built us, and what it means to create with purpose.

Cici Mcmonigle opening at NSU Art Museum
Peter Haley opening at Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale

The Energy That Defines Miami

I’m beyond blessed to be here, in a city that has become a magnet for creativity and ambition. Miami is the Hong Kong of the Americas — dynamic, envied, and full of contrast. Beneath its glamour lies something raw and real: a cultural heartbeat built from decades of transformation.

Cultural Anchors and New Voices

Miami’s art scene is layered. The Miami City Ballet and Florida Grand Opera are its enduring anchors. Yet the city’s true pulse thrives in places like Locust Projects, a nonprofit artist incubator founded in 1998 that champions experimentation and independence.

 

I only discovered Locust recently, but it reaffirmed something I’ve always believed: when artists create for artists, the ecosystem grows stronger.

Why was The Art Dome founded in Miami?

Because Miami represents a fusion of cultures, innovation, and art — the perfect home for a global creative movement.

 

How does The Art Dome contribute to Miami’s art scene?

By creating spaces for collaboration, exhibitions, and opportunities for emerging artists to grow.

What inspires The Art Dome’s mission?

A belief that art connects people, transforms spaces, and builds communities across borders.

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Witnessing a City Become a Canvas

When I arrived in 1999, Miami was still defining its voice. Over the years, I’ve watched it evolve:

 

  • The rise of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, replacing the historic Miami Auditorium

  • The transformation of the Jackie Gleason Theater into The Fillmore

  • Frank Gehry’s New World Symphony

  • The birth of Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), MOCA North Miami, and the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)

Every new space added a brushstroke to Miami’s cultural canvas.

Why The Art Dome Belongs Here

This city is where it all started for me — the risks, the learning, the belief that art can change lives. Miami embodies everything The Art Dome stands for: connection, community, and creativity with purpose.

 

Art isn’t just beauty. It’s storytelling. It’s a bridge between people and ideas.

 

And for me, The Art Dome is my way of giving back to the city that gave me everything. Because this is just the beginning.

Let’s create something extraordinary together

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