Mayor Levine Cava Highlights Economic Power of Arts at 2026 State of the Arts Address
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Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reaffirmed her administration’s support for the county’s arts community at the 17th Annual State of the Arts Address on Thursday, February 12, 2026, joining Cultural Affairs Council Chairman Brian E. May, elected officials and arts advocates to underscore the role of culture in the county’s identity and economy.
Levine Cava described arts and culture as essential to quality of life, economic growth and the county’s future, noting that Miami-Dade’s creative sector helps tell the community’s story to the world while reflecting both its diversity and shared humanity.
In his remarks, May highlighted the resilience and innovation of Miami-Dade’s cultural organizations and emphasized the arts’ economic impact, citing more than $2.1 billion generated annually and support for over 32,000 full-time jobs in the county. He called on the cultural community to pursue innovation and collaboration and said the Cultural Affairs Council will seek new revenue streams, expand public polling and strengthen partnerships to sustain long-term funding.
The 2026 address also marked milestones for key cultural institutions, including decades of the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the Marshall L. Davis Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center and Miami-Dade Art in Public Places, and featured a poem by Miami-Dade Poet Laureate Caridad Moro-Gronlier, artworks by Artist-in-Residence Edouard Duval-Carrie and performances by Young Musicians Unite, New Canon Chamber Collective and the Blue Embers Bluegrass Boys.
For more information about Miami-Dade County’s arts programs, visit Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs or watch the full State of the Arts Address webcast online.