Today, Knight Foundation named the 57 finalists of the 2012 Knight Arts Challenge Miami, offering an array of ideas that will help bring South Florida together through the arts. The group of finalists is largely made up of individual artists, small artist-led organizations and local cultural groups whose innovative ideas will help push the boundaries of artistic engagement. Their diversity reflects the growth of the community’s artistic talent and speaks to the emergence of a new generation of cultural leaders whose ideas to bring art into people’s everyday lives blend creativity, talent and technology. This year, for the first time, the community will get to have a say in which projects will receive funding, thanks to a “People’s Choice Award.” In the fall, Knight will select several of the up-and-coming cultural organizations listed below and the public will be able to vote via text message for one to receive an additional $20,000 in support. The full list of finalists and their projects are listed below. The winners of the challenge will be announced in early December in Miami. 2012 marks the fifth year of the Knight Arts Challenge Miami, which has offered $20 million in matching grant money to the best ideas that help weave the arts into the community. The winners of the 2011 Knight Arts Challenge received $2.9 million. Here is the full list of this year’s finalists:
