Since opening its doors to artists and the community, the Little Haiti Cultural Center (LHCC) has steadily become a vital cultural landmark for the region. Although its mission is to showcase and expose Afro-Carribbean art, culture and entertainment to the community, the center also provides vital high-tech space and a nurturing, cross-cultural environment for several resident companies, including Dance NOW! Miami and MAD Dance — two organizations heavily invested in advancing the arts in our community.

Last Saturday, LHCC hosted the first-ever Summer MAD Fest where budding artists, students of MAD Dance, celebrated the beginning of summer. Since opening nine months ago, MAD Dance has empowered students from across South Florida in the art of dance, theatre and singing.

Dance NOW! Miami, another vital resident company at the LHCC, was just named a finalist for a new Knight Arts Challenge grant for their idea “to help bring under-resourced dance productions to the performance stage by providing a venue and marketing help for choreographers and dancers to engage with new audiences.”

As the sun begins to set every third Friday of the month, the LHCC comes to life with its wildly fun Big Night Little Haiti event. The next one fires up in just a two weeks. On June 15th from 6-10 p.m., the first event of the summer will celebrate Fete de la Musique, featuring an open mic stage and James Germaine in concert. Big Night Little Haiti is always family friendly as the center comes to life with Afro-Carribbean music, a contemporary Haitian arts and crafts exhibition in the main gallery, food, drinks, crepes and lots of fun.

To register for the open mic stage, submit an application here: bignightlittlehaiti.com. Big Night in Little Haiti, June 15th, 6-10 p.m., 212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami; 305-960-2969. Cost of event: Free!