Coconut Grove Arts Festival

Why should you become a friend of the festival?  You already know that the Coconut Grove Arts Festival brings incredible art to Miami each February.  But what most people don’t realize, it’s also a year-round organization with a mission to support the Greater Miami arts community.  We fund scholarships, we host a robust mentoring program for new and emerging artists, we bring artists into Miami-Dade county schools with our Visiting Artist Program, we donate art supplies to schools in and around Coconut Grove, the list goes on.  

Visiting Artist Program

In 2024, we re-introduced our nationally recognized Visiting Artist Program. Festival artists are invited to local schools to introduce their art practice. More than just bringing art to the schools, we are encouraging students to pursue art as a career. Mixed media renowned artist Ben Frey, the festival’s 2023 poster artist, recently shared a success story about a young woman who recently approached him at a festival. Nine years ago, after attending a class during which Ben shared his mixed media magic, she was so moved and inspired that she became a mixed media artist herself. She is now finishing up her BA. This is precisely why we do this. 

Last year one artist was so impressed by the students and their need for supplies that she left them with her entire traveling kit of supplies.   

Scholarships

We were also able to earmark funds for up to $75,000 in scholarships for graduating students in the Miami-Dade County school system and students at Florida International University. We plan to continue to strengthen this initiative. But with arts funding dwindling in Florida, we feel it’s more important than ever to continue these projects.  We need the community's help to keep these initiatives alive. Every gift, big or small, helps keep this program alive.

Emerging Artist Program

In 2023, we completely revamped our Emerging Artist program. Many artists choose outdoor shows like CGAF as their career path because it is a viable, alternative option for earning a living. CGAF’s two-year program gives them the foundation to begin their careers.  While the 12-14 participants are primarily from Miami, the program has drawn attention nationwide with artists from out of state applying as well. During the first year, this next-generation of artists work with a variety of mentors during the show.  They are shown everything from loading a vehicle and setting up a tent to selling their work.  We work with them during the year to hone their portfolios and offer financial advice with the help of FIU finance professors.  The second year, these arts are giving a free booth space to sell their work.  It’s incredibly rewarding to see them succeed.  

Community Involvement

Each year we donate supplies to area summer programs, camps and churches.  We let the organization select the supplies the need the most.   This summer we are hoping to contribute to Grove based summer arts program geared towards middle school students.  

Inner Artist/Young Collector’s Tent

Our Inner Artist area, hosted each year during the festival,  has been revamp as a family friendly art workspace.   We installed easels so families could experience the joy of painting, we added art projects and introduced family entertainment. Our very favorite new addition is our Young Collector’s Tent.

CGAF Executive Director, Camille Marchese says, “As much as we need to encourage young artists, we also need to encourage young patrons to appreciate and purchase their art.” Artists generously donate a small piece that children can purchase for $5, the only rule is that the child must be the one to choose the art. In this way, we instill a passion for collecting early on.

About the Festival:

Founded in 1963 by Charlie Cinnamon as a publicity stunt for the Coconut Grove Playhouse, it quickly became a treasured yearly event. We will celebrate the 61st festival this President’s Day Weekend, February 15-17, 2025. 

Last year more than 1,000 fine artists from across the nation applied for one of the coveted 285 spaces. Our jury, composed of art professionals, reviewed and scored each applicant. The top 285 were invited to participate  with media ranging from clay, glass, and wood, to painting, photography and digital arts.