Tenth Annual Art of the Party Raised Over $2 Million for
Arts Education Programs
(Miami, FL — November 13, 2023) — On Saturday, November 11, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) hosted the tenth annual Art of the Party presented by Tiffany & Co., welcoming Miami’s community of artists, philanthropists, civic leaders, and arts supporters for PAMM’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The evening celebrated longtime supporters Darlene and Jorge Pérez for their dedication to the arts and the Miami community. Co-chaired by Aaron and Dorothy Podhurst, Craig Robins and Jackie Soffer, and Sarah Arison and Thomas Wilhelm, Art of the Party raised over $2 million for PAMM’s robust arts education program, as well as PAMM’s broader mission, to be a leader in the presentation, study, interpretation, and care of international modern and contemporary art, while representing and cherishing the unique diversity of Miami-Dade.
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The evening included two major announcements: a monumental $25 million donation to the museum from Jorge M. Pérez and the Pérez family, and the 2023 Pérez Prize recipient, which was awarded to Christopher Cozier. The $25 million gift is a further extension of the generous investments the prominent family has contributed to the museum and Miami as a whole.
“Art of the Party is a moment to express our gratitude for the civic, philanthropic, and cultural community that supports PAMM and makes possible our shared belief in the transformative power of the arts. We are so grateful for Jorge and Darlene’s generosity towards PAMM throughout the years—including this monumental gift—and for their dedication to Miami’s creative community as a whole. Their support elevates the institution in every way and positions PAMM for continued success in utilizing art as a catalyst for genuine human interaction, communication, and exchange. We are also thrilled to honor artist Christopher Cozier with the Pérez Prize, an artist who advocates for the power of art to be a tool of connection,” said PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans.
At the event, Christopher Cozier was presented with the Pérez Prize, an unrestricted award of $50,000 which applauds artistic achievement, funded by a gift from Jorge and Darlene Pérez. Taking on a myriad of mediums including drawing, printmaking, installation, and sound, Trinidad-based artist Christopher Cozier’s work investigates how the relationship between contemporary Caribbean moments and the region’s colonial past can inform understanding of the wider contemporary world. Cozier’s practice sits in line with PAMM’s unique position at the crossroads of the Americas, and the museum’s dedication to fostering knowledge of Caribbean art, as seen in the museum’s Caribbean Cultural Institute: a curatorial and research platform that promotes the art of the Caribbean and its diasporas through scholarship, exhibitions, fellowships, public programs, and collection development.
“I’ve always believed that no city is truly great without a world-class art museum,” said Jorge M. Pérez, internationally recognized philanthropist and founder of the Pérez Family Foundation. “That belief led to our family’s initial gift a decade ago, and remains the driving factor in this latest contribution. Our entire family is in awe of how far this incredible institution has come, and we are proud to be in a position to help it fuel its mission of deepening South Florida’s artistic and cultural offerings.”
Chef’s Table guests celebrated Cozier and enjoyed performances by Claudio Spiewak while dining on a menu designed by Constellation Culinary Green. Following Chef’s Table, PAMM’s waterfront terrace transformed into the Remix after party, featuring music by DJ Madrid, dancing, cocktails, bites, and decadent desserts under the stars.
2023 Art of the Party Chairs
Aaron and Dorothy Podhurst
Craig Robins and Jackie Soffer
Sarah Arison and Thomas Wilhelm
Chef’s Table Host Committee
Co-Chairs: Alexa and Adam Wolman, Jessica and Franklin Sirmans
Remix Chairs
NextGen Committee
Co-Chairs: Christopher Pastor and Bibi Pestana
ABOUT THE JORGE M. PÉREZ FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation fulfills the philanthropic vision of Jorge M. Pérez, chairman and CEO of The Related Group, and his family to develop South Florida as an exemplary world-class urban center. The family foundation promotes sustainable, inclusive, and just communities by supporting programs and organizations focused on arts and culture, health and well-being, education, environment, and economic development – with a particular preference for programs and organizations that could serve as models for other urban centers. For more information, please visit www.jmperezfamilyfoundation.org.
ABOUT TIFFANY & CO.
Tiffany & Co., founded in New York City in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany, is a global luxury jeweller synonymous with elegance, innovative design, fine craftsmanship and creative excellence.
With more than 300 retail stores worldwide and a workforce of more than 14,000 employees, Tiffany & Co. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market jewellery, watches and luxury accessories. Over 3,000 skilled artisans cut Tiffany diamonds and craft jewellery in the Company’s own workshops, realising the brand’s commitment to superlative quality.
Tiffany & Co. has a long-standing commitment to conducting its business responsibly, sustaining the natural environment, prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion, and positively impacting the communities in which it operates. To learn more about Tiffany & Co. and its commitment to sustainability, please visit tiffany.com. @tiffanyandco
ABOUT PAMM
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), led by Director Franklin Sirmans, promotes artistic expression and the exchange of ideas, advancing public knowledge and appreciation of art, architecture, and design, and reflecting the diverse community of its pivotal geographic location at the crossroads of the Americas. The nearly 40-year-old South Florida institution, formerly known as Miami Art Museum (MAM), opened a new building, designed by world-renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron, on December 4, 2013 in Downtown Miami’s Maurice A. Ferré Park. The facility is a state-of-the-art model for sustainable museum design and progressive programming and features 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor program space with flexible galleries; shaded outdoor verandas; a waterfront restaurant and bar; a museum shop; and an education center with a library, media lab, and classroom spaces.
