Grant recipients include Arts Garage Jazz Project ($30,000 to continue repertoire series, add special programming highlighting regional emerging artists, and expand educational programs); Fairchild Botanic Garden ($150,000 to strengthen the GardenMusic program); International Noise Conference ($15,000 to expand the experimental music festival); Miami Symphony Orchestra ($45,000 to commission new works through its composer-in-residence program); Pablo Malco Foundation ($10,000 for the Hip-Hop Symphony, combining hip-hop with classical music); and Sweat Records ($140,000 for Make Miami a Musical Destination, to provide stipends to touring acts to provide free or affordable concerts).
The Board of Directors of the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando has announced plans to present Broadway shows on its own, rather than booking through Florida Theatrical Association (FTA). FTA has brought Broadway shows to the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando for 25 years, and was the only bidder at the new venue, which is still under construction. A spokesperson for the center states that the reason for self-presenting is to avoid sharing revenue with FTA.
Seraphic Fire is now the second chorus to be signed by Columbia Artists Management. The choir hopes being represented by Columbia will increase its national exposure. Columbia represents many high-profile classical organizations, including the New York Philharmonic and Lang Lang.
Wicked has set a new Broadway record for highest single week gross. The show earned $2,974,172 over nine performances, breaking the record set by Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark. The revenue reflects the use of premium seating, with the top ticket commanding $300. Only the Book of Mormon has sold tickets at a higher premium price.
ArtPlace has named Miami Beach as one of the top twelve ArtsPlaces for 2013. The ranking is based on the percentage of workers in creative occupations, the number of arts-related nonprofits and businesses, the neighborhood's Walk Score, the percentage of independent businesses, and the number of retail and service businesses.