Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc. (CIA), will present its Champion of Arts Award to Mark Steinberg and Dennis Edwards on Jan. 14, 2015, aboard Oceania Cruise Lines Riviera.
CIA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to preserving the visual and performing arts in South Florida, and is organized solely for the purpose of providing grants to qualified members of the South Florida artistic community.
The organization is unique in that it is totally run by volunteers — no funds are spent on staff.
For $150 a year from its 200 members and fundraising luncheons, last year the organization awarded 32 grants for a total of $82,500 distributed to arts organizations. Last year’s grantees were: Alhambra Music, Inc., Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Arts Ballet Theater of Florida, Bass Museum of Art, Beaux Arts, City Theater, Inc., Festival Miami 2014, Florida Grand Opera, FIU School of Music, Florida Youth Orchestra, Gablesstage, Greater Miami Youth Symphony, Karen Peterson and Dancers, Miami Children’s Chorus, Inc., Miami City Ballet, Miami Momentum Dance Co. Inc., Miami Theater Center, Michael-Ann Russell JCC, Milagro Center, New World Symphony, Orchestra Miami, Perez Art Museum Miami, Performing Arts Center Trust, Inc., Sunday Afternoons of Music, Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, and The Unconservatory.
Mark Steinberg and Dennis Edwards
CIA's main fundraising luncheon is its Champion of Arts Award event.
Dennis Edwards and Mark Steinberg have been actively involved in Miami arts, health and political communities for over 29 years, and are full-time volunteers, operating their own charitable foundation, and participating in numerous community organizations. Their current focus is on creating opportunities for young artists, and providing a pathway to success in life through the study of the arts. Edwards currently serves on the boards of the New World School of the Arts Foundation, which he chaired for four years, and the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, where he is vice president.
Steinberg is currently on the Board of the Florida Cultural Action Alliance, where he is a past-President, is on the Executive Committee of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Miami Recognition Dinner, and is a member of the GLBT Fund Committee of the Miami Foundation. Upcoming Champion of Arts Events. Members are invited to attend all events.
- Oct. 9, 2014: FIU Culinary School, lunch and demonstration.
- Nov. 19, 2014: World Erotic Art Museum by bus, with lunch at Milos to follow.
- Dec. 10, 2014: Tour New World School of the Arts and see students in action. Grantees will receive their grants and scholarships at this event.
- January 14, 2015 – Champion of the Arts – Board Oceania Cruises' newest ship Riviera. Shipe leaves Port of Miami, Pier 7. 10:15 a.m. Cost $100 per person plus underwriting sponsorship opportunities available. For information about Champion of Arts, contact: Lenore Toby-Simmons, lenoreT18@aol.com.
- Feb. 11, 2015: Bruncheon and Bazaar, Balmoral with Louis.
- March 11, 2015: Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, includes Afternoon High Tea.
For information about Champion of Arts, contact: Lenore Toby-Simmons, lenoreT18@aol.com. For any other information about upcoming events, contact: Hollis Freimark, hihollis@aol.com.
