On May 17, 2023 a referral was made to the Public Safety Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee for an update on asphalt art project on Ocean Drive or any other appropriate location. 

In 2021, the City Administration requested approval from the City Commission to apply for funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies for an asphalt art installation. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative grant program is designed to fund visual art interventions on roadways, pedestrian spaces, and public infrastructure with the goal of improving street and pedestrian safety, revitalizing and activating underutilized public space, and promoting collaboration and civic engagement in local communities.

Funding in the amount of $25,000 was requested to create an artist-designed pedestrian pathway. The project was intended to revitalize the streetscape with community-engaged art and would generate immediate attention to the sector, by creating a safe and connected visual pathway to two of the City's most important historical districts, Ocean Drive to Española Way. Unfortunately, given the highly competitive nature of the applicant pool, the City of Miami Beach was not recommended to receive the 2021 Asphalt Art Initiative grant.

To prioritize the connectivity of these two historic districts, the City proceeded to activate this corridor with Elevate Española, a dedicated art presentation site that commissions installations suspended above the historic Española Way corridor. In December 2021, art collective FriendsWithYou presented a hanging installation entitled Little Cloud Sky, which consisted of eight inflatable cloud sculptures hanging above Española Way. The success of the installation led to further funding from the city to commission public artworks in the space, resulting in the naming of Elevate Española as a dedicated art installation site. Featuring two projects annually, Elevate Española plays an important role in bringing contemporary art to one of the most publicly visible areas of Miami Beach. 

For its 2022 cycle, Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative was geared to European cities, resulting in 19 European cities receiving the award. This year’s Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative Grant Program opened on April 25 through June 12, 2023. The application required a detailed project description, location, timeline, maintenance plan and proof of matching funds available. City staff deemed that submitting a grant application during the 2023 cycle would be premature, as the timeline, project scope and budget were not yet determined.  Projects are rated based on project readiness and all funded projects must be fully installed and completed by December of the next calendar year.

The current Ocean Drive Promenade is under review by the City of Miami Beach and the Miami -Dade County Departments of Transportation and Public Works. As such, it is not a viable location for an asphalt art activation at this time. 

Alternatively, additional locations could be considered, including an area within the Collins Park neighborhood. The Office of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) is currently in the design phase for the Liberty Avenue Improvements Project (Liberty Avenue north of 23rd Street).  The project includes the widening of sidewalks, landscape improvements, drainage, lighting, and new asphalt paving.  The project will also raise the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 23rd Street as a traffic calming measure.  The administration anticipates that construction activities will commence in the spring of 2024, with a construction duration of approximately 6 months.

This area could present a compelling visual connection between the neighborhood and the cultural institutions located in Collins Park. The Bass has expressed their desire to collaborate with the City on this project, as The Bass is currently spearheading efforts with Collins Park neighborhood stakeholders to discuss how the neighborhood will physically connect as the City moves forward with the Arts and Culture G.O. Bond expansion process.

To activate this area with asphalt art, the City is required to submit a permit application to Miami-Dade County. With permit approval, the City would enter into an interlocal agreement with Miami-Dade County that would allow the City to install and maintain the improvements. This process is anticipated to take approximately six months Public Works would facilitate the permitting process for activations within the right of way.

Once the location and funding have been identified, an open or invitational Call to Artists will be issued to begin the artist selection process. The following artist selection timeline is recommended:

October 2023- Issue open or invitational Call to Artists*

December 2023- Art in Public Places (AiPP) Committee, The Bass and Collins Park stakeholders review submissions and recommends a short list of artists (3-5) to develop site specific project proposals

February 2024- Short list of artists present proposals to AiPP Committee, The Bass and Collins Park stakeholders. Selected artist is recommended.

March/April 2024- Presentation of recommended artist to PSNQLC

May 2024- Presentation of recommended artist to Design Review Board and/or Historic Preservation Board, as required

June 2024- Presentation of recommended artist to City Commission

*Staff recommends an invitational Call to Artists process, which would decrease the timeline noted above by approximately two months.

Based on previous proposals, the estimated cost to implement an asphalt art project is estimated to be between $85,000 to $150,000 for materials and labor.