One area where donors have been generous is in major building efforts. Organizations such as Miami Art Museum

Ask somebody with cultural cred and they'll tell you: The arts have seldom been hotter in South Florida.

A brand spanking new building from famed architect Frank Gehry opened to acclaim for the New World Symphony late last year; an art museum from the renowned Herzog & de Meuron firm is rising from the ground near Biscayne Bay.

"Without any hesitation, I can say that Miami is of the if not the most thrilling arts communities in development today," said Brett Egan, director of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Middle, which is working with dozens of Miami-Dade arts organizations in a two-year program.

Art Basel Miami Beach is entering its 10th year of making Miami the place to be in early December, and Miami City Ballet took Paris by storm this summer.

Deborah Sherman knows those trenches well. Producing artistic director of The Promethean Theater, a small company that performs in Davie, Sherman works without a paycheck and is trying to raise funds to put on the group's next performance in January. The company, which gets no government support, has seen donations dwindle, patrons seek cheaper tickets and foundations reduce their grant awards.


Few nonprofit arts organizations have died in recent years. But groups throughout South Florida often behind the scenes are cutting expenses, choosing less expensive work, adjusting programs, reducing paychecks, changing promotion strategies & asking donors for more money to stretch already lean budgets & survive through the continued economic downturn.

Choral ensemble Seraphic Fire has lowered the cost of its subscriptions & seen an increase in purchases. Performances are being held in intimate neighborhood spaces where parking is  always free than in huge halls.