The Overtown gathering highlighted the museum’s plans for a permanent location, its Miami MoCAAD 100 Initiative and expanding cultural programming.
The Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora (Miami MoCAAD) is building support for its next phase of growth as it works toward establishing a permanent museum home in Miami.
The organization hosted its 2026 Appreciation Luncheon on Oct. 17 at the Overtown Performing Arts Center in historic Overtown, bringing together cultural leaders, scholars, supporters and community partners to discuss the museum’s vision for expanding access to art and preserving stories from across the African diaspora.
The gathering also highlighted Miami MoCAAD’s growing exhibitions, immersive technology experiences and cultural programming as the organization continues to bring its vision to audiences before securing a permanent physical location.
Leadership from Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon and City of Miami Commissioner and Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency Board Chair is helping lay the groundwork for the museum’s future home.
“This luncheon was a reminder that Miami MoCAAD is no longer an idea; it is a vibrant cultural institution,” said Marilyn Holifield, co-founder of Miami MoCAAD and a senior partner at Holland & Knight, in a press release. “We are grateful to the supporters and partners who are helping us build a museum that will connect communities, preserve Miami’s stories, expand how people experience art, and increase accessibility.”
Panel Discussion Examines Art, Culture and Miami’s Growth
A fireside conversation moderated by Rodrick Miller, president and CEO of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, served as the centerpiece of the luncheon.
The discussion featured Holifield; Alejandro de la Fuente, a Harvard University professor, scholar and founding director of the Harvard Afro-Latin American Research Institute; and Howard Herring, former president and CEO of the New World Symphony and a longtime leader in Miami’s arts and cultural community.
Panelists explored how art, culture, technology and innovation contribute to Miami’s evolution as a global city. The conversation also examined the potential economic impact of a new museum, including opportunities for small businesses and educational institutions in the surrounding community.
Hans Ottinot, an attorney and co-founder of Miami MoCAAD, said the support demonstrated at the luncheon reflects growing momentum behind the institution.
“We are laying the foundation for an institution that will expand access to art, create opportunities, and offer another way to connect Miami with national and global communities,” Ottinot said in a press release.
Miami MoCAAD 100 Initiative Seeks Founding Supporters
The luncheon also introduced the Miami MoCAAD 100 Initiative, a campaign inviting individuals and organizations to become part of the museum’s founding community.
Miami MoCAAD 100 Trailblazers Zarifa Brown Reynolds, CEO of Royal Neighbors Insurance, and Theresa Therilus, city manager of North Miami, introduced the initiative and encouraged attendees to participate in building and sustaining the institution.
Through the initiative, Miami MoCAAD is seeking support from individuals, businesses, foundations and community partners as it works toward its long-term vision.
The organization is also inviting supporters to contribute through Give Miami Day and sponsor cultural programs and mobile mural exhibitions.
Virtual Reality Exhibition Highlights Expanding Programming
Beyond its plans for a permanent home, Miami MoCAAD is developing ways to connect audiences with art and cultural history through technology and exhibitions.
During the luncheon, attendees received a video preview of the upcoming virtual reality exhibition, “El Pasado Mio/My Own Past: Contributions of Afrodescendant Women to Cuban Art.”
The exhibition reflects the museum’s efforts to use immersive experiences to bring stories from the African diaspora to wider audiences locally, nationally and internationally.
The organization’s growing programming is part of its broader effort to establish a cultural institution that connects communities while expanding access to art and preserving histories that have shaped Miami and the diaspora.
How to Support Miami MoCAAD
As Miami MoCAAD works toward its next phase, the organization is encouraging community members to help shape its future by joining the Miami MoCAAD 100 Initiative, donating through Give Miami Day or sponsoring its programs and mobile mural exhibitions.
Supporters of the 2026 Appreciation Luncheon included the Paula and Hansel Tookes Family Foundation, the Keith and Renata Ward Family Fund at The Miami Foundation, and Dr. Larry Pierre.
Additional partners and supporters included Miami-Dade County, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation CreARTE, Give Miami Day, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
For more information about Miami MoCAAD and opportunities to get involved, visit MiamiMoCAAD.org.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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