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Who We Are

MISSION STATEMENT

The Bass, Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum, creates connections between international contemporary art and the museum’s diverse audiences. The Bass shares the power of contemporary art through experiences that excite, challenge and educate.

ABOUT THE BASS

The Bass is Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum. Focusing on exhibitions of international contemporary art, The Bass presents mid-career and established artists reflecting the spirit and international character of Miami Beach. The Bass seeks to expand the interpretation of contemporary art by incorporating disciplines of contemporary culture, such as design, fashion and architecture, into the exhibition program.  The exhibition program encompasses a wide range of media and artistic points of view that bring new thought to the diverse cultural context of Miami Beach.

Central to the museum’s mission, The Bass maintains a vigorous education program for lifelong learning and visitors of all ages. The Bass IDEAS education initiative uses art as a catalyst for creativity and positive growth, especially in the area of early childhood education. The active school program led by the City of Miami Beach called STEAM+, takes The Bass IDEAS off-site by engaging children in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and integrating arts education into the curriculum.

OUR VALUES: KINDNESS AND RESPECT

The Bass welcomes people of all backgrounds and does not tolerate hatred, harassment, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, age, disability, or any other status protected by law.(1)

The museum is committed to an environment free from harassment, discrimination and hateful conduct. The Bass strictly enforces this policy of kindness and respect; and regularly reviews its policies and practices to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations of the City of Miami Beach, Miami Dade County and the State of Florida; and to serve its community responsibly.

As part of its programming, The Bass presents a wide range of artists, speakers, cultural organizations, and other guests. The views they express are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of The Bass.

Note:

Above statement is in accordance with the City of Miami Beach Human Rights Ordinance Code 62-31; and City of Miami Beach Resolution number 2020-31453.

CONTACT US

[email protected] 305. 673. 7530

FIND US ON!

HISTORY

The Bass Museum of Art opened in 1964 through the donation of a private collection by John and Johanna Bass to the City of Miami Beach. The museum opened in what was formerly the Miami Beach Public Library and Art Center, a 1930s Art Deco building designed by Russell Pancoast, grandson of Miami Beach pioneer John Collins. The building itself already had a rich history on Miami Beach as the first public exhibition space for art in South Florida, and was placed on the National Register in 1978.

In 2001, the original museum building was renovated, and a new wing, designed by renowned architect Arata Isozaki, was added to house galleries, offices and a museum shop. The new galleries gave the museum a total of 16,000 square feet of exhibition space, essential for the presentation of temporary exhibitions and continued growth.

In 2009, The Bass experienced another wave of institutional growth as it consolidated its governance in a 501c3 non-profit corporation, hired a new director and developed a new board. The museum re-focused its mission and programming to reflect the new development of Miami Beach as an art destination, catering to the evolving and diverse nature of Miami Beach residents and tourists.

By 2017, The Bass concluded a comprehensive transformation and reopened to the public on October 29, 2017. Again working with architects Arata Isozaki and David Gauld, the renovation expanded the internal structure to create an almost 50 percent increase in programmable space, including four new galleries, a museum store and cafe, and a designated education facility to better serve expanded programs and increased attendance.

FAQ

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When is the museum open and how much is admission?

HOURS
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12-5PM
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

ADMISSION
General – $15
Seniors (65 & up) – $8
Students (with valid college/university ID) – $8
Youth (7 – 18) – $8
Children (6 & under) – Free
Members – Free
Miami Beach Residents & City of Miami Beach employees (with valid ID/proof of residence) – Free
Active-Duty and Retired Military (plus one guest) –Free

Every Third Thursday from 6 – 9 PM – Free
Last Sunday of Every Month for Family Day – Free

 

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Who were John and Johanna Bass?

John Bass (1891-1978) and Johanna Redlich (m. Feb. 21, 1921) were Jewish-immigrants from Vienna, Austria who resided in Miami Beach. As President of the Fajardo Sugar Company of Puerto Rico, John Bass was also an amateur journalist, artist (namely painting and etching) and composer of published music. Mr. Bass collected both fine art and cultural artifacts, including a sizeable manuscript collection that now lives in the Carnegie Hall Archives. In 1963, the couple bequeathed a collection of more than 500 works, including Old Master paintings, textiles and sculptures to the City of Miami Beach, under the agreement that a Bass Museum of Art would remain open to the public in perpetuity. John Bass directed the museum from its founding in 1964 until his death in 1978.

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What kind of art will I find at The Bass?

The Bass presents temporary exhibitions of international contemporary art. In addition, The Bass is a collecting institution and presents long-term exhibitions of works from the collection within the exhibition schedule. The founding Bass collection of historic objects and old masters can be seen regularly on view within the context of contemporary art works.

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How often do your exhibitions change?

There is no standard length for every exhibition, however, most galleries change every 4-6 months. We have also staggered our exhibition schedule, so new exhibitions may open every 1-3 months. Be sure to take a look at our current and upcoming exhibitions here.

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Do you accept artwork donations?

Unfortunately we are not able to accept unsolicited donations at this time.

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Can I submit artwork to the Bass?

The Bass does not accept unsolicited artworks or proposals. Anything submitted to the museum is at the sender’s discretion with no guarantee of return or response.

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I am doing research and would like to know more information about artwork in your collection, where can I obtain this information?

Our registrar is happy to help with requests for research. You may contact our registrar at [email protected]. We are also happy to process requests for image licensing rights of works in our collection. In order to obtain image rights, please allow two to three weeks for requests to be processed.

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How do I apply for a position at The Bass?

We always have many different volunteer and internship opportunities available year round. We may also have full-time salaried positions depending on availability and needs. Please follow the application instructions per each listing and email the required materials to the listed contact. View all jobs & opportunities here.

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Can I rent space in the museum for a private event?

Yes, please visit thebass.org/eventspaces for more information and to submit an inquiry. Should you have any additional questions, you may contact our facility rentals department at rentals@thebass.org.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

  • CHAIRMAN

    George Lindemann

  • PRESIDENT

    Diane Lieberman

  • TREASURER

    Clara Bullrich

  • SECRETARY

    Laura Paresky Gould

  • MEMBERS

    Simi Ahuja

    Lisa Schejola Akin

    Ivana Berendika

    Cheryl Bergenfeld

    Olga Blavatnik

    Hugh Bush

    Eric Carpenter

    Trudy Cejas

    Beth Dozoretz

    Brian Ehrlich

    Jennifer Esposito

    Lorena Gomez

    Marjorie Harris

    Tom Healy

    Lisa Heiden-Koffler

    Doug Kimmelman

    Pamela Liebman

    David Martin

    Ariel Penzer Milgroom

    Thea Mitzman

    Tracy Wilson Mourning

    Thomas C. Murphy

    Steve Novenstein

    Lori Reinsberg

    Ali Scharf-Matlick

    Mac Schuessler

    Oscar Seikaly

    Cathy Vedovi

JOBS &
OPPORTUNITIES

RENTALS

STAFF


  • EXECUTIVE OFFICE

  • Silvia Karman Cubiñá
    Executive Director

  • Jean Ortega
    Deputy Director

  • Everett Ford
    Executive Office & Human Resources Manager


  • FINANCE

  • Ambar Herrera Gonzalez
    Associate Director of Finance

  • Darnell Rhodes
    Finance Assistant


  • EXHIBITIONS

  • Jasa McKenzie
    Associate Curator

  • Courtney Linderman
    Collections Manager

  • Manuel Hurtado
    Preparator & AV Technician

  • Andrea Soto
    Curatorial Administrative Assistant


  • DEVELOPMENT

  • Soledad Picón
    Director of Development

  • Adriana Vergara
    Donor Relations Officer

  • Jeff Rusnak
    Institutional Giving Officer

  • Manuela Aseff
    Development Assistant


  • EVENTS

  • Grace M. Castro
    Director of Public & Private Events

  • Daniela Rodriguez
    Production Coordinator

  • Sabrina Thalman
    Events Associate


  • COMMUNICATIONS

  • Sabrina Anico
    Director of Communications

  • Diane Amaya
    Associate Creative Director

  • Natalia Patiño
    Social Media Manager

  • Daniel Almeida
    Graphic Designer


  • EDUCATION

  • Kylee Crook
    Director of Education

  • Melissa Perez
    Studio Programs Manager

  • Keela Porter-Brown
    Adult and Tour Programs Coordinator


  • OPERATIONS

  • Isabella Oliva
    Associate Director of Operations

  • Jefreid Lotti
    Facilities Assistant

  • Maria Reyes
    Building Custodian

  • Idaelia Gonzalez
    Building Custodian

  • Gabrielle Peters
    Senior Guest Services Associate

  • Evelyn Andreoli
    Senior Guest Services Associate & Museum Educator

  • Gabriel Castillo
    Guest Services Associate

  • Sophia Cortes
    Guest Services Associate & Museum Educator

  • Quincey Defreze
    Guest Services Associate & Museum Educator

The Bass Museum of Art
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