In May 2018, the City of Coral Gables engaged me to market its Public Arts project: “Venice in the Gables.” This was a full circle moment for me, as I was previously the Executive Director of the Coral Gables Business Improvement District from 2004-2014. During those 10 years, I led the district through a long planning process and ultimately lobbied the City for the approval and construction of the Downtown Coral Gables Streetscape project.

Venice in the Gables served to celebrate the completion of the project. Artists customized 33 eight-foot-tall replicas of Venetian mooring posts, resembling those in Venetian canals, to enhance the streets of Downtown Coral Gables. Ultimately, about a dozen posts remained as permanent exhibits in the downtown area and many of the rest were auctioned for charity.

In under two months, I worked to secure more than 25 sponsors and created a partnership with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) to co-host and promote the launch event for their Miami Museum Month and International Museum Day. I also facilitated a partnership with the Coral Gables Community Foundation which lead to a commitment as the funding partner of the exhibit.