ArtCenter/South Florida to Make Way for ACCORDION INVASION, 5/18

On Saturday evening, May 18, ArtCenter/South Florida joins forces with Next@19th and The Betsy-South Beach to present a parade of accordionists marching from The Betsy-South Beach up Lincoln Road, culminating with a concert at ArtCenter's Project 924 gallery.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m. at The Betsy-South Beach's Lobby Salon, guests will be offered light refreshments before following the Squeezebox parade that departs the hotel at 7:00 p.m. to march up Lincoln Road. The concert is at 8:00 p.m. at ArtCenter's second story gallery, Project 924 located at 924 Lincoln Road.

The concert will feature Klezmer music plus a variety of styles and genres: Polka, Gypsy-Balkan, Latin and European music. Performers will include local Klezmer favorite Shlomo Geva and renowned "Latin Diva of the Accordion," Maricarmen Vazquez. Also performing is trombonist Chad Bernstein, member of the Spam All-Stars and founder of Suenalo.

The Accordion Invasion is the brainchild of Next@19th's Artistic Director, Jenni Person: "The accordion is present in so many genres - from Klezmer to Balkan ... from Punk to Pop ... from Tango to Polka," said Ms. Person. "We want to bring the instrument out into the daylight and into the streets. It's a wonderful juxtaposition of old-school nerdy with the slickness of South Beach. Juxtapositions are so Miami."

This event is part of ArtCenter/South Florida's ongoing community arts partnership program, joining efforts with the area's leading arts organizations for new performances and cultural happenings. These cultural happenings within the surroundings of ArtCenter's exhibitions, showcase the visual art spaces of its galleries and resident-artist studios.

"ArtCenter/South Florida is partnering with our cultural neighbors to mutually expand our impact, capacities and audiences," says Executive Director Maria Del Valle. "ArtCenter is thrilled to collaborate with Next@19th which brings innovative programming to our community, and with The Betsy-South Beach, an iconic hotel with a strong commitment to supporting the arts."

Upcoming partnerships planned for late summer include ArtCenter presenting new programs with the Miami Beach Botanical Garden and the Bass Museum of Art.

Accordion Invasion: ArtCenter/South Florida, Next@19th and The Betsy-South Beach present an accordion street parade and gallery concert on Saturday, May 18:

• 6: 30 p.m. - Refreshments at The Betsy-South Beach's Lobby Salon (free)
• 7:00 p.m. - The public is invited to join the accordionists' parade up Lincoln Road, en route to ArtCenter
• 8:00 p.m. - Concert at Project 924 Gallery, located at 924 Lincoln Road (free)

Next@19th aims to engage South Florida's diverse community in dynamic culture, experience and discourse through a Jewish lens. This mission is accomplished through cultural programming in a variety of disciplines including a music series and festival, a literary series, film and visual arts programs and discussions exploring or rooted in Jewish culture in an active contemporary context. What distinguishes Next@19th is it stands alone in Miami as an organization with a contemporary Jewish-culture-forward mission, removed from the traditional religious and communal context. Next@19th presents cultural programs in the same function as its secular arts and culture partners - yet it is doing so specifically from a perspective of Jewish inquiry; it is rooted in Jewish community, history, heritage, practice and learning as are its Jewish communal partners - yet it is doing so with a specifically cultural agenda, exploring arts and communal culture and identity through a variety of disciplines.

The Betsy South Beach is a boutique hotel located on world renowned Ocean Drive that embraces culture, arts and philanthropy through a wide range of ongoing events under the auspices of a Philanthropy, Arts and Culture Program, with a very special focus on poetry and literature. Each room at the hotel has a small library of poetry and other books and a poetry bookmark is placed on each guest's pillow every night. Over the past three years, the hotel has become a catalyst for energized discourse, innovative thinking, and charity, and has worked with over 200 nonprofit partners in the region. The Betsy South Beach is a 2013 Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Grant recipient for its Writers Room project. The hotel is located at 1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. Telephone: 305-760-6902.

The cultural epicenter of South Beach's Lincoln Road, ArtCenter/South Florida welcomes more than 100,000 visitors every year. Since its founding in 1984, ArtCenter has been home to more than 1,000 resident artists. Counting down to its 30th anniversary in the Spring of 2014, the organization provides subsidized studio and exhibition space, plus teaching opportunities for emerging and career artists. ArtCenter also offers over 100 studio and artist development classes per year at its South Beach location and satellite venues. The mission of the ArtCenter, a non-profit 501(C)(3), is to advance the knowledge and practice of contemporary visual arts and culture in South Florida while providing affordable programming and work space for professional artists. 305.674.8278 www.artcentersf.org.