{Normally, on the third Thursday of every month, the Soul Of Miami crew excitedly rolls out to our favorite monthly party, JAM at MAM. It is a great way to just relax in a nice artsy atmosphere. JAM at MAM was the reason we became members of the Miami Art Museum. It was one of the main avenues through which we were brought into the art scene in Miami. And now, the Miami Art Museum management has cancelled it for unspecified reasons. Below is the message in their recent email.}
JAM @ MAM: As 2010 gets underway, Miami Art Museum is planning to relaunch JAM @ MAM in a new format to offer an even more meaningful experience to South Florida residents and JAM at MAM’s loyal following. Beginning in January, the third Thursdays event will not take place until further notice; please check miamiartmuseum.org or the NOW @ MAM calendar for updated event listings.
{We think this is a big loss for the city, and being as MAM is a public organization, we want to make our response public. I am sending the below email to the Miami Art Museum. If you would like to send your own, try sending it to news@miamiartmuseum.org or membership@miamiartmuseum.org. If we get better information, we shall post that, too.}
[Dear Miami Art Museum,
As a long-time member, who was originally converted by the excellent JAM at MAM series, I have to say that discontinuing it seems like a really bad idea. I know that it has converted many other people, including several of our friends, as well, into museum members and art lovers. I have watched the JAM, over the years, change from a small group of old ladies to a large, energetic crowd of people of all ages, including young people.
JAM at MAM introduced so many new people to the Miami Art Museum, and to the arts themselves. People who would not have normally come to an art museum began attending on a regular basis and being exposed to new and interesting work.
Certainly over the past few months, the event had lost some of its luster. Fewer live music acts and less variety in programming, as well as a lack of changing exhibitions led to a decline in attendance, but even at its lowest, there was still a decent crowd. The big crowds could easily have been brought back by more exciting programming. This was a program loved by many.
The city is losing an important cultural activity by the shutting down of JAM at MAM. Why is this being done? Was it really such a drain on resources? Why take such a popular event and stop doing it? How has the feedback been? I look forward to hearing what the future of this will be.
Sincerely,]
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Seriously!? I understand how much you loved the event, but do people really think programming is that cheap? I worked in non profits for well over 10 years and finally switched to corporate america after getting tired of asking people to financially support the institutes , they constantly freeloaded off of. Ive been to the JAMS and i paid my membership dues year after year, and even tried going up in levels when i could afford it, but did any one else? You have to give to get. If people enjoyed the event so much, why didnt they support more by trying to give a bit more. parties and shows as well as lecturers are not cheap and no one does anything for free in this world. If you want the party back, why dont you help out by start doing some fundraising for it. The last non profit I worked for ended up closing down because of lack of donations. The government definitely does not give cultural institutions enough money to support us, ESPECIALLY with all the budget cuts they recently went through. Did you put that in your letter? I was very proud to give to Obama during the presidency because i knew he appreciated any donation a person can give, instead of going the usual route of wooing the upperclass. $10 is not a lot of money but 1,000 people giving $10 is. I noticed you have a little section on your screen for donations, heres an idea, why don’t you go ahead and donate any money you receive from that the Miami Art Museum to go towards bringing back the jam. YEASH, i appreciate your sincerity and good intentions but i can not handle it when people are naive about what it takes to make things work yet never help out with even a buck.
Hi Jeshuan,
Thank you very much for your feedback. I understand exactly what you are saying. Several years ago, back in Dallas, I served on the board of a small non-profit, even becoming the chairperson for a year. Last year, we started our own non-profit here in Miami called Life Is Art. We spend many, many of our free hours every week giving back to the arts community in south Florida. You may see the website at http://www.lifeisartfest.org. So, I do understand the cost of programming.
As far as JAM at MAM, we did offer our assistance in fundraising for it.
Also, I know many people who became members specifically because of JAM at MAM, as did we. Most of whom have said they will now let their membership lapse.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
Sincerely,
James