Founded in 1979, Tigertail produces an annual season of new work in the performing, literary and visual arts.

  Volume I, Number 1June, 2006

Artist and Producer Robert Rosenberg Joins Tigertail Staff

Tigertail is pleased to announce that Robert Rosenberg has joined our staff as our new Associate Director. Robert (or "Robbie" to most of Miami) is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who brings a wide range of experience in the cultural field to his work. He has produced and programmed a variety of arts events, including founding and directing the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the recently concluded Discover Miami music day, and has become a fixture on the South Florida cultural scene.

"Bringing Robbie on-board is a unique opportunity to expand the depth and breadth of what we do at Tigertail," says Mary Luft, Tigertail's Founder and Director. "We have created this position specifically for him so that he can enhance our programs with his special talents in the marketing, programming and organizational arenas."

Robert Rosenberg's creative and producing work has for many years shared the common themes of how the arts intersect with cultural and political issues in society, as well as interdisciplinary work among artists in various fields. He has special interests in projects dealing with gender, the arts in Latin America, film and video, and emerging technologies. After the international success of his feature documentary Before Stonewall, for which he won an Emmy Award in 1986, he spent a number of years working as an independent filmmaker and curator in New York City. He was the Program Director for the Global Village Documentary Festival and a consultant on exhibitions at the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Historical Society. Since 1993 he has made his home in Miami

Artist Access Grant Deadline June 1

The Artist Access Grants Program is designed to assist practicing professional and emerging artists working in any medium residing in Miami-Dade County. The program provides support for artists to take advantage of specific professional development and skill-building opportunities to advance their work and careers.

Applications for the current grant cycle must be postmarked by June 1, and can be for funds to attend such things as advanced workshops, conferences, master classes, seminars or residencies. This program is not intended to provide assistance in funding project-oriented applications, covering the costs of producing art works, nor will it fund equipment purchases. Grant awards range from $100 to $1000, depending on need and program specifics. Artists may receive assistance through this grants program only once per year

We strongly encourage prospective applicants to call and speak with the program administrator, Mary Luft, 305 324 4337, prior to submitting an application. You may also visit our website www.tigertail.org for detailed eligibility requirements, application guidelines and past recipients. You can also go to www.tropiculturemiami.com for on-line guidelines. The Artist Access Grants Program is a project of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by Tigertail.

Tigertail Miami WordSpeak Teen Team Returns from International Poetry Slam Festival

Six Miami-area teenagers traveled to New York City from April 25 to 30 to compete in the 9th Annual Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slam Festival. The festival included participants from more than 40 cities from across the country participating in workshops and readings with established poets and performers, open mikes, and the National Youth Poetry Slam itself, a competitive event. The Miami "team," which includes a diverse range of some of South Florida's best young writers, was selected from participants in the local WordSpeak program sponsored by Tigertail Productions.

While not winning the "grand slam" this time around, the teens had an amazing trip that will inspire them in their work and their lives for years to come. The Miami teens were accompanied to New York by mentors Rashida Bartley, noted South Florida spoken word artist, and Raymond Dominguez, a.k.a. "Knowledge," writer, educator and founder of Write Side Poets. The teens who went were Carlos Diaz and Maxis Made, from Miami Senior High School; Gabriel De Los Reyes, from Coral Gables Senior High School; Diana Louissaint, from North Miami Senior High School; Troven Pearson, from Miami Jackson Senior High School; and Shameka Thomas, from William Turner Tech High School. Alternates were Lawrence Gipson, from William Turner Tech, and Christy-Anne Durandisse, from Miami Senior High School.

Partners and targeted support for the Tigertail WordSpeak program include City of Miami Beach Cultural Affairs Program Cultural Arts Council; Dade Community Foundation; Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council; Joseph H. and Florence A. Roblee Foundation; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade Public Library; Miami-Dade Public Schools; National Performance Network Community Fund and Network of Cultural Centers of Color (major contributors for the National Performance Network Community Fund come from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency).

Upcoming Events

The end of June brings the Florida Dance Festival and a number of events within it that Tigertail will be co-presenting. Susan Yamauchi travels from Brazil with her performance of Wabi Sabi, at the Colony Theatre on June 24. The danceAble program returns for its seventh year, a joint project of Tigertail and the Florida Dance Association, focusing on dance as an art form for those with and without disabilities. It includes workshops throughout the festival, a free public forum, a free video screening, and a performance, also at the Colony Theatre, by London’s acclaimed CandoCo, on June 28. Visit our website and watch this space for more details over the next few weeks.

For more information on Tigertail Productions’ programs and events visit our website at www.tigertail.org or call us at 305 324 4337.