In one of the major announcements to kick off Miami’s cultural season, Oolite Arts has awarded the Ellies as part of the nonprofit’s efforts to finance and honor the brewing ideas and established practices of Miami-based visual artists and those adjacent to the sector. Named after the organization’s late founder, Ellie Schneiderman, this year’s winners, a total of 45, feature a range of project mediums and scale magnitude, including those who have dedicated their lives to the expansion and cultural comprehension of the visual arts within Miami-Dade County and those traveling to fuel their cultural wisdom.
Along with the inaugural Service to the Arts Award, this year’s Ellies awards ceremony looked different in organizational structure and venue. Oolite marketed the October 25 event at the Pérez Art Museum Miami as its first fundraiser and noted that it was the first time the awards presentation, co-chaired by board members Chloe Berkowitz and Reagan Pace, was open to the public.