Oolite Arts is Miami’s largest artist support organization.
Our Mission
The mission of Oolite Arts is to support artists and advance the knowledge and practice of contemporary visual arts. Oolite Arts creates opportunities for experimentation and innovation, and encourages the exchange of ideas across diverse cultures through residencies, exhibitions, public programs, education and outreach.
What We Do
Nearly four decades ago, our founder, potter Ellie Schneiderman, sought affordable work spaces for our city’s visual artists. Today, Oolite Arts continues Schneiderman’s mission, to, as she said, “help artists help themselves.”
We are both a community and a resource, providing artists with the resources they need to excel at all stages of their career – including free studio space, exhibition opportunities, direct financial support and connections to art leaders.
We also offer programming to the Greater Miami community, to help them better understand, and create, contemporary art.
Our Values
At Oolite, we understand that the journey toward true diversity and inclusion is ongoing, requiring continuous self-reflection and action.
We do not tolerate any form of hate, discrimination, or violence within our spaces and any social landscape whatsoever. We value and respect the differences that make each artist, employee, and audience unique, and we are committed to providing equitable opportunities for all to thrive.
Together, we celebrate the mosaic of perspectives that make our artistic landscape vibrant, dynamic, and reflective of the rich tapestry of our city.
Oolite Arts acquired a new home in the City of Miami
New Home
Oolite Arts acquired a new home in the city of Miami, 75 NW 72nd St., so that we can expand to meet the needs of Miami’s growing visual arts community.
We want our new home to be a place where Miamians can come take a class and get to know some of the best artists in our city and their work. We’ll continue to offer our current 200-plus art classes in our new neighborhood, starting classes even before our new facility opens. We also launched an award-winning video arts program for local teens there.
Before we begin construction on our new home, we will be meeting with and listening to residents and stakeholders to formulate arts programming that is responsive to the neighborhood’s cultural character and needs.
The new space is scheduled to open in 2025. In the meantime, join us at 924 Lincoln Road on Miami Beach, which will continue to house our signature residency and arts programming until then.
Our name, Oolite Arts, reflects both our roots and mission
Why Oolite?
Our Name
Created in 1984 as ArtCenter/South Florida, the organization has changed its name to Oolite Arts to reflect both its roots and mission.
Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed by shells, corals and other organic material coming together. It is the bedrock of Miami, a fundamental part of our ecosystem.
Oolite Arts seeks to be the bedrock of the visual arts in Miami. Formed over time, it is composed of residents, alumnae, curators and visitors, coming together to build a community around contemporary art – a fundamental part of our arts ecosystem.
Oolite is also prevalent but quite porous, allowing for the continuous ebb and flow of water. We see our new home in the same way, as a place where people can explore the ebb and flow of new ideas.
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