ARTEFACTUS Cultural Project

ARTEFACTUS began its artistic and educational work in the spring of 2008 and so far, has sustained uninterrupted cultural work, dedicated to artistic creation and training in the areas of theater, music, visual arts, and literature.

More than 300 organizations and 1000 artists have been attended at the ARTEFACTUS Cultural Center and more than 800 citizen participation events have been held.

The Cultural Center is in Kendall, an established urban area south of Miami with a population of 80,241. The organization's cultural services are aimed at these historically underserved communities, with a high percentage of racialized people (67.5%, mainly Latins), high levels of poverty (10.7%), and far from the centralized cultural circuit of the city.

This cultural management has been supported by government and private institutions such as Florida Department of State, Miami-Dade County, National Latinx Theater Initiative, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, Florida Humanities, Latino Theater Company, The Miami Foundation, The Knight Foundation, and FUNDarte.

Among its permanent programs are:

THEATER AND OTHER PERFORMING ARTS

Professional Theater: Since 2009, Artefactus has produced more than 50 plays addressing themes such as womanhood, family, the Hispanic diaspora, and LGBTQIA+ identities — always from an artistic and socially engaged perspective. Its productions have been presented in Miami, New York, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, and Argentina, earning prestigious recognitions such as the ACE Award, the HOLA Award in New York, and the Puerto Rico Theater Festival Award (2017 and 2018).

FESTIVALS

• Miami Open Arts Fest: An international performing arts festival celebrating creative diversity. In 2024, it reached its seventh edition, featuring local companies and international groups from the Americas and Europe.
• Solo Theater Fest: Dedicated to the art of solo performance, this festival has presented local and international artists and has become a space for exploration and artistic freedom.
• Queer Showcase: Created in 2014 and relaunched in 2022, this program celebrates LGBTQIA+ voices and perspectives through multidisciplinary art, promoting dialogue on gender, identity, and inclusion.

Evenings for Children: A family-oriented series launched in 2013 that has produced more than 15 theatrical works and art activities for children. Recipient of the Knight Arts Challenge (2015), the program has reached audiences in Miami, New York, Washington D.C., and several international festivals.

Music: Launched in 2022, this program provides visibility and performance opportunities for talented local musicians, creating bridges between styles, generations, and audiences.

Artistic Appreciation and Training: Since 2015, this educational program has brought together professionals in voice, movement, makeup, and dramaturgy, culminating in final public presentations that highlight the creative process. 

Summer Comedy: Established in 2021, this initiative produces comedies by classical and contemporary authors, engaging wider audiences in a lighter and festive tone.

LITERATURE

Authors: Active since 2008, this literary program has presented more than 70 Hispanic American writers, promoting readings, discussions, and publications under the Artefactus Press imprint.

Cuban Theater in the Diaspora: Founded in 2013, this series celebrates Cuban playwriting and theater created in exile. With six editions, it has brought together renowned actors, playwrights, and designers.

Stories on Stage: Created in 2019, this project brings literature to the stage by producing plays inspired by the life and work of major writers such as Walt Whitman, Clarice Lispector, Virgilio Piñera, and Tennessee Williams.

VISUAL ARTS

Artefactus Gallery: Since 2014, the gallery has hosted more than 50 exhibitions by local and international artists. Its programming explores contemporary themes —memory, identity, territory— through painting, photography, installation, and printmaking.

The Backyard Filmmakers: A unique space in Miami for the screening of documentaries, shorts, and feature films created by local filmmakers. It functions as a creative lab for emerging audiovisual artists to showcase their work and find their first audiences.

IMPACT AND PHILOSOPHY

Artefactus promotes an artistic practice deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and human rights. Its projects advocate for gender equity, the visibility of Afro-descendant cultures, environmental awareness, and equal access to the arts.

Through its programs, workshops, and residencies, Artefactus encourages the participation of young people, women, seniors, and immigrant communities, embracing art as a tool for transformation, empathy, and social dialogue.