Artefactus Cultural Project, a non-profit organization, was founded in Miami on March 21, 2008. In September 2014 it opened its headquarters in Kendall, where it currently resides. This facility has an Art Gallery and a theater room (Black Box) with capacity for 60 people. In its 11 years of uninterrupted work, the organization has generated multiple activities aimed at promoting the arts and literature, such as: talks, conferences, exhibitions, workshops and artistic performances aimed at an important audience established in South Florida. In this period of time, Artefactus has consolidated the following programs:
Authors
This program began to run in March 2008 and has continued to be implemented to date. It focuses on the dissemination of local and universal literature, with a special look at the work of Hispanic American writers. To date, a total of 25 authors have been presented, approximately 30 dramatized readings have been made and 3 publications with the Artefactus Press seal.
Cuban Theater in Exile
It was instituted in May 2013, with the purpose of dignifying and promoting dramatic literature produced by Cuban writers in the diaspora. Since its first edition, 6 events have been held (1 per year), in which around twenty actors, set designers and playwrights have gathered. The program has also achieved replicas from other organizations in Miami, New York and Spain.
Readings
This program began to run in March 2008 and has continued to be implemented to date. It focuses on the dissemination of local and universal literature, with a special look at the work of Hispanic American writers. To date, a total of 25 authors have been presented, approximately 30 dramatized readings have been made and 3 publications with the Artefactus Press seal.
Professional Theater
Intended for the production of staging of theatrical texts by classic and contemporary authors. From the first show in June 2009 to date, 26 shows have been produced for youth and adult audiences, in which issues related to women, family, the Hispanic diaspora, LGBT+ communities, and native cultures have been addressed.
These theatrical productions have toured the stages of Miami, New York, Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador and Puerto Rico. The theatrical activity of Artefactus has received praise and recognition, including awards from: The Association of Latin Entertainment Critics (New York), Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (New York), Independent Theater Artists (New York), FuerzaFest (Orlando, Florida) and Puerto Rico Theater Festival, among others.
Artefactus has also been a promotion and empowerment platform for local organizations and an option for foreign companies, with a total of 50 groups presenting themselves at Artefactus Black Box to date. Under this theatrical policy, Open Arts Fest (October 2018) and the cycle of one-man shows: Teatro a Solas (March 2019) were born.
Theatre for kids
It is a series that emerged in July 2013 with the purpose of offering stable programming, aimed at the family, with an emphasis on children between 3 and 12 years of age. This program is based on activities that include staging, puppet shows, circus performances, pantomimes, storytelling, musical shows, artistic induction workshops, talks and book presentations. From its beginnings to date, more than 15 productions of plays have been carried out, with a favorable impact on our audience.
In 2015, the Knight Foundation highlighted the work of Artefactus with a People Choice Award nomination and awarded him the Knight Arts Challenge award for the MiniTheater/Miniteatro project, which had three editions.
The theatrical shows for children, produced by Artefactus, have been appreciated in Miami, New York and Washington, and have represented the United States of America in international festivals held in Cuba, Mexico and Argentina. This has been possible in large part thanks to the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami-Dade College, the Spanish Cultural Center, the Zenobia and Juan Ramón Jiménez Foundation, the Cuatrogatos Foundation, FUNDarte, and other partner organizations.
Visual arts
It was created as a strategy for the promotion of the visual arts, closely related to the performing arts. The first exhibition took place in September 2014 and since then a total of 20 works by local artists have been exhibited and, to a lesser extent, works by international creators.
The exhibits have explored contemporary and universal themes through photography, painting, drawing, crafts, collage, and printmaking, among others.
The achievements and scope of the Artefactus programs are the result of the unwavering work of the artists involved, the support of the community, the sponsors, and the fundamental support of organizations such as the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and The Windhover Foundation.
workshops
It is a series that emerged in July 2013 with the purpose of offering stable programming, aimed at the family, with an emphasis on children between 3 and 12 years of age. This program is based on activities that include staging, puppet shows, circus performances, pantomimes, storytelling, musical shows, artistic induction workshops, talks and book presentations. From its beginnings to date, more than 15 productions of plays have been carried out, with a favorable impact on our audience.
In 2015, the Knight Foundation highlighted the work of Artefactus with a People Choice Award nomination and awarded him the Knight Arts Challenge award for the MiniTheater/Miniteatro project, which had three editions.
The theatrical shows for children, produced by Artefactus, have been appreciated in Miami, New York and Washington, and have represented the United States of America in international festivals held in Cuba, Mexico and Argentina. This has been possible in large part thanks to the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami-Dade College, the Spanish Cultural Center, the Zenobia and Juan Ramón Jiménez Foundation, the Cuatrogatos Foundation, FUNDarte, and other partner organizations.