The ‘keep MAC alive!’ site was launched on Feb. 5th as a digital media support platform for “An Open Letter to Miami Art Museum,” which expressed concern within the Miami art community over the fate of exhibitions and programming at Miami Art Central under its announced merger with MAM. The letter was delivered to MAM Director Terence Riley on Feb. 7th and posted to the ‘keep MAC alive!’ site where it continued to receive signatures.
The “Open Letter,” signed to date by 182 individuals, and the ‘keep MAC alive!’ site have generated local newspaper coverage in the Miami Sun Post, the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, as well as national coverage by the leading art blog in the U.S., Tyler Green’s Modern Art Notes. As of March 5th, ‘keep MAC alive!’ had received 1578 unique visits in response to e-mails and referrals from art blog sites, including Modern Art Notes, Critical Miami, The Next Few Hours and others.
In response to the “Open Letter,” MAM officials have affirmed in comments to the Miami Herald and in e-mail correspondence received by ‘keep MAC alive!’ that they intend to respond in writing to those who signed the letter. Currently MAC and MAM are said to be in negotiations to determine the details of their merger, including the fate of MAC exhibitions and programming. So far, no accouncement has been forthcoming and ‘keep MAC alive!’ and the signators of the “Open Letter” are still awaiting a written response.
