Miami-Dade County Mayor's Legacy in Arts Award recognizes cultural leader Mitchell Kaplan at 2025 Serving the Arts Awards ceremony

The Serving the Arts Awards recognizing cultural leaders is being held on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. The awards ceremony will celebrate more than 30 cultural leaders and organizations for their continued commitment to advancing arts and culture in Miami-Dade County. This year, the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Legacy in Arts Award Honoree is Mitchell Kaplan, co-founder of the Miami Book Fair, the largest community book festival in the United States, produced by Miami Dade College. The Fair began in 1984 and has now grown into one of the preeminent literary events in the country.

“I am proud to honor Mitchell Kaplan, a visionary, mentor and mensch,  with the Mayor’s Legacy in Arts Award for his extraordinary contributions to our community,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “His leadership in establishing and pioneering cultural events like Miami Book Fair has enriched the lives of our residents and fostered a deeper appreciation for the arts and literature. Mitchell's vision and dedication remind us of the transformative power of arts and the impact it can have in shaping a vibrant community."

In 2023, Kaplan launched the Books & Books Literary Foundation, whose mission is to use the power of literary culture to nurture new readers and advocate for writers.

The 2025 Serving the Arts Awards event begins with a networking reception at 9:30 a.m. The awards ceremony begins at 10:15 a.m. Other honorees include Lifetime Achievement Awardee Marshall L. Davis, Sr.; Emerging Legend Awardee Ruth Wiesen, Armour Dance Theater; and Innovative Arts Funders Awardee John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The event is produced by the Arts and Business Council of Miami in partnership with the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. For a list of honorees, visit the website.

About the Arts & Business Council of Miami

The Arts & Business Council of Miami is dedicated to strengthening the vitality and sustainability of the arts in Miami-Dade County by providing services, resources, and advocacy to artists, cultural organizations, and creative entrepreneurs. Through innovative programs and partnerships, the Arts Biz Miami fosters collaboration between the arts and business sectors to promote economic growth, cultural diversity, and community engagement.

About the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs

The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council develop cultural excellence, diversity, access, and participation throughout Miami-Dade County by strategically creating and promoting equitable opportunities for artists and cultural organizations, and our residents and visitors who are their audiences. The Department receives funding through the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, The Children’s Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Florida through the Florida Department of State, Florida Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation, and the Taft Foundation. Other support and services are provided by TicketWeb for the Culture Shock Miami program, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the South Florida Cultural Consortium and the Tourist Development Council. For more information, please visit www.miamidadearts.org.