Dear Cultural Colleagues,

It is with profound gratitude and enthusiasm that I share that Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has formally appointed me as the Director of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. I am deeply grateful to the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners for their steadfast leadership championing the arts as an essential pillar of our County’s identity and vitality. 

As a Miami native shaped by our cultural institutions, it is exciting to continue this work in partnership with the extraordinary arts leaders, arts advocates and artists who have helped build this remarkable cultural ecosystem within a single generation. 

I look forward to working closely with the dedicated members of the Cultural Affairs Council, the Art in Public Places Trust, and the Tourist Development Council. Their leadership in advancing cultural policy and strengthening the cultural sector ensures that artists and cultural organizations are supported and remain central to the development and quality of life in Miami-Dade County. I am equally inspired by the talented and passionate staff of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Our staff works hard to support more than one thousand cultural organizations and thousands of gifted artists who enrich the life of visitors and residents every day. 

I’d also like to thank my predecessors, Marialaura Leslie, and Cultural Affairs Director Emeritus, Michael Spring. Upon my return to South Florida over a decade ago, both were instrumental in my professional growth and capacity to lead this Department.  

I am energized and ready for the work ahead, and look forward to all that we will accomplish together as we continue to build a sustainable future for the arts in Miami-Dade County.

With deep appreciation,
Ashlee K. Thomas
Director, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs