MISSION STATEMENT

To foster an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of cultures by presenting the arts as a tool for education for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds through music-based workshops, lectures, and performances. Community Arts and Culture provides under-served neighborhoods with a platform to participate in cultural arts programs and experiences and nurtures an array of local and international musical artists that exemplify the diversity of our South Florida community.

Community Arts and Culture (CAC) Est. 2002 is a 501C3 Miami-based nonprofit organization that strives to intergenerationally celebrate and inspire the community through the cultivation, preservation, and presentation of cultural music and arts. Through music-based workshops, lectures, performances, and after-school youth programs, CAC provides under-served areas of South Florida with an accessible platform to participate in cultural programs and experiences. We cherish our South Florida traditions and believe that our past should inform our future and that bringing together diverse groups of people can create new approaches to cultural understanding. CAC believes that we have an obligation to the community to promote collaboration, engage unlikely allies, and encourage participation in the creative process.

CAC ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

Community Arts and Culture, Inc. (CAC) was established in 2002 to advance cultural equity, education, and artistic excellence through music-centered programming. For more than two decades, CAC has served South Florida communities by presenting high-quality performances, youth education initiatives, and culturally rooted community celebrations that reflect the region’s diverse heritage.

The organization’s roots trace back to 1999, when the Afro Roots Festival was first launched at the iconic Tobacco Road in Miami. Originally conceived as a local music gathering, Afro Roots steadily evolved into a signature cultural institution. Following CAC’s formal incorporation in 2002, the organization went on to proudly produce 21 consecutive years of the Afro Roots Festival, establishing it as one of South Florida’s longest-running world music festivals.

For the festival’s 20-year anniversary, CAC presented 20 performances over a six-month period, significantly expanding its geographic reach into Alachua, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties. Today, Afro Roots is a fully regional program with presentations throughout Miami Beach, Miami, Gainesville, Jupiter, and Islamorada. In 2019, the festival was named Best Music Festival by Miami New Times, a milestone recognition of its artistic and community impact. From 2019 through 2023, Afro Roots was co-presented in partnership with The Rhythm Foundation and Live Arts Miami, and received media sponsorship from Peabody Award-winning Afropop Worldwide. In 2023, Afro Roots celebrated its 25th anniversary, underscoring its sustained relevance and cultural leadership.

CAC’s commitment to artistic innovation and community engagement has also been recognized through major philanthropic support. In 2014, Community Arts and Culture was selected as a recipient of the Knight Arts Challenge, securing $40,000 in funding over two years to support creative programming and audience development.

In 2010, CAC launched the Inheritants Project, a long-running community outreach initiative focused on youth cultural education for Florida students ages 5-19. Through this project, CAC has produced music-making workshops in collaboration with The Miami Light Project and Oak Grove Park (Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation); drumming workshops for Genesis Hopeful Haven Foster Care Program; and annual Afro Roots and Día de los Muertos celebrations. Additional initiatives include co-producing the Little River Serenade and neighborhood cleanup with La Fortuna for the Miami Little River community, Coconut Grove Cares: The Barnyard, for the Nacao do Celiero Maracatu Youth Ensemble, and Roots in the Schools, presented in collaboration with the GrassRoots Festival and the Cultural Passport Series of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Between 2012 and 2017, CAC produced five seasons of the “A Day at the Beach” Concert Series in Miami Beach. These programs, presented in partnership with The Rhythm Foundation at the North Beach Bandshell, provided professional performance opportunities for youth ensembles including School of Rock, Miami Beach High Rock Ensemble, and Guitars Over Guns, reinforcing CAC’s dedication to youth development and artist pipeline building.

In 2018, CAC expanded its Inheritants Project with the launch of the Día de los Muertos Ancestral Celebration, presented in collaboration with The Doral Yard. The program centers Afro-Mexican culture and folklore through interactive, family-focused arts experiences. In 2021, Islamorada became a second presentation site, further extending the program’s regional reach. That same year, CAC’s Executive and Artistic Director, Jose Elias, was honored as a Knight Arts Champion by the Knight Foundation in recognition of his contributions to the South Florida arts ecosystem.

CAC continued to innovate during the pandemic recovery period with the establishment of Miami Beach On-Stage Pop-Up Events in 2021, a three-year initiative designed to activate public spaces, support artists, and reconnect communities through live performance. In 2023, CAC, in collaboration with Miami Light Project and Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation, produced A Great Day at Oak Grove Park for the first time, bringing the community together with concerts and music-making workshops for youth 10-13 years of age. 

CAC further expanded their programming in 2025 by introducing a new annual program, Son del Mundo, at the Miami Beach Bandshell. Launching the series on May 4, 2025, with the generous support of the City of Miami Beach, the concert featured special guest appearances by Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning artists including Aymée Nuviola, Néstor Torres, Albita, and Lázaro Galarraga, among others. The program coincided with the celebration of International Cuban Son Day and highlighted musical traditions influenced by Cuban Son through collaborations with artists representing Africa, Colombia, and Brazil. The event also marked the release of Cortadito’s debut album, The Guajiro Triangle. This year, Son del Mundo is scheduled for Friday, May 8th, on Cuban Son Day, which is tied to the birthdays of iconic son musicians Miguel Matamoros and Miguelito Cuní.

Son del Mundo represents a natural evolution of the organization’s mission, which is to celebrate global musical traditions while centering community access, education, and artist development. Building on CAC’s decades of experience producing culturally grounded festivals, youth engagement initiatives, and regional partnerships, Son del Mundo exemplifies the organization’s capacity to deliver impactful, high-quality programming that reflects South Florida’s international cultural identity.

This January 2026, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is pleased to announce support from Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color. This pilot program, administered by Mid Atlantic Arts and the US Regional Arts Organizations (USRAOs), awards significant nonmatching grants to traditional artists, practitioners, nonprofits, local and Tribal governments, and community organizations and keepers that demonstrate a deep commitment to sustaining folklife rooted in communities of color.

This year, the organization will continue to serve as a vital cultural anchor in South Florida, combining artistic excellence, youth education, and community-driven programming to ensure that diverse cultural expressions remain visible, accessible, and valued. Check out our EVENTS page to see what’s coming up this year, and we hope you will join us for our 2026 programs including Afro Roots Fest, Son del Mundo, Hispanic Heritage Month, Dia de los Muertos celebrations and more!