"... smaller ideas which will institute change of how artists live and practice and raise the question, 'What is black art?' Additionally, it will address how black artists shape the landscape that they live in,” said Guerrier.

“I’m grateful to have music in my life. I have to feel what I’m doing is making a difference and creating something beautiful,” she said.

Ultimately, the activation program at MOCA serves as a silver lining during all the trauma caused by the pandemic. It has allowed them to connect with the community and serve an area of the region “that doesn’t have much happening in the way of public art... filling that need.”

Navigating marketing expertise in regular times can be a challenge for arts groups. Throw in a pandemic and the cancelations of events and challenging becomes an understatement.

In Downtown Miami, The Miami Downtown Development Authority has launched the Alt-B along Flagler Street. With the absence of Art Basel, DDA Executive Director Christina Crespi wanted a way to showcase art in Downtown.

Jumpstarting the economy is necessary to get the arts activated again. “The arts reunify our community, they get us out of the house,” said Cohen. “Attending arts events help support our local community. Large percentages of arts events attendees agree that the arts are necessary.”

Rabasa is excited and expects that “people are going to love it because if they loved ‘I Think You Should Leave’ I know they will love this. So far it has been very well received by all who have watched it.”

Thankfully, we have a great team at YoungArts, and the students have been incredibly amenable to the process, with this virtual world.

“Ultimately, I hope people find joy, peace, inspiration and endless amounts of curiosity in my work. We, as a society, have so much in common. The more we realize that the better our country will be,” he said.

“We’re incredibly pleased and honored to showcase the work because as a gallery we strive to work with artists whose message and idea represent the moment we live in and T. Eliott is a perfect representation of that.”