Position: Management

Michelle F. Solomon

Written By Artburst Editor
May 3, 2022 at 2:01 PM

Michelle F. Solomon is the editor, arts writer, and theater critic for ArtBurst Miami. Michelle was immersed in theater and the arts from a young age. When she was  5, she began a professional singing career as one of the featured performers with the Stars of Tomorrow at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, N.J. A graduate of Emerson College, Boston, Mass., with a Master’s degree from the State University of New York, Michelle has been arts editor at major and mid-sized newspapers, including Executive Arts Editor of the Albany Times Union and Assistant Features Editor of Entertainment at The Detroit Free Press. She was an on-air Entertainment Reporter and Managing Editor of New Media for NBC affiliate, WDIV-TV, Detroit, and the first Digital Executive Producer of New Media at ABC affiliate, Miami’s WPLG-TV, Local 10, where she also created the original true crime podcast, The Florida Files. In addition to her position as editor for artburstmiami.com, she covers a variety of cultural events for ArtBurst and is also editor and writer for miamiartzine.com, a publication of the Miami Beach Arts Trust.  Michelle’s work was nominated for the 2022 Rabkin Prize for Visual Arts Journalism, she received a 2023 Sunshine State Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for Beat Reporting – Visual Arts coverage, and was awarded two prizes in the 2025 Sunshine State Award including Finalist for her reporting of Miami’s arts scene – Arts & Culture Commentary and Criticism, and for Beat Reporting, Arts & Culture. She was named the 2025 Arts Marketer of the Year by the Arts and Business Council of Miami. Michelle is a Carbonell Award judge and also a judge for the Silver Palm Awards. She is assistant professor in the Department of Communication, Media and Arts at Nova Southeastern University’s Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. As a volunteer, she has served as co-chairman and mission chairperson/advocacy for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

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Orlando Taquechel

Written By ArtBurst Team
November 5, 2019 at 8:27 PM

Orlando Taquechel has been a dance writer and researcher for over 45 years, with his first review published in August 1980. His articles have been published in Cuba, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. He is also a professor, choreographer, and artistic director. Orlando graduated with a degree in Architecture, a BFA in Theater and Drama, and an MBA. He is the recipient of the Medal to the Merit of Dance CIAD in July 2009 and the “Criticism and Culture of Ballet” Life Achievement Award at the XIX IBFM in September 2014. He’s the author of “Metodología para la Crítica de Ballet,” “Definición de la Escuela Cubana de Ballet” and “La danza en Miami (1998-2017): las reseñas cuentan su historia.” He is the Spanish-language Editor as well as the dance critic for ArtBurst.

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Amy Sherit

Written By ArtBurst Team
February 5, 2019 at 6:41 PM

A seasoned marketing executive, Amy Sherit established her own marketing agency at age 29, before venturing into publishing. With her marketing skills & passion for culture, she developed CultureOwl, a leading-edge multiplatform brand that offers extensive arts programming digitally as well as in print. CultureOwl Magazine is one of the most respected publications in South Florida. Amy holds an MBA in International Business and Marketing from the University of Miami’s Executive Program, and is a very active member of the community.

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Jean Blackwell Font

Written By Artburst Editor
December 14, 2018 at 2:46 PM

Jean Blackwell Font has lived and worked in Miami and the Beaches since 1990 in wide-ranging roles in the Arts, Hospitality, and the Non-profit sector. Years of collaborating and working with programs, exhibitions, digital marketing, and social media have manifested in a successful content-driven, strategic approach for marketing the Arts. As a practicing visual artist, she shares a studio in the Bird Road Arts District with her husband, Ignacio Font.
As Manager of Programs, Jean oversees Artburst Miami, Patent Pro Bono Florida, and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA), and will continue to look for even more ways to serve our creative community.

 

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Adriana Perez

Written By Artburst Editor
February 23, 2018 at 8:59 AM

Adrianna Perez

Native Miamian, Adriana Perez, joined the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs in 2008 as a Projects Administrator.  She spearheads initiatives that support and develop the professional development of Miami-Dade County’s individual artists and manages a portfolio that includes: Dance Miami Choreographers’ Program, Playwright Development Program and Creative Capital Professional Development Program.  In addition to working with individual artists, Adriana manages the Festivals & Special Events Grants program and the Cultural Development Program.  On the journalistic side, she has the privilege of working with the team at the award-winning ArtBurst, Miami’s innovative hub providing arts coverage on multiple platforms. Prior to joining the department, she served as Producer of Major Presentations at the Adrienne Arsht Center booking sold-out performances for many top rated artists and commissioned several critically acclaimed new works, including: Michael Yawney’s 1000 Homosexuals, David Clarkson’sFlexion, Octavio Campos’ BugChasers, Gustavo Matamoros’ Cars and Fish, and Jennylin Duany’s Cabaret Unkempt, and collaborated on the world premiere of several others. Adriana received her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Florida and her Masters in Fine Arts in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University.

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Laura Bruney

Written By Artburst Editor
February 23, 2018 at 8:56 AM

As President and CEO of the Arts & Business Council of Miami for the past 25 years, Laura Bruney has helped strengthen the cultural community through leadership and board development programs, audience development and marketing initiatives, volunteer programs for the arts and networking and community events. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of Council staff, policy and programs. Ms. Bruney works closely with the governing board to develop and implement the Council’s strategic plan, interfaces with the cultural community on behalf of the Council, and is the Council’s chief spokesperson.

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Josie Gulliksen

Written By Artburst Editor
February 23, 2018 at 8:55 AM

Josie Gulliksen is a freelance writer and major arts advocate and enthusiast who loves everything cultural and is excited to live in such a thriving community as Miami. A Miami native, she currently writes for South Florida on the Cheap, Edible South Florida and Miami Media Group and has a personal blog Scene Around South FL. She worked for nearly a decade at Miami Today covering the arts community, calendar of events and restaurant scene. She has also worked in public relations in non-profit for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, in travel and tourism for Newman PR and at the Miami Science Museum. She has written for Florida Travel + Life Magazine, Family Matters Magazine and Florida Monthly Magazine.

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