About Vizcaya

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a vibrant cultural hub in the heart of Miami, a space where history, nature, and art converge. One of Miami’s most treasured landmarks, Vizcaya features a Main House with with original furnishings in 34 rooms, ten acres of meticulously landscaped gardens, as well as the historic Vizcaya Village.

A National Historic Landmark and accredited museum, Vizcaya welcomes over 385,900 visitors annually from around the globe. The estate offers dynamic public and educational programs, including the Contemporary Arts Program, community events, and school partnerships that impact over 5,000 K-12 students each year.

Vizcaya’s commitment to the community is reflected in its diverse public offerings, such as the weekly Vizcaya Village Farmers Market, which attracts approximately 33,800 visitors annually, and various free or reduced-admission programs for children, students and underserved groups. In 2024, the museum received the American Public Gardens Association’s Sustainability Award for innovative sustainability practices.

Vizcaya is more than a museum; it is a cultural oasis where history comes alive, inviting guests to explore and engage with its rich heritage and inspiring beauty.

Vizcaya’s Executive Director/CEO Dr. Joel M. Hoffman has been leading the organization since 2004. With a distinguished career in the museum sector, Dr. Hoffman has consistently strived to make visual arts and history captivating and accessible to a wide range of audiences. Before his tenure at Vizcaya, Dr. Hoffman served as Vice Director for Education and Program Development at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York and as Associate Director at The Wolfsonian-Florida International University in Miami Beach.

He holds a doctorate in art history from Yale University and an undergraduate degree in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a six-year term on the Board of Directors of the American Alliance of Museums, further solidifying his commitment to advancing the field.

Vizcaya is operated by the non-profit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust, Inc. and owned and supported by Miami-Dade County. The Board and staff are committed to advancing Vizcaya’s role as a place of scholarship and dialogue that contributes to the vitality and sustainability of our community.

Vizcaya’s mission is to preserve the estate’s cultural and environmental resources to engage people in connecting with the past, understanding the present and shaping the future.

OFFICERS

Ken O’Keefe, Chair
Charles Seitz, Vice Chair
Lynn Atkinson, Secretary
Andres V. Gil, Treasurer

DIRECTORS

Brett Abess
Odilon Almeida
Ricardo Caporal
Terri Castellano
Donald Deubler
Marvin Dunn
Shawn Fagan
Christopher Hunt
Susan Kahn
Donald A. Kress
Lydia Lopez (ex officio)
Christy Martin
Nancy McCormick
Damian Pardo
Harry Tapias
Suzy Wahba
Ann Walters-Pope
Adam Wolman

HONORARY BOARD

Maria Carla Chicuen
Swanee DiMare
Mireille Chancy Gonzalez
Cathy Jones
Laura Munilla
William D. Robbins
Jeffrey Rynor

*updated January 2, 2025

THE MISSION

Preserving Vizcaya’s cultural and environmental resources to engage people in connecting with the past, understanding the present and shaping the future.

THE VISION

Vizcaya is an enduring, inclusive and innovative place that inspires people to embrace the cultural vitality and environmental sustainability of the world around us.

CORE VALUES

Equity and Inclusion: We welcome, respect and treat fairly people of all backgrounds, abilities and needs.
Social Responsibility and Relevance: We are committed to supporting the needs and interests of our local community.
Collaboration and Innovation: We value the opinions of others, we embrace creativity and new ideas and we pursue them with rigor and purpose.
Preservation and Resiliency: We protect, maintain and enhance Vizcaya’s cultural resources in an evolving context and climate.
Environmental Sustainability: We prioritize environmental responsibility in our operations and programs.
Integrity: We are transparent, responsible and reliable.
Financial Sustainability: We ensure Vizcaya’s financial health by stewarding its finances through broad based and diversified support