The timeless architecture and remarkable collections at Vizcaya make it easy to escape from the present into the past. But what happens when we turn our attention to the future; what do we imagine for Vizcaya and Miami?
Staff at Vizcaya think about the future of this cultural destination all the time. How can we best protect the house, gardens and collections from hurricanes and tropical storms? How can we remain open during a global pandemic? How can Vizcaya’s historic Village best welcome and engage visitors?
What will make Vizcaya resilient? Could what makes Vizcaya resilient help make Miami resilient?
Imagining Vizcaya in the year 2040
A few years ago, during a symposium at Vizcaya, Elizabeth Merritt (founding director of the Center for the Future of Museums and Vice President for Strategic Foresight at the American Alliance of Museums), championed the future with us. After two days of a symposium exploring contemporary art in historic spaces, she asked participants to write a postcard to a friend or family member, imagining a visit to Vizcaya in 2040.
Consider these imagined futures.
Transportation in urban Miami is transformed.
“You know it’s been 23 years ago since I first visited Vizcaya?…It was right after Hurricane Irma and when you see the place now! It’s forbidden to come by car. There is a big parking lot for bikes.”
Barriers inside the house no longer exist, but objects will let you know when you are too close.
“Last time I was here I was disappointed I could not enter the rooms. [This time] it was great to get close and personal with the furniture and art. I only got zapped by one work.”
The sea level may rise faster and higher than we think.
“P.S. sorry the postcard is in a poor state, it got wet on my swim back.”
Vizcaya is a welcoming place that is representative of our community.
“Could this be the death of museum homogeneity? Inclusion and diversity is not an add-on here, and it shows! The richness of social causes and local culture that are addressed through the energy of contemporary art is inspiring and incredibly relevant to our times.
Seeing Vizcaya through many eyes
Imagining the future helps us consider how Vizcaya can best serve our community and how we can best contribute to Miami’s cultural vitality and environmental sustainability. Imagining the future with others helps us see Vizcaya through many eyes, and from many points of view.
We’d love to hear from you. If you have found this story, we hope you might share how you imagine Vizcaya’s future in 2040, or beyond. Submit your thoughts using the form below.
