—To Oversee Art in Public Places, Cultural Grant Programs, Film Permitting and More —
The Mayor & Commission unanimously appointed Matt Kenny as the City’s new Tourism and Culture Director. With over a decade of professional and management experience in various positions related to tourism, special events and culture, Kenny has worked in a variety of capacities — managing budgets for over 15 years and negotiating contracts with various parties, including AEG and Live Nation.
“The City’s identity is intrinsically linked to the arts, and I am confident that Matt has the leadership qualities and know-how to lead the department and enhance our cultural and artistic offerings for residents and visitors alike,” said City Manager Jimmy L. Morales.
Kenny’s past work experience closely aligns with the responsibilities of the Tourism and Culture Department, including public art, cultural grant programs, film and special event permitting, and event production. Prior to joining the City, Kenny was with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment where he produced and managed productions with attendances ranging from 50 to 20,000 people at the Air Canada Center and other venues.
While with the City of Toronto for over six years as a Supervisor in the Tourism and Culture department, Kenny cultivated various programs for the department, and successfully produced various music, art and live performance cultural projects, programs and events for the fourth largest city in North America. These programs included international art, music, and cultural presentations. With Tourism and Culture, Matt worked with large corporations to oversee the funding and execution for City-produced events.
“I’m excited to be appointed to this position and honored to work with this incredible department within this thriving, internationally recognized city,” added Kenny. “It is my intention to merge my past experiences in various facets of culture, both in the public and private realms, to position Miami Beach as a true cultural leader on the world stage.”
