Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) has announced a $25 million gift from museum founder Jorge M. Pérez and the Pérez family.

The gift was announced during the museum’s 10th annual Art of the Party fundraising event, which celebrated Pérez and his wife, Darlene. At the event, more than $2 million was raised for PAMM’s arts education program, and Christopher Cozier was announced as the 2023 winner of the $50,000 Pérez Prize.

“I’ve always believed that no city is truly great without a world-class art museum,” said Pérez. “That belief led to our family’s initial gift a decade ago and remains the driving factor in this latest contribution. Our entire family is in awe of how far this incredible institution has come, and we are proud to be in a position to help it fuel its mission of deepening South Florida’s artistic and cultural offerings.”

“Art of the Party is a moment to express our gratitude for the civic, philanthropic, and cultural community that supports PAMM and makes possible our shared belief in the transformative power of the arts,” said PAMM director Franklin Sirmans. “We are so grateful for Jorge and Darlene’s generosity towards PAMM throughout the years—including this monumental gift—and for their dedication to Miami’s creative community as a whole. Their support elevates the institution in every way and positions PAMM for continued success in utilizing art as a catalyst for genuine human interaction, communication, and exchange. We are also thrilled to honor artist Christopher Cozier with the Pérez Prize, an artist who advocates for the power of art to be a tool of connection.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Pérez Art Museum Miami)