Boca Raton Center

for Arts & Innovation

World-class performing arts venue. State-of-the-art event space. Iconic cultural landmark. Incubator for innovation and education. And a calling card of cities that have arrived. Situated in the heart of downtown Boca Raton, the Center will provide not only a permanent home for our region’s local cultural organizations in dance, theater, and music, but also be a place where 7 different flexible and innovative spaces can curate experiences either indoors or out, public or private, free or ticketed; for the young or old, student or professional, or rich or underserved; either day or night, weekday or weekend, and all year long – this Center is truly a Center for ALL.

Take a Peek at What's to Come

Andrea Virgin, President – Board of Directors

Kelly DiMaria, Treasurer – Board of Directors

Heidi Boncher, Secretary – Board of Directors

Patricia Kilgallon, Director – Board of Directors

Roger Stein, Director – Board of Directors

Matthew Cimaglia, Director – Board of Directors

Elizabeth Dudley, Director – Board of Directors

Steven Giacona, CPA, MS, Director – Board of Directors

Dan Guin, Co-Chair – Board of Directors

John Tolbert, Co-Chair – Board of Directors

Advisory Board

Avirom & Associates Land Surveyors

Devos Institute of Arts Management – Business and Capital Campaign Planning

Gunster Law Firm – Legal

IBI – Architecture, Engineering, and Technology

JMD Engineering

OGK Creative – Branding, Marketing, and Digital

Spring Business Solutions

Surale Phillips – Economic Impact Analysis

Walter Duke & Partners

Door 2 Door Strategies – Resident and Community Engagement

Meet the people who have put this project in motion.

A nonprofit organization of individuals, organizations, corporations and consultants are dedicating their time and talents every day to make this vision a reality. The individuals composing the Board of Directors, Advisors, Founders and consultants all come from diverse backgrounds, yet collectively share the vision and have the experience necessary to lead this exciting project for our great region.

Discover what the center will offer the community.

This Center will offer a vibrant , functional, flexible and forward-looking home for artists, businesses, students, creative entrepreneurs, and the public overall that is unmatched in the region. It will immediately benefit and upgrade Mizner Park’s 3,500-seat amphitheater and will provide new world-class venues for performances and open-air public space that will attract families, athletes, community groups, tourists, and more. The Center for Arts & Innovation is a Center for us All.

Understand when and how long the project will take.

Once the City grants approval of the long-term ground lease, anticipated in the Fall of 2021, the Center’s focus will be on raising the capital and shortly thereafter recommence design and planning efforts. Upon the full raising of the capital and completion of the design, planning, permitting and pre-construction phases, construction would commence, with an estimated 24-28 month construction schedule. Although the entire Center would commence construction simultaneously, the Center will thrive to turn over the newly-improved Amphitheater first by 2025, the City’s centenary year – with the full Center opening late 2026, early 2027; What a tremendous opportunity to celebrate the last 100 years with next-century culture infrastructure as we look ahead to the next 100 years.

“It is time for our community to bring a shiny new object to Boca Raton’s downtown to demonstrate our continued relevance as a player in the world of first-class living, business, and play. I believe this Center can be an eye-opener for community members and outsiders alike.”

Richard L. Schmidt, Schmidt Family Foundation

"I could not be more optimistic or supportive of the development of the Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation... The Center's differentiating promise to integrate advanced technology and to function as a site for research and development - not only in the arts, but also between the arts and other sectors - is an unrivaled opportunity for Boca Raton... and [the Center] will be well-positioned to drive advancements in education, business development, and tourism."

Kenneth C Griffin, Founder & CEO of Citadel

"What an impressive and passionate endeavor and we are thrilled that there is an opportunity for this cultural destination to be the neighbor to Mizner Park eateries and shops. Brookfield is supportive of your organization's desire to have this concept in Downtown Boca Raton."

Brookfield Properties, Mizner Park

"After four years of hard work, the organization behind this mission has transformed an idea into a well-planned, financially sustainable, and visually exciting vision for a 21st-century arts complex, one of the first of its kind here in the United States. It has energized residents, philanthropists, businesses, institutions, and political and community leaders. Further, this organization is positioned to raise the funds necessary to realize this next-century vision and the time to do so is now."

Kelly Smallridge, President & CEO, Business Development Board, Palm Beach County

"It is vitally important to ensure our guests have exciting destinations to visit, and we were thrilled to learn about the potential for an advanced, cutting edge, multi-purpose and iconic collection of performance venues, as planned for the Center."

Patrick Goddard, President, Brightline Trains, LLC

"We joined this initiative early on as Founders and look forward to continuing our participation. We are especially interested in how this forward-thinking cultural infrastructure will reposition our City as the premier destination along the Gold Coast."

Carla and Bruce Weiner, PEBB Enterprises

"This project will reinvigorate our city and cultural organizations, inspire technological innovation across different sectors, provide unprecedented educational opportunities, for a myriad of demographics, and establish Boca Raton as a destination for those along the Gold Coast. I am energized by this project and major leaders in the community are as well. We want to contribute to Boca's next 100 years and believe this is the perfect project to do that."

Matt Cimaglia, Founder & CEO, Third Summit

"I am pleased to write this letter of consideration for the Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation... the programming will be educational, entertaining and beneficial to residents of all ages. I am a strong proponent of the arts and I look forward to the future of this Center to include musicals, performing arts, and theatre that we can all enjoy as a community."

Congressman Ted Deutch, District 22

"It is with great pleasure that we write this letter of support for the Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation. As long-time residents, major business owners, and supporters of the arts, we find this project to be the uplifting and transformational project our City needs as we move out of this pandemic era and into our next chapter."

James and Marta Batmasian, Investments Limited

"It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of support for the Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation. I got on board early with the Center as a Founder and it is my desire that this project becomes a reality."

Edith Stein, Edith and Martin Stein Family Foundation

"I am honored to express our strong support for the proposed Boca Raton Center for Arts & Innovation. Their attention to detail and foresight in designing a project that fits the diverse cultural and economic needs of the City is impressive. We look forward to helping this project become a reality."

Alexander S. Rosemurgy, II, CEO, Rosemurgy Properties

View All Letters of Support

See where the new Center will be built.

Located in the heart of downtown Boca Raton, this Center will provide a new beacon of iconic cultural infrastructure here along the Gold Coast, filling the gap that has long existed between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. The proposed site (590 Plaza Real; Boca Raton, FL 33432) is set at the north end of Mizner Park and includes the existing amphitheater and the raw parcel that is already zoned for cultural usage and has remained undeveloped for over three decades. The proposed Center will finally bring to fruition Mizner Park’s founding promise to serve as Boca Raton’s cultural core, while driving much needed foot traffic through Mizner Park and giving riders of Brightline an exciting reason to stop in Boca.