Meet Trailblazer Juliana Forero

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Forero.

Juliana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a family that worked in the arts and I went to college in Colombia (Bogota), earning a BFA in Fine Arts from Universidad de Los Andes. I moved to Mexico City for about a year and pursued a certificate in graphic design and a certificate in Portrait Photography. Shortly after I came to Florida, I decided to pursue a Masters Degree in Arts Administration at Florida State University. While there, I decided to continue my education, where I received a Certificate in Museum Studies and a Doctoral Degree in Arts Education. My dissertation was on the artistic community in the South Bronx and their role in the revitalization of the borough. While living in the Bronx I worked at the Bronx Museum of the Arts in their Development department managing their membership.

After completing my Ph.D., I found myself living in Houston leading the Education Department for the Houston Center for Photography, where we offered over 300 workshops to photo-enthusiasts of all levels, along with arts-in-medicine outreach programs through partners such as Texas Children Hospital renal and cancer centers. Another project involved revamping an out-of-commission ambulance and turning it into a mobile education unit – a camera obscura named the “Flash Drive”- that visited our partners in order to teach photography and implement arts education programs throughout the community.

Having a new family of my own, I was drawn back to South Florida in order to be closer to our families. Shortly after, I found an exciting opportunity in Pompano Beach leading the exhibition schedule for Bailey Contemporary Arts for more than a year. Currently, I work as curatorial consultant for the Cultural Affairs Department where I assist with the visual arts planning for three venues: Bailey Contemporary Arts -BaCA, Historic Ali Cultural Arts, Pompano Beach Cultural Center Gallery.

Has it been a smooth road?
One of the main struggles I found was not having a network when I first arrived to this country. Going back to school, working in different cities, and forming friendships allowed me to develop my own network. The more I’ve traveled and lived in different cities, the stronger and wider the network has become. I have learned that even in situations that may seem difficult it is always better to leave the door open, leave with your head held up high, and try not to burn bridges.

As a mom, finding the balance between family and career has been challenging. I decided to pause my career to take care of my family and move to another city. Watching my kids grow makes me proud of the decisions I’ve made, I got out of a disadvantageous situation not knowing what would come next, and after some struggles along the road, we are looking back at that time humbly, but without apologizing. It made us stronger. I love what I do now and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t take a radical decision of uprooting my family back to Florida.

The best advice I could give is to be true to yourself. There will be times when opportunities may seem great but they may take you away from your inner goal. Make decisions as informed as you can. And know that changing directions is good if you are true to your heart. In interviews, they ask “where do you see yourself in five years?” try to answer “where would you like to see yourself now.”

We’d love to hear more about Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department – Pompano Beach Arts.
I organize the visual arts exhibition schedule for three cultural venues in Pompano Beach (Bailey Contemporary Arts -BaCA, Historic Ali Cultural Arts, Pompano Beach Cultural Center Gallery). I work with local, regional and nationally-recognized artists and guest curators in order to present exhibitions that are inclusive, diverse, contemporary and engaging. With my background in arts education, I will be developing enriching educational programs that will offered in these three venues. I collaborate closely with the staff of the Cultural Affairs Department in order to learn about their goals and interest, so that I can program the exhibitions’ schedule accordingly. I’m working on a schedule that looks as far as 18-24 months ahead, allowing for synergy and cross-promoting among the venues. For example, a visitor to an exhibition at the Ali or Cultural Center, may be interested in taking a workshop at BaCA by one of the exhibiting artists.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have found myself becoming a mentor and friend to past interns that kept in touch with me. I have written multiple letters of references for school and jobs. And through that, I was able to learn about their goals, career interests, and assist with any advice when they needed it.

I believe that internships are a great resource to not only get a feeling for what the working environment is, but when done with passion, long-lasting relationships can be built, and it opens the doors for potential jobs.

Contact Info:

• Email: julianafor@me.com

Image Credit:

Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.