Today we’d like to introduce you to Susana Baker.
Susana, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2007, America was entering into a major recession, with the highest statistics of unemployment and home foreclosures, since the depression of 1929, I too was part of these grave statistics. Closing down my 18-year-old direct consumer marketing company with over 120 employees with the its ironic name of American Dreams! By far one of the saddest moments in my life, with this unforeseen recession, for two years I faced unemployment, unable to find employment in Miami. With thoughts of relocation and intention to move back to New York City, my roots, a friend came to visit and invited me a the Wynwood Artwalk, a monthly art walk that occurred the 2nd Saturdays of the month… I decided to attend and to my surprise there were over 8,000 attendees in the streets, music playing, great galleries, cheese and wine, wow, where were all these people the other days of the month?! And these were locals! The light bulb went off in my mind, if this was a local event and locals attending and traveling from other neighborhoods to see the arts and not a night club in South Beach, then what about the tourists?
This is when I knew If I could develop a tour that would bring the visitor to discover art galleries, collections, see amazing street art and murals, speak on the history of the then, now and next of each culturally rich and diverse district, then I would hit bingo!
Because, I knew there were over 12,000,000 annual visiting tourists in 2008, and how many art deco walks, segway tours can a tourist keep doing. The birth of the Art Experience in 2009 and since its inception, we have won every award and on Trip Advisor number 1 status as the Best Cultural Art Tour in Miami! Dine, design and explore the arts, with your private Tourator (art curator/historian), we coined the name and all our tourators are art college attendees or graduates!
I knew tourists were getting more culturally aware and not just wanting sun and nightlife, so in 2009 with just an idea, I created a tour titled “Dine, Design and Explore the Arts.” Since its inception, we have received rave reviews for its distinct and creative cultural art tour, which ends with a culinary experience at a trendy spot in our amazing art districts!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being the first! The concept was great, but art gallery owners, collectors and stores, never heard of such a concept, would people actually pay to come visit a place, they can take a taxi to? And let’s face it, Wynwood, the average tourist never heard in 2009, or 10,11,12, 13, 14, only until 2015 did it really take off!
The Art Experience – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am so proud that God has blessed me with the opportunity to bring visitors and locals to discover the great arts and history each neighborhood holds. To hire young art students, who graduate and believe they will be the next great curator, or artist, only to find out these positions are very nil and if it’s not filled by interns, then nepotism gets the one spot opened! It’s very rewarding to see they art students receive the opportunity to work in their field that their so passionate about.
My passion also was noticed by radio station Bloomberg and I was offered a 15 minute spot to speak on art, that grew to 30 minutes, primetime, 6pm on Mondays, ARTalk by Susana Baker. Followed by invitations to write on art, which I still do for VENU magazine.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Receiving a Proclamation from the Mayor for my art contribution, being able to help an unknown artist place a monumental 500 pound sculpture at the gateway of Wynwood, and receiving the Widow Mite award by the General Counsel of Israel for the arts.
Pricing:
- See like a local! Starting with orientation tours of $49 up to VIP Art Gallery and Dinning Experience tour!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theartexperiences.com
- Phone: 305-767-5000
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: theartexperience
- Facebook: facebook.com/the art experience
- Twitter: @theartexperiences
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.
