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A new spot to experience contemporary art without paying a dime is coming to Collins Park later this month.
The Bass has announced the opening of The Rotunda at The Bass, a newly renovated satellite gallery set inside the park’s distinctive circular building. The space will open to the public on March 28 with free admission year-round, expanding the museum’s campus beyond its main building.
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Originally designed in 1962 by architect Herbert A. Mathes, the rotunda once served as an assembly room for the old Miami Beach Public Library, hosting meetings, lectures and community gatherings. Its sculptural exterior features the sand-cast concrete mural "The Story of Man" by Albert Vrana and has long been a recognizable architectural landmark in the park.
After the library was demolished in the 1980s, the rotunda structure was preserved for its cultural significance. Now, following a major renovation by the City of Miami Beach, the building has been restored and expanded into a modern exhibition space. The $5.79-million project upgraded mechanical systems, added a new entry lobby and restrooms, improved accessibility and refreshed the surrounding landscaping and walkways.
Under the stewardship of The Bass, the building will now function as both a gallery and an entry point to the park, bringing contemporary art into a more casual outdoor setting.
The space will debut with “Welcome Wall (2015–2026)” by Cameroonian artist Pascale Marthine Tayou, continuing the site’s legacy as a place for public gathering and cultural exchange.
The opening coincides with The Bass’s annual Art Outside Picnic, a free community event taking place in the park on March 28 that will celebrate the new gallery and kick off a slate of future programming, collaborations and public events. The annual event will feature live music, hands-on artmaking activities and family-friendly programming inspired by the museum’s exhibitions. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic spreads and compete for the most creative setup while enjoying an afternoon surrounded by the sculptures and installations that make up the museum’s Art Outside public art initiative. The event runs from 4–7pm and is free with RSVP.
For Miami art lovers, it’s another reason to spend time in Collins Park, not to mention one more way the city’s museum scene is expanding beyond traditional gallery walls.
For more information and to RSVP, click here.