Miami International Airport

Miami International Airport (MIA) is operated by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department and is the property of Miami-Dade County government. Founded in 1928, MIA is the largest U.S. gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean and is amongst the leading international passenger and freight airports in the world. Located near downtown Miami, MIA's terminal is being expanded to over seven million square feet through a capital improvement program scheduled for completion in summer 2012.

Part of the main focus of the Division of Fine Arts & Cultural Affairs is to enrich the airport environment through the commission of contemporary artwork and of exhibitions that communicate culture, environment and art resources of an international scope with emphasis on those areas served by Miami International Airport.

Miami is a major center and a leader in finance, commerce, culture, media, entertainment, the arts, and international trade. In 2010, Miami proudly ranked seventh in the United States in terms of finance, commerce, culture, entertainment, fashion, education, and many other sectors. It also ranked thirty-third among global cities. Miami was ranked as the richest city in the United States in 2008, and the world's fifth-richest city in terms of purchasing power.

Downtown Miami and South Florida are home to the largest concentration of international banks in the United States, and is home to many large companies both nationally and internationally. The Civic Center is a major center for hospitals,research institutes, medical centers, and biotechnology industries. For more than two decades, the Port of Miami, known as the "Cruise Capital of the World" has been the number one cruise passenger port in the world, accommodating some of the world's largest cruise ships and operations, and is currently the busiest in both passenger traffic and cruise lines.