Chicago based Latino Art Beat held its annual awards ceremony in Miami each year honoring the talents of young aspiring high school artists, in collaboration with the Office of the Mayor and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Its local partnerships include the Miami Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. This year’s competition theme was “What Hispanic Heritage & Culture Means to Me?” The talented young aspiring artists displayed their individual interpretation of the competition’s theme. The 1st Place winner this year was Anthony Zambrana who created an amazing artwork reflecting his Colombian heritage. He is being awarded a college scholarship to attend the college of his choice upon high school graduation. The presentation was made in Miami City Hall in the presence of Mayor Francis X. Suarez and the City Commissioners, where all the Latino Art Beat student winners received an awards certificate, a letter of congratulations from the mayor, medallions reflecting their winning place and a photo-op on the mayor’s balcony after the formal city hall presentation. For more information on Latino Art Beat and its various competitions and initiatives email: latinoartbeat@hotmail.com and visit its Facebook page at Latino Art Beat.

Photo Credit: Latino Art Beat