We’re almost a month away from KIDS JAMM at PAMM, Pérez Art Museum Miami’s first-ever family fundraiser. The daylong event will take place on Sunday, October 27 from 10am–2pm on PAMM’s waterfront terrace and throughout the museum.

KIDS JAMM at PAMM will feature live music, art-making activities, a drag queen story hour featuring some of Miami’s most famous drag queens, Taylor Moxie, Miami City Ballet School pre-professional dancers, Ashlee Cramer Zumbini, artists, and more! Don’t have your tickets yet? Get yours today and support PAMM’s free access days and the PAMM Student Pass.

We sat down with host committee co-chair Jessica Plair Sirmans to talk about this year’s event.

Jessica Plair, Stella, and Franklin Sirmans

How did you become a committee co-chair for KIDS JAMM at PAMM?
When we lived in L.A., the Hammer Museum did an annual event for kids, which I thought was remarkable. When we came here, I knew I wanted to do something similar with a unique Miami spin. Initially, I wanted to work on this strictly from behind the curtain but was convinced to co-chair. When you have the opportunity to chair an event with Suzy Buckley Woodward and Alexa Wolman, you’d be crazy not to.

This is the first-ever KIDS JAMM at PAMM! What can one expect at this family-friendly fundraiser?
Among the many stellar things PAMM does, it’s programming for kids is right at the top. With PAMM Free Second Saturdays and it’s education component, PAMM provides great opportunities for kids year round. What makes KIDS JAMM so special is that our kids will actually get to make art with the guidance of some of the best Miami artists. Children will be able to interact with Michele Oka Donor, Jamilah Sabur, William Cordova, and many more. Think of it as an art master class for kids—but fun! In addition, there will be storytelling, dancing, and so much more. Plus, kids will have the run of the place for most of the event. It’s really the most fun gala you’ll ever attend!

Why is it important to be involved in an event like this?
First and foremost, it’s important because it supports PAMM’s ability to keep providing all the outstanding programming for kids throughout the rest of the year. Many don’t know that PAMM provides a Student Pass that allows every single child in the Miami-Dade County Public School System to visit the museum free with a parent until they are 18. Franklin and Superintendent Carvalho worked hard to make this a reality, but it has to be supported to continue.

Funds raised at KIDS JAMM go directly to supporting these programs. The funds raised will also go to making it possible for a number of children to attend that most likely wouldn’t know this event even existed.

I have a nine-year-old who obviously has an unfair advantage in terms of being exposed to art and artists. Most kids don’t, so being involved with KIDS JAMM and providing an opportunity for kids to take ownership of the museum while raising money to keep that going all year long is so vital.

Superintendent Alberto Carvalho & PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans

All funds from the event are donated to the museum’s free access days and the PAMM Student Pass. What does it mean to you to be a part of an organization that is the largest provider of art education outside of Miami-Dade County Schools System?
I frequently hear confusion from people as to why they would ever support the fundraising efforts of a museum. The thought is that museums have all the money in the world and are just for rich people, what does it really do for the community? I am proud of this museum for many reasons, but having worked with Breakthrough Miami for PAMM’s Art Detectives program, and being a parent chaperone on my daughter’s class visit to PAMM, I’ve seen firsthand how special the museum’s programming is to this community. Miami’s kids ARE our future artists, curators, security guards, patrons, docents, front desk staff, administrators, and so on, and it’s imperative that we support any efforts to keep them exposed and engaged.

I hope that KIDS JAMM will help shine a light on the PAMM Student Pass program and its free access days. It’s been proven time and time again how important arts education is to the development of children and PAMM does it so well. I’m honored to be a part of this.

What are you looking forward to most for this inaugural KIDS JAMM at PAMM?
Fun!!! I’m looking forward to watching kids show their parents with pride what they’ve made with Typoe. I look forward to watching them dance along with the Miami City Ballet and eating delicious food and swinging and making beautiful memories with their parents. What am I NOT looking forward to?!

Don’t miss out on KIDS JAMM at PAMM. Get your tickets today!

Stella Sirmans