Founder
R. David New
President & Founder
Artistic Director, South Beach Jazz Festival
Twenty years ago, a rare disease rendered David deaf, blind and paralyzed from the waist down. Rejecting his doctors’ terminal diagnosis, defying all odds, David learned to walk again and gradually regained his hearing, though he did not regain his sight.
Multi-talented, he has since become a steadfast advocate for people with disabilities, creates works of art in glass, continues his work as a designer and has founded several companies and non-profits, including Power Access and its signature event, the South Beach Jazz Festival.
David was born and raised in Philadelphia. After attending prep school at the Germantown Academy, David began his university studies at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He continued his education at the Tyler School of Art, Temple University, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. An artist at heart, David worked in this family’s furniture business while creating his own interior design firm, R. David New Interior Design. He relocated to South Florida in 2000 and continued pursuing his passion for art and design.
“As a visual artist my whole life, I was missing a component. I had to rethink everything. I got more involved in the community. I started new organizations and non-profits,” added David.
David works tirelessly to break down barriers and to educate people about living and working with people with disabilities. In addition to serving as President of Power Access, he was Chair of the Miami Beach Disability Access Committee for six years until January 2016, where he is still a member. He was the founder of the Miami Beach Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the Florida Council and the American Council of the Blind. In 2012, he took over Access Now, which is an advocacy organization for enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act. With Access Now, David is working to build the first fully accessible art museum in the world in Philadelphia.
Through Power Access and Access Now, his two non-profit organizations, David provides programs and produces experiential events centered around building awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
David recently reignited his lifelong passion for creating art when he learned about a new 3-D laser technology for creating laser-etched glass sculptures, a perfect medium for his visionary mind and imagination. He was introduced to the machinery, serendipitously located in Miami - the only one of its kind in the country. He designs the concept, the imagery, dimensions and presentations, as well as the polished stainless-steel bases and glass specifications. David’s work has been exhibited in art galleries and fairs, including at Art Basel.
Click here to listen to an Apple podcast featuring David New.
R. David New: The Choice to Defy the Odds
Permission To Choose
