Imagining Milwaukee

our priorities

Ensuring Artists and Arts and Culture Groups Survive COVID-19

Making Milwaukee a great place for artists to live and work

Lifting up and supporting arts and culture in our diverse neighborhoods

Advancing public policy to better support our diverse arts and culture sector

Building Milwaukee’s brand locally and nationally as an arts and culture destination

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Our mission scrapbook 1
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Wisconsin is 49th in public arts funding and according to the National Center for Arts Research, Milwaukee is in 79th percentile for government support for the arts and in the 58th percentile for state arts dollars. We lag far behind peer cities such as Cleveland, Indianapolis, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati.

our vision

An inclusive, engaged, and inspired Milwaukee that is recognized as a world-class city for creating and experiencing arts and culture.

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Creativity is among the top skills sought by businesses according to the Conference Board's "CEO Challenge 2017" survey, with 72 percent of business leader respondents saying creativity is of high importance when hiring. Exposure to arts and culture helps people feel more creative and open to innovation.

our mission

We are the convener, connector, and amplifier of the arts and culture community in Milwaukee.

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Milwaukee arts organizations and institutions generate over $225 million in annual expenditures and employs tens of thousands of people.

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Our vision scrapbook 1

We connect hundreds of Milwakee arts & grassroots organizations

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Making Milwaukee a great place for artists to live and work

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Featured Artist

Reginald Baylor

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Reginald Baylor art
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Smallwaukee Video Series

A new video series every so oftn about a local artist or performer!

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Photo: Visit Milwaukee

Neighborhood Stories

Amani

North Milwaukee

Our city is a network of strong and independent neighborhoods filled with creative and resilient Milwaukeeans committed to building a more connected and inspired city fully engaged in arts and culture projects. Our Neighborhood Partnership workgroup helps to facilitate connection and partnerships between community organizations and residents based on their interests and needs. Northwestern Mutual generously provided funding to pilot our community-driven neighborhood work in the greater Amani Neighborhood (North to Capitol and between 15th and 35th).

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Imagine Journal

The Economic Case for Public Arts Subsidy in Wisconsin
Policy Initiatives

The Economic Case for Public Arts Subsidy in Wisconsin

by Adam Braatz on Apr 27, 2023
The Wisconsin state legislature is currently in the process of crafting revisions to Governor Evers’ 2023-25 biennial budget proposal, which included a one-time $100 million investment into the Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Fund. The arts are note just "nice to have,"-- they are critical component to WI's vibrancy now -- and our competitiveness tomorrow.
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