We will emerge from under this shroud
Each of us carrying forward a small corner
A thread of a Life stretched less tightly across muscles and frame
Where we’re going
Isn’t where we’ve been
Unease, foreign and familiar
All over again
- Dasha Kelly Hamilton
This past year brought staggering loss to our city and our world. As we look to the days ahead, we know one thing for sure: we must use this moment to draw upon Milwaukee's strong, resilient, and creative spirit to build the more inclusive, united, and vibrant future we know is possible.
At this 414 Day turning point, we share this love letter for Milwaukee and our arts and culture community. As we look to the future, we ask you to join us in answering the question: How will you move Milwaukee forward?
Today, share your answer via the form below, on social with #414WARD, or both! In the coming weeks, we will be announcing a project that pays artists to creatively respond to your answer to this question.
Thanks to our partners on this project, Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21.
Moving Milwaukee arts and culture forward.
We need your voice.
Help us ensure that Milwaukee's artists, creative industry, and arts and cultural organizations are not decimated through this pandemic.
As we begin to see the end of tunnel for the COVID-19 pandemic, our creative community still faces an existential threat due to the loss of work and revenue. Our fight is exacerbated by the fact that Wisconsin ranks in the nation, on a per-capita basis, for state support of the arts.
To ensure that our community has the resources it needs to restart quickly and effectively, our policymakers need to step up support for the arts and culture sector.
Learn more about Downtown’s commitment to community arts.
Since 2017, Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District (BID) #21 and the Downtown Placemaking Task Force have championed over $250,000 in public art in East Town, Westown, and the Historic Third Ward, with most projects supporting local and regional artists.
Projects completed in 2020 include “Brighten the Passage," by Dave Watkins, Tia Richardson, Josephine Rice, and The Couto Brothers, “Kindred,” by Jaime Brown and Karim Jabbari on the 2nd Street skywalk, “The Hero in You,” by Ken Brown at MacArthur Square, and "Road of Democracy,” by Dasha Kelly Hamilton and Della Wells.
Keep your eyes peeled for new public art springing up in Downtown this month, including a new mobile mural collaboration with Emma Daisy Gertel and the Meat on the Street food truck in May, a new 9,600-sq.-ft. mural at Schlitz Park by Greg Gossel in June, and much, much more.
A “Call For Artists” for new programming this summer will be made available at www.milwaukeedowntown.com/art.