We need your voice to ensure that Milwaukee's artists, creative industry, and arts and cultural organizations are not decimated through this pandemic.
Our creative community faces an existential threat due to the loss of work and revenue, and our fight is exacerbated by the fact that Wisconsin ranks 50th - last - in the nation, on a per-capita basis, for state support of the arts. To make it through this tough time, our policymakers need to step up support for the arts and culture sector.
Background on the recently passed $900 billion Federal Coronavirus Relief package (December 2020)
- Video of Jan 5 Federal Relief Update Call
- Link to Jan 5 Slide Deck
- Link to SOS Legislation
- FAQ on new PPP grant program and Shuttered Venues Grant (formerly Save our Stages)
In late 2020, Governor Evers allocated nearly $40 million in statewide relief and County Executive Crowley's allocated $700,000 for arts and culture organizations were good steps forward.
The City now must follow suit.
For comparison, this is how the city of Milwaukee compares to other cities across the nation in how they have used CARES funding:
- San Antonio, TX, population 1.5M: $2.6 million
- Sacramento, CA, population 509K: $6.9 million
- Roanoke, VA, population 97,000: $400,000
- City of Milwaukee, WI, population 592,000: $0
Please take a moment to thank County Executive Crowley and the Board of Supervisors for the $700,000 investment of CARES Act funding in arts and culture organizations and urge your Mayor and Common Council members to follow suit and direct unallocated municipal CARES funds to support non-profit arts and culture organizations.
