AWE Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
We hope you will join us to celebrate this special milestone on Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Come and enjoy a reception featuring beautifully crafted hors d'oeuvres from MKE Localicious and a cash bar. Enjoy the company of fellow AWE friends and artists while taking in the breathtaking views of the nighttime skyline offered by this incredible location.
But the beauty doesn't stop with the views, discover AWE's mission through live, on-site art making, hands-on art making activities, an art auction and an exclusive exhibition showcasing the work of this year's Rising Artists Council. A short program at 7 p.m. will recognize our visionary founders, showcase AWE's current work, and share the vision for the future of AWE.
Gather with us to celebrate this organizational milestone for AWE and allow us an opportunity to thank you for your support and continued belief in our mission.
RSVP by October 20th
AWE BOARD HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR!!!
We are very pleased to report that the AWE Board of Directors has hired Keri Schroeder as the next Executive Director of Artist Working in Education. She will begin in her new role on June 22 nd.
(left to right) Barbara Manger and Keri Schroeder
Keri is currently the Executive Director of the Women’s Leadership Institute at Mount Mary University, where she also leads the school’s corporate and foundation fundraising efforts. Keri brings nearly 20 years of fundraising success to AWE, having also worked as the Development Director at COA Youth & Family Centers in Milwaukee and at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Foundation.
Keri also brings key arts management expertise to the role, having served as the Studio Programs Manager and Acting Education Director at the Marwen Foundation in Chicago. This nationally recognized program offered after school visual arts programming and exhibitions to nearly 2,000 Chicago teens each year. She also worked at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in studio program coordination.
A native of Milwaukee’s near south side, Keri earned her BA in art and completed post baccalaureate work in adaptive art education at Mount Mary. Reflecting on her new role, she said, “I am excited to be a part of this incredible organization and I am looking forward to working with the creative team as we advance the mission of AWE.”
AWE wraps its pilot season of innovative new ARTS ENVOY program
Learn more about the first cadre of arts envoys
Artists (left to right): Katie Grinell, Keenan Lampe, Zakia Wells, Anna Rose Menako, and AWE Program Director John Kowalczyk. Not pictured: Artist Teena Wilder.
The Arts Envoy is a new annual AWE program supporting local artists in discovering new ways to utilize their creative spirit and ideas in settings outside of what is normally seen as places for art and artists. AWE believes artists can offer creative solutions and strategies previously unimagined to benefit their communities. Arts Envoy members work in solidarity while developing their individual projects, and meeting biweekly to encourage and critique each other. The Arts Envoy program began during a very uncertain time for creatives as the world experienced a pandemic that halted all in person arts and culture events offering artists an opportunity to evolve the way they engage with audiences and communities. As the world returns to a new reality Artists can shape how this looks and feels. The Arts Envoy members are empowered to create change and cultivate their chosen communities.
As the first cohort of Arts Envoy members wrap up their program, their reflections offer great insight into the impact of this program:
Zakia Wells is now able to see the value herself and art practice bring to her community. Zakia states: “This program had me reflect on truly what my passions are but also the importance of mental health when it comes to being an artist. When I began this program I was very negative and hard on myself to be a good artist. By the end of the program, I have accepted that I am a growing person and artist. That my journey is still going and that no matter the level of skill, art is needed and valued in the community. It's valued in the world.”
Katie Grinell has been applying to Graduate School and this program has been a stepping stone from her undergraduate degree to what comes next. Katie says: “This program affected my practice because I made work that will interact more directly with others. Also, working on developing a body of work for so long definitely made me understand what my priorities are as an artist.”
Keenan Lampe has been utilizing circus performance and juggling to nurture deeper connections in the Amani and Metcalfe Park where he hopes to create an outdoor sculpture garden one day. Keenan has invested in the Amani Neighborhood where he lives and works. He is a founder of 20 Ton Studio, located at 2000 W. North Ave, which hosts a collective of artists. Keenan says this program is “Helping artists direct their creative energies outwards to the benefit of those around them.”
Anna Rose Menako is challenging the traditional ballet world by authentically taking up space on center stage while she tours the country dancing and performing. She wants to see more opportunities for Black women in positions of leadership in the art/ballet world especially as choreographers and artistic directors. Anna relates: “I intend to bring positive change through the arts by carrying on the art of ballet with authenticity and reverence for the humans who desire to partake. Ballet has touched the lives of so many, for better and for worse. I want to portray ballet for what it is to me, fulfillment and self actualization, expression, technique, determination and beauty.”
Teena Wilder found community amongst the group of Envoy Artists while shifting her creative practice to archiving important Black Culture, like a directory of hair braiders. Teena reports: “This program really helped me transition more into digital archiving and writing. I was able to learn so much from the cohort and have diverse viewpoints on not only my ideas and concepts, but everyone's ideas. There was such an important part of collaboration and sharing of resources. The program definitely expanded my art community.”
AWE is looking forward to the possibilities of what the next cohort of Arts Envoy could accomplish. Stay tuned!
AWE is awarded support from United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
Resources for Artists
OUR artists
The key to our successful programs, our artists receive meaningful employment in their field, professional development in teaching practices and community engagement, and opportunities to network within Milwaukee’s vibrant arts scene.