2021 marked a milestone in Artworks for Milwaukee's history. In the past 20 years, over 1,400 high school students have explored art and developed professionally through ArtWorks' paid internships. They have learned valuable transferable job skills like communication, research, teamwork, and time management while creating meaningful art together throughout Milwaukee.
Even with the challenges of COVID-19, we have been able to keep our interns, lead artists, lead artist assistants, and staff employed, engaged, and safe thanks to you and the support of many individuals, businesses, and foundations. This summer we were able to move our programs back to in-person!
Be a part of something bigger!
As we look to the next 20 years, there are still thousands of Milwaukee teens who are hungry for creative outlets beyond school and a chance to make money. ArtWorks However, many of them don't have access to these positive experiences because of transportation issues, lack of knowledge of what’s available...we could go on forever.
This is where you can help support ArtWorks and contribute to equity in the workforce by providing collaborative opportunities to diverse groups of students.
Having these types of experiences can be life changing: for many, it can help them cope with the stresses of poverty, systemic racism, or just being a teen, expand their professional networks, and most importantly build their confidence which is foundational for a successful future.
Supporting ArtWorks for Milwaukee is a step towards redistributing funds and resources so that teens, from all neighborhoods in our city, have access to a paid internship in which they can find their voice, give back to the community, and assemble a toolbox of skills for a lifetime. Paid art and skill-building internships should be available for all Milwaukee high school students - regardless of what school they attend or what neighborhood they live in.