Adding to the Creative Economy
The fight to make a sustainable living as a creative in Milwaukee is ongoing. The creative scene in the city is thriving, but financial support isn’t always available or accessible. According to Imagine MKE, a nonprofit focused on advancing the arts and creative scene in Milwaukee, the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County collectively reinvest just 0.3% of the economic impact directly generated by arts and culture.
The Creative Collab Bronzeville Artist-in-Residency Mentor Program was created to invest in Milwaukee’s creative economy and increase talent retention. The newly announced program will be led by Jazale’s Art Studio owned by Vedale Hill and CW Creative Studios + Shop, which is under CopyWrite, Magazine, Media & Design and owned by Lexi S. Brunson.
As a creative husband-and-wife duo, Brunson said they have long prioritized employing young Black and Brown creatives. This new program is an expansion of their efforts.
The Creative Collab is a mentoring-focused artist-in-residency program that connects youth with professional creatives. Jazale’s Art Studio received a $10,000 grant from the Brewers Community Foundation to support the Spring/Summer 2025 Cohort. The grant will fund stipends to mentors and mentees of the program, averaging around $200 bi-weekly for mentees. Stipends are dependent on funding dollars available during each cohort.
Brunson said the program is open to many industries, including writing, fine arts, graphic design, fashion, culinary, and interior design.
“Investing into creative entrepreneurship and creative professionalism is important,” said Brunson.
Applicant Eligibility
- Between 13-25 years old
- Milwaukee County resident
- Enrolled in middle school, high school, or a post-secondary educational institution with proof of exemplary creative skill sets
Inside the Program
Each mentee will have access to mentors across the creative spectrum in their area of interest. The plan is to tailor the program to each of the individual mentees’ skills and needs. There will be group sessions that are universal for every mentee like having a creative portfolio, learning marketing, and more.
“It’s really giving our creatives the opportunity to be competitive in this market,” said Brunson.
The mentees are required to spend at least two hours a week working on their creative practice. They are also required to have weekly meetings with their mentors and must be open to working in person at the CW Creative Studios.
Before the public announcement, a few individuals were pre-screened for the cohort and received their acceptance via email. The program is currently accepting four more creatives to complete its first cohort.
The Creative Collab is seeking additional funding to increase stipends and prepare for future cohorts.
“Funding is number one. Five dollars means everything,” said Brunson. “Make sure you’re pushing out what we do.”
Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, click here.
