What It Takes to Help the Arts Thrive
Milwaukee’s arts and culture community brings people together, strengthens neighborhoods, and contributes to the local economy. Sustaining that creative energy takes investment, collaboration, and a commitment to the people who make it possible.
In the latest episode of Making New Possible, Angela Damiani sits down with Christine Hojnacki, Executive Director of Imagine MKE, to discuss the future of arts and culture in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. From strengthening public funding to supporting local artists, Christine shares why relationships and collective action matter.
Why Arts and Culture Needs More Support
Milwaukee's arts and culture scene relies on philanthropy, ticket sales, and other earned revenue. But Christine explains that these sources alone cannot sustain the sector long term.
She describes arts funding as a three-legged stool: philanthropy, earned revenue, and public funding. In Wisconsin, public funding remains an underdeveloped part of the equation.
Without stronger investment, rising costs and limited resources make it harder for organizations to support artists and serve their communities. Christine believes arts and culture should be treated as essential community infrastructure because it supports tourism, attracts talent, and strengthens neighborhood identity.
Building a Stronger Future Through Collaboration
For Christine, meaningful change starts with listening and bringing people together.
When she began at Imagine MKE, she connected with arts leaders, funders, and business leaders to understand the sector's challenges. Those conversations led to a gathering of around 100 cross-sector leaders to help shape a shared vision for Milwaukee's creative future.
The lesson is simple: complex challenges require collective solutions. By building trust, sharing knowledge, and aligning around common goals, people can turn individual efforts into lasting progress.
The Economic Value of Artists
Artists are more than creators. They're entrepreneurs and small business owners who generate economic activity and help shape their communities.
Supporting artists means ensuring they can earn fair wages and afford to live and work locally. When artists can build sustainable careers in Wisconsin, the entire community benefits.
Christine connects arts advocacy directly to economic development. Investing in artists and creative businesses helps retain local talent, support job growth, and strengthen the broader economy.
Three Priorities for a Stronger Arts and Culture Sector
Imagine MKE has identified three priorities for building a more sustainable creative ecosystem:
1. Build better data. Current, reliable data helps organizations demonstrate their impact, identify gaps, and make a stronger case for investment.
2. Connect arts funders. Bringing philanthropic organizations together can help them share information, coordinate support, and respond to community needs more effectively.
3. Advance public funding. Long-term advocacy and collaboration can help establish arts and culture as a stronger part of Wisconsin's public funding strategy.
Together, these priorities can create greater stability for arts organizations, artists, and the communities they serve.
How Relationships Make Progress Possible
Throughout the conversation, Christine emphasizes the importance of relationships. Building trust, understanding different perspectives, and finding common ground help turn shared concerns into meaningful action.
Anyone can contribute to a stronger arts ecosystem by attending local performances, supporting artists and cultural organizations, enjoying community programming, or contacting elected officials.
Every connection helps build a broader network of people invested in Milwaukee's creative future.
Making New Possible for Milwaukee's Creative Community
Milwaukee's arts and culture scene is an important part of what makes the region special. Sustaining it means creating opportunities for artists to earn a living, organizations to thrive, and communities to connect through creativity.
Through Imagine MKE, Christine Hojnacki is bringing people together around that shared goal. Her work shows how public investment, advocacy, and strong relationships can help build a more sustainable future for arts and culture.