Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arts Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Arts board presents PAIR evaluation; city to seek liaison funding and launch new residency cycle
Summary
The committee received an evaluation of the Public Artist in Residence program (PAIR), heard recommendations including a 3-month immersion period and a liaison role, and was told the arts board has applied for grant funding to support the liaison position.
The Milwaukee Arts Board presented an evaluation of the Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) pilot, outlining recommendations and next steps for a future residency cycle.
Sally Spedic, commercial corridor team staff at the Department of City Development and staff to the Milwaukee Arts Board, summarized the PAIR pilot (run early 2022 through June 2024), told the committee the evaluation report is available online and highlighted key recommendations: designate the first three months of a residency for introductions and immersion (no policy decisions), jointly develop thematic focus with host departments and community stakeholders over the first three to six months, refine a liaison role to provide logistical support and ongoing evaluation, and broaden the program's core stakeholder team for better storytelling and outreach.
Spedic said the arts board has applied for grant funding to support a liaison position and intends to issue a call for city departments interested in hosting an artist once funding and planning are in place. The PAIR evaluation was filed as a communication and no formal vote was required.
Why it matters: PAIR is intended to pair city departments with artists to address civic issues through collaborative, interdisciplinary work; the evaluation aims to strengthen program design, community engagement and program evaluation.
Ending: Staff said they will return with updates (anticipated early spring 2026) and the committee placed the report on file as a communication.
