ArtWorks for Milwaukee

05/04/2026

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, May 15th!

Come see the many incredible organizations doing amazing work with youth around our city, from music to visual arts to storytelling to filmmaking. We hope to see you there!

04/24/2026

Come see us at Rock the Green tomorrow!

04/14/2026

Check out these adorable portraits of our wonderful supporters!

You can get your own custom portrait button by donating to our spring campaign and helping us Start Strong in 2026. Come and see us this Friday, April 17, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, when we'll be hosting an Open House as part of Gallery Night in the Third Ward.

We're located in the heart of the Third Ward art scene, on the 6th floor of the historic Marshall Building. We hope to see you there!

03/26/2026

clients: Remember to direct Choice Dollars® before March 31 to support our organization. Visit thrivent.com/thriventchoice.

03/26/2026

Want to wear your support on your sleeve? Donate $25 or more towards our Start Strong campaign and receive a personalized portrait button created from your favorite photo by ArtWorks interns, staff, and board! Then, pick your button up from our wall of supporters at April Gallery Night in the Third Ward - ArtWorks is located within the Material Studios + Gallery on the 6th floor of the historic Marshall Building.

This campaign is about starting strong in every way - by engaging with our community in person early in the year, and receiving support that sets us up for success, we are kicking off the 2026 program season right. Donate today at the link in our bio, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay informed of what we’re up to!

03/15/2026

Help us Start Strong this year by making a donation to our spring campaign! Our goal is to raise $5,000 by Gallery Night (April 16th).

Donors who give $25 or more will receive a personalized portrait button - wear your support with pride! Come tour our space, see intern artwork, and meet our people on Gallery Night! We’ll also have ArtWorks merch and original art available for purchase.

Donate between now and April 16 at the link in our bio!

03/09/2026

⏰ THE CLOCK IS TICKING! From upcycling textiles to designing for a greener future—this is what Environmental Arts looks like in action. 🌿✨

Last year, our cohort dove deep into the world of Slow Fashion, proving that sustainability and style go hand-in-hand. They didn't just talk about change; they created it. 🧵🎨

Want to be in the 2026 cohort? We are looking for Milwaukee high schoolers ready to build professional skills and lead projects just like this one.

BUT HURRY: Applications for the Environmental Arts internship close TONIGHT at 11:59 PM!

📺 See the full Slow Fashion journey on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/qccyErDywtU?si=Z9LFssCChbgfVTR4
🔗 APPLY NOW before the link expires: www.artworksformilwaukee.org/apply

In 2025, ArtWorks for Milwaukee’s Environmental Arts interns learned about the impacts of the clothing industry on the planet and how individuals are combatt...

03/07/2026

Now Hiring for Community Arts — Become an Intern! 🌟

The Community Arts + Mental Health Advocacy (CAPE) program is officially looking for the next cohort of interns. If you're interested in community design and using your voice for change, this is the place for you. 🚀

At ArtWorks, we are preparing Milwaukee youth for tomorrow by providing essential career skills through art internships today. This 5-month program is a unique launchpad for high schoolers to build a professional foundation while tackling real-world community challenges.

What Our Interns Accomplish:
🎨 Advocate Through Art: Collaborate on creative projects that spark essential mental health conversations.
🎯 Master New Skills: Explore the intersection of community design and advocacy to build a unique creative portfolio.
💼 Get Career Ready: Sharpen your resume, launch your LinkedIn, and refine your interviewing skills with local pros.

The best part? No "pro" art skills are required—we are looking for motivated young leaders ready to grow and make a difference in their community.

⏰ Application Deadline: March 9th
🔗 Learn more and apply: www.artworksformilwaukee.org/apply

02/23/2026

Now Hiring — Become an Intern! 🌟
Ready to get paid to make an impact? Applications for our Spring/Summer 2026 Environmental Arts Internship are officially OPEN! 🚀

This is a unique opportunity for Milwaukee high schoolers to join a 5-month cohort, building real-world career skills while working on meaningful, environmentally-focused projects.

What You’ll Do:
🎨 Create Mindfully: Collaborate on creative projects that spark community action.
🌱 Explore Eco-Topics: Learn about sustainable design and local advocacy.
💼 Get Career Ready: Build a resume, set up your LinkedIn, and practice interviews with local pros.

The best part? No "pro" art skills are required—we’re looking for leaders and change-makers who are ready to grow!

📆 Application Deadline: March 9th
Learn more and apply here: https://www.artworksformilwaukee.org/apply
Help us spread the word! Tag a Milwaukee high schooler or a parent who needs to see this.

10/20/2025

ArtWorks will be featured on the Milwaukee's Philanthropic Community podcast! Executive Director Rhiannon went into the studio last month to share her perspective on why supporting ArtWorks is essential. Artists Working in Education, an organization we share a lot of the same values and purpose with, was also there, so don't miss this one!

10/09/2025

Dear friends and supporters,

We are sorry to have to share the news that ArtWorks’ programs will be on hiatus for the near future. The Board of Directors and Executive Director are pausing all activity to ensure our continued financial viability and give ourselves time to chart a new path forward. We appreciate all your support to date, and hope that you will choose to be part of our next chapter.

2025 has been a difficult year for small nonprofits, and we are no exception. Some of the impacts we’ve felt this year include: loss of federal funding to ourselves and our partners; increased competition for limited private and public dollars; and a failure of long-anticipated tax credits to materialize. Despite our best efforts to fundraise through this difficult time, we have not been able to secure enough revenue to complete our 2025 programs. Our financial situation is such that we simply cannot continue to incur costs.

While this is a difficult step, it is not the end. We hope to come out of this time with innovative ways to continue our work and secure the support necessary. We know you care deeply for our programs, and we ask that you please support us in one or more of the following ways:

Make a donation at artworksformilwaukee.org/donate
Share your passion for ArtWorks with a friend
Make a plan to enjoy a taco plate at Cafe Corazón on a Tuesday in December. $1 from each taco plate will be donated to ArtWorks
Share your ideas, advice, and feedback with us by emailing Rhiannon Orizaga, Executive Director, at [email protected] or Katerina Lessard, Board President, at [email protected]

Thank you for your patience as we figure out our path forward. We will keep you updated on further changes, and we are grateful for the support you’ve shown us and for any advice you can share. Our hope is to return to our regular programming stronger than before.