Wisconsin may be the winner in cheese production among other states. But it comes darn near last when it comes to funding for the arts.
Recent data shows just 18 cents per capita in state spending goes to Wisconsin artists and creative organizations, compared to Minnesota’s $10.07. While there are people trying to raise that number, it will take bi-partisan support to move the needle.
In the meantime, a group in Milwaukee has found a way to support emerging artists. They’re turning to what Wisconsinites do best: cheese (well, grilled cheese).
Metal artist Siren is a finalist for this year’s Grilled Cheese Grant—a grant funded by community meal tickets.
It’s all based on the grassroots Sunday Soup model started in Chicago and seen in cities across the world. The premise is simple: Invite neighbors to a community meal, which they pay a small fee for. Soup (or sandwich, or whatever) eaters vote for an artist project. The money raised goes toward whichever proposal wins.
For the Grilled Cheese Grant, artists like Siren anonymously apply and are narrowed down by local jurors. Then, patrons gather for a $10, cheesy, carby meal and vote for their artist of choice. The most votes mean, respectively, the most money, and so on.
That money is a big deal for these artists, often Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) students like Siren.
“I’ve always been somebody who works with the scraps that are left at the school, so funding has always been definitely an issue,” they say.
Community Supported Art
“It would just help a lot for me to be able to work on projects that entrusts me and further explore what I can do with metal without having to think about the debt of paying back the school for the material to use.”
Siren’s works are often wearable steel pieces cast in bronze. It’s symbolic for them.
“I wanted to invite viewers into my mind and experience the beauty and the struggle of inherent life. So, these wearable sculptures are non-functional and designed to kind of be a challenge of wearing them,” Siren says.
Milwaukee artist Joe Acri is a MIAD grad, like many Grilled Cheese Grant recipients. He’s been organizing with the group since 2018, two years after its first sizzle.
“When it started, it was out of a frustration from the founding members that their art school didn’t provide adequate funding for senior projects. And it just didn’t have resources for the fine arts students,” he says.
The grant has partially funded 10 projects—and fully funded 14—plus collaborated with half a dozen galleries to support 30-plus artists in their 14-county region.
“We are responding to a very real need, and that response is being felt, and it’s appreciated,” Acri says.
Community-funded models can work across the Midwest and affect real change, he says.
“I think that it has the ability to transform the way that artists are thinking about the work and the type of work that they’re able to make, and who they’re able to reach.”