Milwaukee County Historical Society Announces Call for Nominations for the 2026 Public Art Award Presented by Janice and Stephen Marcus
Image courtesy of the Milwaukee County Historical Society.
Milwaukee, WI, December 12, 2025 – The Milwaukee County Historical Society is excited to announce the opening of nominations for the 2026 Public Art Award, generously presented by Janice and Stephen Marcus. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural award, this honor recognizes public artworks that enrich Milwaukee County’s cultural landscape, foster community engagement, and reflect the character and values of the neighborhoods they serve. Community members are invited to submit nominations January 2 – 31, 2026 for public artworks, historic or contemporary, permanent or temporary, that have made an impact through creativity, accessibility, and connection to place. Nominated works will be evaluated by a panel of esteemed jurors:
- John Riepenhoff, Milwaukee-based artist, curator, and Executive Director of Sculpture Milwaukee, known for founding The Green Gallery, co-founding the Milwaukee International and Dark Fairs, and creating sustainable platforms for artist-led projects through The Open Fund and the Beer Endowment.
- Linda Marcus, multidisciplinary artist focused on fiber and sculpture, whose work explores memory, identity, and domesticity. She is also a writer for Artdose Magazine and creative director and co-creator of Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel.
- Jeffrey Morin, award-winning artist and educator, returning as a juror for the second year, brings nearly 40 years of higher-education and community-based arts experience, serving as president of MIAD and supporting creative access and interdisciplinary programming.
The jury will assess submissions based on historical relevance, integration with surroundings, community impact, public engagement, and reflection of Milwaukee’s shared values. Eligibility Criteria To be considered, artwork must:
- Be located within Milwaukee County
- Be publicly accessible (private or restricted works are not eligible)
- Be permanent or temporary and accessible through June 1, 2026
- Be eligible for nomination by the artist themselves
- Include work by international or national artists if located in Milwaukee County and meeting the above criteria
Award Ceremony
Selected finalists and the award recipient will be celebrated at the Public Art Award Ceremony on April 15, 2026, at the Milwaukee County Historical Society. The community is warmly invited to attend. About the 2025 Public Art Award Last year’s award, also generously sponsored by Janice and Stephen Marcus, recognized outstanding public artworks across Milwaukee, including the winning Mural of Peace by Reynaldo Hernandez. The Historical Society thanks the Marcus family for their continued support in celebrating Milwaukee’s rich cultural and historical landscape. How to Nominate Submissions are open January 2–31, 2026. To nominate an artwork, visit the Milwaukee County Historical Society website – milwaukeehistory.net.
About the Milwaukee County Historical Society
The Milwaukee County Historical Society was founded in 1935 and has become the place for people to learn about and to celebrate Milwaukee. Through education programs, exhibitions, the research library, our historic sites, and special events, MCHS offers Milwaukeeans and visitors to Milwaukee a chance to connect with the heritage of Milwaukee County. MCHS preserves more than one million documents and photographs and more than 75,000 artifacts.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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