Seven Milwaukee artists accepted to gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix 2024 Fall Cohort

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Seven Milwaukee artists have been selected for the gener8tor x Sherman Phoenix 2024 Fall cohort and will each receive $10,000 in grant funding and mentorship in the growth of their art practice.

The gener8tor x Sherman Phoenix program is a partnership between gener8tor and the Sherman Phoenix, with the support of the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Diverse Business Assistance Grant.

The talented recipients of the grant funding are Lois Bielefeld, Morgan Bouldes, Nohemí Chávez Contreras, Nomka Enkhee, Grant Gill, Justin Goodrum, and Okja Kwon.

“The creative economy is a powerful force, and we’re excited to support creative entrepreneurs and Wisconsin’s creative economy, which helps make our great state an amazing place to live, work and visit,” said Diana Maas, DOA Assistant Deputy Secretary.

Artist profiles are provided below, along with a press packet providing details about each of the artists and their work.

The artists chosen for the gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix Fall 2024 cohort underwent a rigorous selection process. They were carefully selected from a pool of 140 applicants based on several criteria including artistic talent, the compelling nature of their portfolios, their strong career aspirations, and their potential to benefit from the program significantly. This selection process was overseen by a panel of esteemed arts industry professionals including Ciera Alyse Mckissick, and Independent Curator and Founder of AMFM and cam.contemporarie; Bora Kim, Program Director at Artadia (New York, NY), and Rachel Adams, Chief Curator and Director of Programs at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts (Omaha, NE).

The Fall 2024 gener8tor Art accelerator will conclude with an end-of-program exhibition from 2-5 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, 3535 W Fond du Lac Ave., in Milwaukee. This exhibition will showcase the artwork of the Fall 2024 gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix cohort.

The gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix accelerator was founded in 2023 with funding and support from the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Diverse Business Assistance Grant. In collaboration with the Sherman Phoenix, this initiative provides each artist with a $10,000 grant and enrolls them in the seven-week gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix accelerator program. This comprehensive program offers tailored mentorship to help artists strengthen the business aspects of their art practice. Throughout the program, artists engage with gener8tor mentors and industry experts, both virtually and in person, from their base at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace in Milwaukee. The program’s primary focus is on supporting creative professionals who have historically faced underfunding, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, nonbinary individuals, persons with disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, and veterans.

To date, gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix served over 400 artists through professional development workshops and webinars and over 400 Milwaukee-based artists applied to participate in the seven-week accelerator programs. So far, gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix has worked with 33 artists in the accelerator program, granting them each $10,000 and providing them with individualized professional development support.

Beyond the 7-week accelerator program, gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix benefits the wider Milwaukee creative community through professional development workshops, one-on-one mentorship opportunities and a Master Class series exploring the contemporary art market.

Darius Smith, Director of gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix, said he is eager to continue collaborating with this exceptionally talented group of Milwaukee creative professionals.

“It’s been an honor to work closely with these amazing artists,” said Smith. “I firmly believe that with the professional development and grant funding provided by gener8tor Art, these artists have a strong foundation for the business side of their creative practices.”
This project is supported by the Diverse Business Assistance Grant awarded to the Sherman Phoenix via the Wisconsin Department of Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Governor Evers’ Diverse Business Assistance Program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration using American Rescue Plan Act funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

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.