Overview

Milwaukee Arts Board Overview

In seeking nominations for the Artist of the Year and Friends of the Arts award we are looking for nominees whose work aligns with the Milwaukee Code of Ordinance which states that the arts board shall:

a. Promote the development, support and enjoyment of the arts in this city.
b. Promote cultural diversity in the artistic life of this city.
c. Promote the formation and growth of artistic projects or programs that are administered by and responsive to the needs of the city's communities that have been historically underrepresented or underserved based on race, ethnicity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, or citizenship status.

Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year Award
In 1995, then Milwaukee Arts Board chair Alderman Wayne Frank created the Artist of the Year Award. In 2003, the award was changed to Artists of the Year to honor two artists annually. In 2020, the Arts Board renamed the award to honor the late Mildred L. Harpole, a longtime member of the Milwaukee Arts Board. Recipients are announced through a press release in April and are recognized at the annual Arts Celebration in June. In 2025, they will receive an honorarium of $1,500.

A list of past recipients can be found here.

Friends of the Arts Award
In 2012, the Arts Board created a new award, Friends of the Arts, to recognize those who, often behind the scenes, have demonstrated exemplary support to the arts community. Friends of the Arts are announced in April and honored at the annual Arts Celebration in June.

A list of past recipients can be found here.

Award Process
At the April 8 Arts Board meeting, all complete and eligible nominations will be presented and Arts Board members will rank their top three choices in each category, which will be turned into scores. The two nominees with the highest scores will be awarded. In the case that we are not able to contact a nominee within two weeks of the vote, we will have to move on to the nominee with the next highest score in that category.

Appeals

Except as defined below, the decision made by Milwaukee Arts Board is final. Appeals will only be considered under the following limited circumstances, if one of the following allegations has been made:

a) A procedural error has been made in handling the nomination; or

b) The Conflict of Interest Policy has been violated by a member of the Milwaukee Arts Board, or staff. All appeals shall be made in writing within 30 days after the announcement of the awards to Milwaukee Arts Board, Chairperson, 809 North Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Open Records Law

All contact information submitted in this form will be kept confidential to the greatest extent allowable under Wisconsin State Statutes, Chapter 19 General Duties of Public Officials, Subchapter II Public Records and Property, Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter 19.

Nominator (person submitting nomination) contact information

First Name *

Last Name *

Phone Number *

Email Address *

Zip Code of Nominator Residence *

Which award category or categories are you submitting a nomination for? (nomination form will open below when these are selected) *

Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year Award

Friends of the Arts Award

Mildred L. Harpole Artist of the Year

Nomination guidelines:

Must be a city of Milwaukee resident - search here if unsure
Open to a variety of disciplines including Arts Education, Culinary Arts, Dance, Design, Film & Media Arts, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater and Visual Arts.
Not a previous recipient of this award
Must show evidence of being active as an artist in Milwaukee in the last 24 months
Not a current Milwaukee Arts Board member
Can be nominated posthumously
Open to individual artists or bands/collectives
Self-nominations are allowed

Artist of the Year nomination (please submit phone number and/or email address if you have it, so we can contact the artist if awarded, if you do not have this information we will do our best to contact them. If we cannot get in touch with the nominee, they may be ineligible):

Artist Name *

Artist Residence Street Address

Artist Residence Zip Code

City must be Milwaukee, State must be Wisconsin

Artist Phone Number

Artist Email Address

Please describe the nominee and their artistic practice. *

0/300 words

In describing why the nominee is deserving of this award please include how their artistic practice aligns with one or more of the following purposes of the Milwaukee Arts Board:
a. Promote the development, support and enjoyment of the arts in this city.
b. Promote cultural diversity in the artistic life of this city.
c. Promote the formation and growth of artistic projects or programs that are administered by and responsive to the needs of the city's communities that have been historically underrepresented or underserved based on race, ethnicity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, or citizenship status.
*

0/300 words

Links to artist's website, social media page, press coverage, or blogs

Information on artist activity in the city of Milwaukee in the last 24 months *

OPTIONAL: Up to 5 work samples (images, resume, copy of a program, audio files, document with links to videos etc.)

Friends of the Arts

Nomination guidelines:

Demonstrates exemplary support of the Milwaukee arts community through at least one of the following:
- Mentoring or teaching creatives and/or youth in Milwaukee
- Supporting arts locally through philanthropy and/or advocacy
- Building community around the arts in Milwaukee
Not a current Milwaukee Arts Board member
Not a previous recipient of this award
Can be nominated posthumously
Can be an individual, an organization or business
Self-nominations are not allowed for this category

Friends of the Arts Nomination (please submit phone number and/or email address if you have it, so we can them if awarded, if you do not have this information we will do our best to contact them):

Nominee Name (individual, business or organization/collective) *

Phone Number

Email Address

Please describe the nominee, how they support the Milwaukee arts community, and why they are deserving of this award. *

0/300 words

How does the nominee demonstrate support of the Milwaukee arts community (select all that apply): *

Mentoring or teaching creatives and/or youth in Milwaukee

Supporting arts locally through philanthropy and/or advocacy

Building community around the arts in Milwaukee

Links to nominee website, social media page, press coverage, or blogs