gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix provides Milwaukee-based artists with three different program offerings throughout the year:

• Seven-Week Accelerator Program: Participants receive seven weeks of individualized mentorship to strengthen the business side of their creative practice. Grants of up to $10,000 will be available to Milwaukee-based artists participating in the accelerator program, which runs twice a year. The deadline to apply for the Spring 2025 application cycle is March 2, 2025. The accelerator program will run from April 21 - June 6, 2025.

• Master Classes/Professional Development Workshops: These virtual and in-person workshops and webinars are open to the public and designed to equip artists with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their professional growth within the art industry. Topics include Artist Talks (artists speaking about their work and their career paths), How to Write Artist Statements, How to Market Yourself as an Artist, and webinars focusing on helping artists navigate the contemporary art market. 

• Mentorship for Artistic Success/Office Hours: Artists may sign up for one-on-one consultations with gener8tor Art staff, who provide tailored guidance on the gener8tor Art application process, as well as in navigating the intricacies of the art market and cultivating sustainable artistic practices.

7 weeks of programming, including:

• One on one meetings with gener8tor Art staff

• Meeting with mentors

• Lunch & Learns with mentors

• Networking events

• Artist talks

You should plan on having at least one half hour- to hour long meeting with gener8tor Art staff per week, plus 1-2 more hours meeting with mentors or attending events.

Ends with a celebratory event to showcase your work.

Participants will receive grants up to $10,000 to invest in their art practice.

• Goal setting

• How to build a customer base

• Mental health

• Ecommerce platforms

• Online presence

• Budgets and studio management

• Studio visits

• Presenting your artwork

• Telling your story as an artist

• Social media

• Artist statements

• How to price your artwork

1-3 hours in meetings with gener8tor Art staff, mentors, other artists and working on professional development projects.

• The application is open from January 13, 2025 - March 2nd, 2025. The deadline to apply is March 2nd at 11:59 PM CT

• Artists will be notified about the status of their application by April 8th

• The seven-week artist accelerator program will run from April 21 - June 6, 2025

• Applications will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals from outside of Wisconsin

• Applications will be judged based on the quality of work samples submitted and the artist statement

• The panel or jury will select up to 5 artists for the Spring 2025 application cycle

• Any artist or creative professional in Milwaukee

• Any artist who is 18 years or older

• Milwaukee artists and creative professionals

• Emerging artists

• Artists interested in focusing on the business side of their art practice

• You don’t have to be a professional artist to apply, you just have to be interested in being a professional artist

• You can be self taught

• You can be in school (you just have to be 18 years old to apply)

Yes, you must live in Milwaukee to apply. You must reside within one of the following zip codes to apply:

53154, 53210, 53213, 53214, 53216, 53218, 53219, 53220, 53222, 53225, 53226, 53227, 53228, 53223, 53224, 53110, 53202, 53203, 53204, 53205, 53206, 53207, 53208, 53209, 53211, 53212, 53215, 53217, 53221, 53233, 53235

• Fill out the application online

• The application is open from January 13, 2025- March 2nd, 2025. The deadline to apply is March 2nd at 11:59 PM CT

• Applications will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals from outside of Wisconsin

• gener8tor Art staff will conduct interviews with finalists

• Artists will be notified about the status of their application by April 8th

• The seven-week artist accelerator program will run from April 21 - June 6, 2025

• Name, email, phone number

• Are you applying as an individual artist or a collective?

• Zip code

• Website

• Social media 

• Artist statement (A statement of who you are creatively; a description of your creative work (300 words or less)

• Up to 7 artwork samples and the accompanying artwork details (title, date, medium, dimensions, brief description)

• How long have you been a practicing artist (0-5 years, 6-10 years, 11 or more years)

• How did you hear about this program

• Demographics information

• Employment status

• Income range

Yes, programming will be made available over zoom for those who prefer a virtual option.

• Master Classes/Professional Development Workshops: These virtual and in-person workshops and webinars are open to the public and designed to equip artists with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their professional growth within the art industry. Topics include Artist Talks (artists speaking about their work and their career paths), How to Write Artist Statements, How to Market Yourself as an Artist, and webinars focusing on helping artists navigate the contemporary art market. 

• Mentorship for Artistic Success/Office Hours: Artists may sign up for one-on-one consultations with gener8tor Art staff, who provide tailored guidance on the gener8tor Art application process, as well as in navigating the intricacies of the art market and cultivating sustainable artistic practices.