gener8tor and Sherman Phoenix Announce gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix 2023 Fall Cohort
Nine Milwaukee Artists Receive Grants and Mentorship
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – gener8tor, in partnership with Sherman Phoenix, announces nine artists selected for its Fall 2023 gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix accelerator. The talented recipients of the fall grant funding are Samuel Allen, Andrea Cabrera Manuel, Mikal Floyd-Pruitt, Molly, Hassler, Nykoli Koslow, Daniel Murray, Symphony Swan, Brandom Terres-Sanchez, and Seth Ter Haar.
Artist profiles are provided below, along with a press packet providing details about each of the artists and their work.
The gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix accelerator was founded in 2023 with funding and support from the WEDC’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.
“The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation understands that the arts are a key part of economic development,” said Missy Hughes, Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). “In addition to making Wisconsin a thriving place where people want to live and work, artists are often entrepreneurs in their own right, facing the same challenges as other businesses as they grow.”
The program will conclude with an end-of-program exhibition scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 18 from 2-5 p.m., hosted at the Sherman Phoenix. This exhibition will showcase the artwork of the Fall 2023 gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix cohort.
Beyond the 7-week accelerator program, gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix also aims to benefit 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 collaborate with this exceptionally talented group of Milwaukee artists.
“I firmly believe that by equipping these artists with vital business skills, they can enhance their prospects for both financial and creative success” said Smith.
The artists chosen for the gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix Fall 2023 cohort underwent a rigorous selection process. They were carefully selected from a pool of 117 applicants based on several criteria including artistic talent, the compelling nature of their portfolios, their strong career aspirations, and their potential to significantly benefit from the program. This selection process was overseen by a panel of esteemed arts industry professionals, including Sophia Padgett Perez of CPS Lives, Francine Almeda from Heaven Gallery, and Maria Seda-Reeder of Wave Pool Gallery.
