STATEMENT FROM BRONZEVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS BOARD PRESIDENT KRISTEN HARDY

MILWAUKEE – Mar. 15, 2022 – The following statement was issued today by Kristen Hardy, President of the Bronzeville Center for the Arts (BCA) board, following the BCA’s closing on a 3.4-acre property previously owned by the state and formerly occupied by the Wisconsin DNR Southeast Regional Headquarters and Milwaukee Service Center:

“Today, the Bronzeville Center for the Arts officially owns the property that will be transformed into Milwaukee’s first art museum centered on the art, culture and history of the African diaspora. The closing today officially kickstarts our design process as we look forward to partnering with the community to reimagine the parcel and work to expand Bronzeville’s legacy as a vibrant artistic hub of the Midwest.”

ABOUT BRONZEVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Established in 2020, the Bronzeville Center for the Arts (BCA) centers the art, culture, and history of the African Diaspora. Located in Bronzeville – a historically African American neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – the BCA invites audiences of all ages to engage with dynamic exhibitions and enriching educational programming. The BCA seeks to advance institutional equity, connect intergenerational audiences, and provide a place for people to experience intellectual and cultural exchange.

The Center promotes current and future artists and art professionals by opening a lens to the history and heritage of Black artists. Central to the BCA’s mission is removing barriers from the enjoyment of art and forging a future that is more creative, connected, and historically informed. Bronzeville’s bustling entrepreneurial and artistic history serve as the foundation for the BCA, inspiring us to continue to honor and embody this multifaceted heritage. Learn more at www.BCAMKE.org.