Local Youth Introduced To Architecture, Urban Planning, And Creative Placemaking Through The Lens Of Hip Hop Culture

MILWAUKEE – This week the Bronzeville Center for the Arts (BCA) hosted a groundbreaking Hip Hop Architecture Camp, spearheaded by “the Hip Hop Architect,” Michael Ford of BrandNu Design Studio. The week-long intensive experience introduced local and underrepresented youth to architecture, urban planning, and creative placemaking through the lens of hip hop culture.

The camp, which took place during Bronzeville Week at Gallery 507, the BCA’s newly completed headquarters and gallery space at 507 W. North Ave., invited 30 Milwaukee students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to develop architectural concepts for the BCA, expressing their visions through rap verses and music video production. Throughout the week, students were brought together with top architects, urban planners, designers, community activists, and hip hop artists.

“Hosting the Hip Hop Architecture Camp was an opportunity to lean into our mission to celebrate and nurture African American art and culture for all,” said Kristen Hardy, Board Chair of the BCA. “This program not only introduced local youth to potential career paths in architecture and urban planning, but also empowered them to envision the future of their own community. It’s been a powerful combination of creativity, culture, education, and community engagement.”

Throughout the week participants engaged in hands-on design sessions, learned 3D modeling techniques, collaborated to create architectural designs and, as a capstone to the camp, wrote and produced an original Hip Hop Architecture track and music video.

Ford, owner of BrandNu Design Studio and founder of the Hip Hop Architect Camp, based the program around what he calls the “4C’s” – Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking.

“By combining creative expression with practical skills, the camp can spark interest in STEM fields and empower young people to actively shape their neighborhoods and city through key projects like the Bronzeville Center for the Arts,” Ford said. “In a time when diverse voices and perspectives are needed in urban development, this experience helps nurture the next generation of visionaries who will inspire a more inclusive and vibrant Milwaukee.”

To learn more about Hip Hop Architecture Camp, visit hiphoparchitecture.com. Learn more about the BCA at bcamke.org.

ABOUT BRONZEVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Established in 2020, the Bronzeville Center for the Arts (BCA) was created to highlight and celebrate African American art. Located in Bronzeville – a historically African American neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – the BCA invites people of all ages to engage with its 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 BCA 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 serves as the foundation for the BCA, inspiring us to continue to honor and embody this multifaceted heritage. Learn more at www.bcamke.org.