WELCOME TO OUR NEW HOME!

Yes, it is all true – we’re moving!

Walker’s Point Center for the Arts has fulfilled one of its biggest dreams: we are purchasing a home of our own! We are now legal owners of a beautiful, 6,000 sq.- feet cream-city brick building at 839 S. 5th Street, in the heart of the historic Walker’s Point neighborhood.

Quick facts about our new building:

839 S. 5th Street is known as the M. Trock building. Constructed in 1885, this two-story, Cream-City brick building was most recently a home to La Causa Child Development Center. Renovated in 1997 by the Walker's Point Redevelopment Corporation, the building was completely updated with the new plumbing, electrical and HVAC system and is environmentally safe and sound.  Over the years, the building has housed a number of retail and light manufacturing establishments including a sweet shop, a dentist’s office, Quality Store Fixture Co., Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., and the Metropolitan Gallery run by another prominent Walker’s Point citizen, Kent Mueller.
Our purchase was made possible through financing by IFF, the largest community development financial institution exclusively serving nonprofit corporations in the Midwest, with below-market rate financing for organizations serving low-income and special needs populations.

What we are gaining:

With the acquisition of the new building, WPCA’s space will increase by one third. An expanded gallery on the building’s first floor will allow us to present two concurrent exhibitions: the main gallery will continue to feature curated contemporary thematic exhibitions (including our staple Annual Members Show) and the additional “salon” will better serve our members by exclusively highlighting their work. The ground floor will also house our administrative offices and an intimate performance and community resource room. With two large sunny classrooms totaling nearly 2,500 square feet, the second floor will triple WPCA's current classroom size. This will permit us to grow our educational offerings and maintain our commitment to under-served and at-risk youth. With the continuous decreases in arts instruction within Milwaukee Public Schools, programs we provide fill this acute gap by engaging children in the arts and teaching them important life skills through the immersion in an integrated, holistic, cross-disciplinary curriculum. We are especially looking forward to the return of Afternoons with Art and populating our rooms with the bubbly energy of our neighborhood kids.

Fulfillment of our mission:

In short, while on one hand we are returning to our roots on 5th Street, where we humbly started 23 years ago, the expanded space and a sole occupancy give us an opportunity to better fulfill our mission and offer enhanced, more holistic services and programming to our members, to our neighbors and the entire Milwaukee’s art scene.

Vision:

Since our beginnings, we have always had a vision for a home of our own – a stand-alone art center with a greater street visibility. It has been a key part of our strategic plan. A combination of three essential factors – today’s favorable real estate market, excellent fiscal management and a strong leadership of our board – made the completion of this crucial step possible. Yet, our ambitious expansion would not have happened without tremendous support we have been fortunate to receive. We are thankful for our members, volunteers and donors, enthusiastic and dedicated staff, and strong community involvement that all together contributed to our success.

Past and Present:

Beginning with a visionary idea of a handful of Milwaukee women to create a unique art center in the heart of a working class Milwaukee neighborhood, in 1987 we started operating in a small storefront gallery on South 5th Street, just off National Avenue. Venturing into one of the city’s most historic, but economically challenged neighborhoods, we have always been striving to serve both those struggling to secure a better life for themselves and their families, as well as those whose fortunes offered more financial security.

By becoming a property owner on the street that is fast becoming a center of night-, artistic and cultural life, WPCA will not only further flourish as a multi-faceted arts organization, but we will also continue our tradition of contributing to the stability and economic vitality of Walker’s Point. A neighborhood’s anchor and an oasis of joy and peace for the youth of our community for nearly quarter-century, a place to showcase Milwaukee’s premiere artistic talents, WPCA seeks to further enhance the livability and vibrancy of Walker’s Point by providing a welcoming, safe, multi-purpose cultural space for children, community members and artists – to gather, socialize, learn, theorize and organize.

How can you help and contribute:

We are excitedly preparing to receive the keys to our new home in the upcoming weeks. We will keep you informed regarding the details of our move and will soon announce our first open house to give you a sneak-peak preview of our new space. WPCA has always relied on our members in all its most successful projects. We anticipate many opportunities for you to continue to assist us in this new chapter of our historic voyage.

If you would like to volunteer,

please e-mail or call us.