BRONZEVILLE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Bronzeville is a historic African American neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was, in its early to mid-20th century heyday, one of the major centers of Black life in that city. Home to more African American businesses than any other part of Milwaukee in the 1930s, an unfortunate policy-induced decline was well underway by the 1960s.

But, today, the area is poised for a significant revitalization. The proposed Bronzeville Center for the Arts (BCA) is one such project, and one that will help restore the district’s former energy and vitality.

In 2021, the BCA contracted Lord Cultural Resources to develop a master plan for the Center, including refinement of the concept, development of planning assumptions related to visitor experience, collections, operations, staffing and space, and finally the projection of attendance, operating revenue and operating expenses for the first three years of operation of the new facility. The Master Plan takes into account the larger neighborhood context and will be one element of a larger arts, entertainment and commercial destination for Milwaukee residents and visitors alike.