About Us
APT is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organization that works to connect artists, musicians and the community in support of local school art programs. All funds raised are donated directly to our partner schools.
Mission
Arte Para Todos (art for everyone) was conceived as an answer to the defunding of art and music programming in schools, but it also serves as a replicable model of sustainable service to the community. We will always have the city we ask for, either explicitly or through apathy and inaction. Arte Para Todos is based on the idea that culture is an act of will, and that if we want a healthy, vibrant city where the arts can flourish then we have to act on that desire.
History
In its first three years, the annual arts fundraiser Arte Para Todos has raised over $60,000 with 100% of proceeds going to support art programs in Milwaukee schools! APT has brought together 100's of different artists and musical acts in over 40 venues in various Milwaukee neighborhoods, providing an incredibly rich cultural experience to the city while investing in our creative future.
Future
APT will continue to produce and execute Milwaukee's largest local music celebration and raise funds and awareness for our school's art programs.
APT Partner Stories
Every year we select partners to support with the funds raised from the festival and other APT events. We mainly focus on Milwaukee schools' art programs, but are open to supporting art and music education in all it's forms throughout the city.
Tamarack Waldorf High School
One of our recipients in 2015, we were very happy to work with the fine folks at Tamarack Waldorf. WIth the $7,000+ APT donated, they have been able to do a mural project as well as install a blacksmithing lab for students to learn the ancient art of metalwork, instructed by Kent Knapp of Milwaukee Blacksmith. Thanks to local filmmaker Wes Tank for putting together a documentary on the newly obtained workshop.
La Escuela Fratney
Another 2015 recipient out of Milwaukee's Riverwest Neighborhood, La Escuela Fratney, has been able to use APT funds to add art-culture to the school's atmosphere as well as construct group art projects for the students to participate in. Projects there are ongoing and we will update when new projects arise.
2017 Wrap-Up
In late April, the third annual Arte Para Todos benefit festival spanned throughout 22 venues in 5 Milwaukee neighborhoods over 4 days. 90 musical acts and 20 visual artists performed, all donating their time and talents to support art programs in Milwaukee schools. Arte Para Todos 2017 raised $21,410. Being 100% volunteer-based, all of this money will go to support the following:
$10,000 of the funds will go to the MPS Foundation. This money will be used to support the Turnaround Arts programming at Roosevelt Middle School and Dr. MLK Jr. Elementary School. The funding will be used at these Turnaround Arts schools for their 2018 school musicals. With this donation, the schools will more easily be able to afford supplies, contracted support service, after school transportation for cast and crew for rehearsals, printed materials, and related field trips for inspiration. APT team members were lucky enough to attend these schools' incredible 2017 musicals and see how they affected students. We are excited to see more in the future.
A donation of $6,000 will go to Milwaukee High School of the Arts (MHSA) to buy equipment for a Digital Arts Workshop class under the supervision of Art Instructor Carolyn Hoelzer. Funds will go to purchasing tripods, sound recorders and DSLR cameras. MHSA students will then be working with the Veterans Affairs hospital and Dry Hootch, getting to know veterans during several visits over three months time. Initially, they will research veteran's issues and listen as they tell their personal stories. This will culminate in students using photography and sound to create a multimedia portrait, which they will eventually present to the veterans as a gift.
$3,000 will be donated to Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School to partner with Jazale's Art Studio to produce a music and art-making program. Under the supervision of Nora Justin and Mikal Floyd-Pruitt, this will include a series of workshops and studio visits carried out by professional artists. The program will culminate in a joint-exhibition featuring student-made works, collaborations between students and Jazale's Artists-in-residence, pieces the artists make in reaction to themes presented by students, and interactive installations where students and Artists-in-residence lead community members through a live artmaking experience. The exhibition will be open to students, family, community members, and the city's art community.
The remaining $2,410 will be donated to special education art programs at Milwaukee High School of Arts through DonorsChoose.org.