Completed Projects

Since our inception in the fall of 2013, ArtRoot has:

• Formalized a vision statement (2014) and created an initial list of short, medium, and long-term tactics to realize the vision (2015), subsequently updated several times.

• Inventoried the arts and culture resources in Racine and created a Wikipedia page (2014): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arts_and_Culture_Resources_in_Racine,_Wisconsin

• Initiated biannual ArtsMixers to enhance networking opportunities among area artists, arts professionals and arts advocates (2014). As of fall 2025, we have hosted 19 ArtsMixers with attendance ranging from 50 – 100 people.

• Collaborated with Visioning a Greater Racine to organize a visioning session for Racine’s arts community. Over 50 artists, arts supporters, and representatives of local arts organizations attended the November 21, 2016 session held at the Racine Public Library.

• Developed a Writer-in-Residence program, beginning in January 2017, for local writers. The Racine Literacy Council is the program’s current sponsor. Two writers are selected each year as residents for 6 months. Writers-in-Residence are provided with a $1,500 stipend. Residents update a blog each week and complete a community project. Seventeen writers from Racine and Kenosha have been WIRs so far.

• Created a Facebook page to post information about art events and opportunities around town with the goal of fostering a diverse, engaged and interconnected community (2017).

• Partnered with Ask Me Why I Love Racine and University of Wisconsin - Parkside beginning in 2017 to produce the first design in the Wall Poems of Racine project. Wall Poem #1 was installed and unveiled in 2020.

• Started an ArtRoot welcome wagon in 2017 to introduce creatives moving to Racine to the local arts scene. The committee has welcomed 48 individuals to date.

• Compiled a comprehensive Resources Guide (2018). The guide, published on our website, includes information on funding, exhibition opportunities, residencies, work spaces and much more.

• Created and began distributing an ArtRoot Art Card to market visual and performing arts organizations and projects in Racine (2019). The Art Card was updated in 2020 and 2023.

• Received a grant of $4,110 in 2021 from the Wisconsin Arts Board Creative Communities Program to support the creation of two new Wall Poems of Racine (#2 and #4) in 2021 - 2022.

• Incorporated as a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation in 2021.

• Completed Wall Poems #2 and #3 in 2021 and held an unveiling event for Wall Poem #2 with 50+ attendees.

• Received a grant of $4,100 in 2022 from the Wisconsin Arts Board Creative Communities Program to support the creation of two new Wall Poems of Racine (#5 and #6) in 2022 - 2023.

• Completed Wall Poem #4 in 2022, which was the first wall poem that included a Spanish translation, and held an unveiling event with 40 attendees.

• In 2023, hired a graphic designer to refresh all of our printed materials, including the welcome wagon packet.

• Starting in 2023, began offering arts consultation services to individuals, local organizations, businesses and government to help expand opportunities for local artists.

• Completed Wall Poems #5 and #6 in 2023 and held joint unveiling events with over 60 attendees.

• Received $6,000 from the Wisconsin Arts Board Creative Communities Program in 2023 to support the creation of Wall Poem #7 in 2023-2024.

• Partnered with the Racine Art Museum to curate in 2023 a permanent collection of local art for Hotel Verdant in downtown Racine; 22 visual artists from Racine and Kenosha are represented in the collection. Also curated a collection of books by local authors and artists for the hotel’s lobby area.

• Released a new video in 2024 about the Wall Poems of Racine. Shot and produced by Reservoir Video Co., the video highlights how this collaborative project supports and celebrates Racine's vibrant literary community while showcasing UW-Parkside's talented graphic design students.

• Completed Wall Poem #7 in 2024; 40 people attended the unveiling event.

• In 2024, partnered with multiple arts organizations to establish the Racine County Arts Initiative. RCAI’s goal is to position Racine as a Creative Corridor and provide data-driven insight to strengthen arts and culture, collaboration, tourism and community growth.

• In 2025, worked with RCAI and Leadership Racine to create and distribute an arts patron survey to gain greater insight into arts audiences and their economic impact on Racine. The collected data was summarized in a graphically accessible format and distributed to area arts organizations.

• Participated in UW-Parkside’s spring 2025 exhibition, Lakefront Collage: A Survey of Racine and Kenosha Art Spaces.

• Added the Racine Arts Council’s comprehensive Arts Calendar to the ArtRoot website in 2025.

• Completed Wall Poem #8 in 2025; 50 people attended the unveiling event.