Black Arts MKE

Black Arts MKE’s mission is to increase the availability and quality of African American arts and culture.  We’re a Black-led performing arts organization who serves predominantly Black communities. Focused on youth education and Black audience development, all multi-disciplinary programming is rooted in the full diversity, complexity, and intersectionality of the Black Experience.

We annually produce signature events Milwaukee Black Theatre Festival, Black Nativity by Langston Hughes, and I AM. Summer Camp – featuring all-Black, MKE-based performing and teaching artists. We inspire creativity in thousands of school-aged youths each year via educational performing arts residencies and year-round youth internships.  Black Arts MKE supports over 100 MKE-based artists representing nearly $275K in 1099 wages last year.

We’re a recipient of the APAP ArtsForward, NEA Grant for Arts Projects, Ruth Foundation for the Arts, The Black Seed, The Lewis Prize for Music, The Shubert Foundation, and Theatre Communications Group national awards. Black Arts MKE is a producing theatre with World Premier Wisconsin. We are a member of TYA/USA, proud Member Group of the United Performing Arts Fund and Resident Group at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.  Black Arts MKE is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation.