About
Mitchell Street Arts was founded in 2022. The driving idea behind the organization was to create a space for creative abundance that remixed the concepts of fine art in a modern world and community space. The origin story is rooted in a series of conversations with local residents, artists, and community leaders. Rather than assume, we asked multitudes of community members: what would you like to see in an arts center? Most of what can be seen in the present day at MiSA is a direct result of that feedback. Our home on Historic Mitchell Street serves as the base for our arts programming with an emphasis on education and empowerment, complete with a gallery, a stage, and a makerspace.
Our central purpose is to make bridges: to utilize art as a vehicle to connect where there are places of misunderstanding. We do this by collaborating with community organizations and artist groups from around the city. Our stage hosts interactive theater troupes, spoken word poetry, open mic nights, community dialogues, and more. Programming is multi-lingual and takes place in English and Spanish.
In addition to hosting performing arts, our makerspace contains a wood shop, ceramics studio, photo darkroom, and more. It is a place for traditional and non-traditional artists to connect and collaborate, and a classroom for our community to learn new skills. Through an artist-in-residence program, we provide free studio space and gallery time to local artists.
We aim to foster arts access and creative place making projects in this beloved city of ours.
Mission
Mitchell Street Art (MiSA) expands equitable access to arts education, creative resources, and economic opportunity for Milwaukee’s historically underserved youth, immigrants, families, and emerging artists. Located on Milwaukee’s South Side, MiSA provides a community- centered makerspace, free and flexible payment-based classes, mentorship, and public programming designed to ensure access regardless of financial means.
Vision.
By supporting artistic skill-building, cross-cultural connection, and pathways to creative careers, MiSA strengthens community identity and contributes to a more inclusive and vibrant local arts ecosystem.
Values
Respect
Vulnerability
Diversity
Equity
Justice
Accessibility
Advocacy
Promoting Arts Education
MiSA builds relationships with Milwaukee schools and affiliated programming to bolster the education system in Milwaukee. Access to the arts, most especially pertaining to youth, can be limited; MISA seeks to remedy this inequity.
The creative process is vital to every student’s learning. By offering classes in our makerspace to local schools and affiliated programs, students can learn in small groups with local experts in their respective fields, ranging from ceramics, analog photography, wood-working, dance, and more. Students succeed most when they have the freedom to explore learning in a safe and positive environment of knowledgeable instructors and peers.
MiSA is devoted to cultivating the arts in the practical application found in the careers and personal trajectory of MiSA’s community.