Creativity Works HERE: Grand Avenue Mall

Many American cities are going through a “personal crisis” of sorts, working hard to try and discern in this economy what their new claim to fame might be–are they a tech incubator? A hot spot for alt-music, film-making and creative business in general? An industrial center? A socially progressive community? What is really neat about Milwaukee, is that as it tries to define itself, I see, more and more, that Milwaukee will resist simple labeling. Milwaukee is ALL those things previously mentioned.

Tech incubator? Take a look at VETransfer and SPREENKLER.

AltMusic/Film-Making/Creative Business? Visit the classic Cactus Club or Turner Hall Ballroom. Check the high energy at the 48-Hour Film Project and the Milwaukee Film Fest. To realize how Milwaukee has creativity in spades, check out the Creative Alliance, the Gravity Connect coffeehouse or Art Milwaukee.

Industrial Center? Look at the new businesses moving into the Menomonee Valley, like Helios USA, Charter Wire, Caleffi Hydronic or Taylor Dynamometer.

Socially Progressive Community? Check out SweetWater Organics, Dream Bikes, Artists Working in Education, and Pridefest. If there’s a social concern, Milwaukee likely has a group working on it!

These thoughts and more were going through my head as I attended the “Creativity Works Here” event at the Grand Avenue Mall. The Grand is making a big effort to develop a “creative epicenter” in the Plankinton Arcade. They are offering special lease rates to local creatives, artists, and small business owners. They’ve already gotten a few significant tenants–Art Milwaukee, Spreenkler, VETransfer and Milwaukee Public Theatre. There are still spaces to fill though, and it was very encouraging to see how many people came out to learn more about this initiative. Tracy Korpela, of the Grand Avenue, and Brett West from the architectural firm, Kahler-Slater, gave an introduction to the program and described their vision of what the Grand could be for creatives.

They sound very committed to working with the local creative community, and I would encourage any creative small businesses to definitely look into this! I can see some businesses thinking that they might not have the financial resources to afford their own office space; the Grand recognized this possibility and is open to businesses to sharing space, thereby lowering each others’ costs. I really hope this program takes off. The Grand Avenue is a beautiful space and our downtown wouldn’t be the same without it. So please, spread the word: Creativity Works HERE!

Next, the Grand Theatre needs to get re-opened! I would LOVE to see a movie there, right on Wisconsin Avenue!

I had the good opportunity to make some new acquaintances last night, meet “in real life” some Twitter friends, and build upon some already established relationships also. I met “in real life”, Judy Pinger, a 20+ year Milwaukee Public Library employee, who is also a member of their excellent Twitter-Team. I got to chat with Tina Klose, a talented graphic designer and swell person. I caught up with my friend Laurel Osman; she is the communications director for the Creative Alliance, a Milwaukee Bucks Energee dancer, and recently a photo-model! Though I’ve seen the name “Art Milwaukee” often, until last night, I’d not met its founder, Jeremy Fojut. From conversing with him, it sounds like AM has some really big plans for their space at the Grand!

Before I left, I popped into the space of VETransfer and learned about their very innovative program. VETransfer is a pilot-program–the first of its kind in the country–and helps veterans start their own businesses. Founded by Ted Lasser (pictured), VETransfer will offer work-spaces, meeting rooms, and classes for vets who want to start their own businesses. They’ve got 5 members so far and are expecting to have over 40 by summer’s end!

If you are a creative business, I’d sincerely ask you to consider basing yourself in the Grand Avenue Mall. “Creativity Works Here” is a really swell idea!