Dozens of students from the Peck School of the Arts attended a special networking event designed specifically for aspiring artists and creative entrepreneurs. The event, which took place at the Milwaukee Artists Resource Network (MARN) in Milwaukee’s Third Ward neighborhood, drew students from each of the school’s visual and performing arts departments.
UW-Milwaukee’s Center for Student Experience and Talent (SET) coordinated the event in partnership with PSOA to give students an opportunity to connect with leaders and opportunities across several arts, creative and cultural organizations.
The collaborative event is one example of how UW-Milwaukee is addressing a need for industry-specific career support, including arts disciplines that are often overlooked by career services at other institutions. UWM takes an innovative “career communities” approach, pairing students with dedicated staff, tailored resources, networking events and experiential learning opportunities that align with their interests and professional goals. One such grouping is the Film, Visual, and Performing Arts Career Community.
According to SET Executive Director Laurie Marks, this year was also the first time at UWM that a career fair included the word “arts” in its title, attracting employers and internship sites that are of particular interest to students in the Peck School of the Arts.
The significance of this level of support and the benefits that come from this type of event are not lost on students.
“It is important for college students to begin making connections now so that by the time we graduate we can have a web made of people who can help support us and give advice on where they’ve been,” said Annika Hauser, a junior in the Music Education program. “I got to connect with someone from UPAF [the United Performing Arts Fund], which was really cool and really nice to talk with her.”
Shane Omen is finishing up his senior year studying Digital Fabrication & Design and Jewelry & Metalsmithing. For him, just attending an event like this was a step in the right direction for his professional development. “I think networking is one of the most important parts of school. Skills are great, but people can connect you to opportunities. I struggle with reaching out to people and putting myself out there, so events designed for this purpose are very helpful.”
The event featured a panel of speakers with diverse ties to the region’s creative economy. The panelists were David Busse (Video Producer, CI Design), Ellie Jackson (WaterMarks Project Manager and Arts Career Community Co-lead, UW-Milwaukee), Kelsey Kaufman (Owner, Cactus Club), KT Mullen (Artist and Writer), and Jene Tate (Fashion Designer and Event Coordinator, Unfinished Legacy).
Panelists shared insights into their own academic and career paths and took questions from students. The students prompted honest dialogue and connected with the professionals on a variety of topics, including a question about “imposter syndrome.” That resonated with Andy Beyer Bowden, a Film major who captured photography of the event through his campus job.
“I enjoyed that someone asked that question,” he said. “Because it’s the kind of tough, true anxiety that I might face when I’m creating in my own art. And there is no simple answer to overcoming it. But insights and creativity are simply so. They come when they come, and when they don’t, you feel like an imposter even when you shouldn’t.”
In addition to the panel, students mingled with representatives from a variety of organizations and took advantage of open invitations to nearby organizations and firms. That included a tour of the Broadway Theatre Center hosted by Milwaukee Chamber Theatre.
“I love theater. It’s always a little weird walking into theatrical spaces because theater is such a community practice,” said Maia Correia-Fill, a Dance BFA sophomore. “I was a little timid walking into the space, but the team at MCT is very committed to developing the professional Milwaukee theater scene. Their passion was palpable. It was very refreshing and inspiring to see working professionals committed to elevating their scene, while still involving their community.”
All students who participated in the event qualified to receive a free one-year membership to MARN. According to the MARN website, memberships provide a variety of benefits, including access to MARN’s Art + Culture Hub, eligibility to exhibit their work, discounts on curated exhibition application fees, and more.