About MARN
Through the lens of innovation, MARN is fearlessly cultivating cultural engagement and opportunity. MARN believes in transformative equity for all artists, regardless of their social and economic background.
Mission and Vision
Who is MARN?
Our Commitment
MARN’s Commitment to Equity
The Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) believes in the power of the arts to transform lives and enrich communities. In support of this belief, MARN is committed to being an equitable and inclusive resource to the Greater Milwaukee Area creative community. MARN honors and celebrates the differences that make up our dynamic city and how those differences contribute to a diverse and unique arts culture in Milwaukee. MARN also acknowledges how those differences come with a legacy of privilege, segregation, exclusion, and discrimination which takes deep intention to address in our commitment to equity. Guided by community feedback and prioritizing accessibility, MARN is invested in ethical progress and cyclical self-evaluation towards this commitment across all aspects of our vision, mission, and values.
What Drives Us
MARN’s Anti-Racism Commitment
The Milwaukee Artist Resource Network believes that Black Lives Matter and we stand in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, and POC communities, and all those fighting for racial justice. MARN denounces white supremacy and does not tolerate racism at any level of our organization.
The culture of systemic racism and oppression of people of color has clearly permeated most institutions, boardrooms and City Halls across our nation, and has done so for generations. MARN acknowledges our position of privilege as an organization and believes that it is important for us to listen and reflect on the feedback from our BIPOC community members as we grow and transform.
MARN understands that we must put our words into action and create a sustainable and equitable way of being. We are continuing to expand measures that bring a more diverse and inclusive culture to all levels of our organization. Specifically, all internal operations are being continuously audited for equity and anti-racism procedures and policies. MARN’s organizational culture is prioritizing communal and self-education goals to maintain awareness and understanding of personal and social bias in our decision-making. Furthermore, MARN encourages individuals from within our BIPOC communities to join us in leadership and advisory roles as we continue to grow and create more relevant infrastructure for, and by, BIPOC artists. In support of these goals, MARN is invested in equitable recruitment standards for staff, board, and committee members.
What We Believe
MARN’s Land Acknowledgement
The Milwaukee Artist Resource Network believes it is vital to acknowledge the histories and contemporary lives of the Indigenous peoples here in Milwaukee, the Greater Milwaukee area, and Wisconsin. The past and present colonization of this land continues to impact contemporary native communities and narrates an incomplete cultural understanding of the region. MARN is currently consulting with local Indigenous artists and community leaders on developing this acknowledgement into an action plan that ensures our equity practices comprehensively include Indigenous artists.
MARN acknowledges that in Milwaukee, we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.
To learn more about the importance of Land Acknowledgements and how to take action, visit The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture.
Where We Live
MARN’s Anti-Discrimination Policy
The Milwaukee Artist Resource Network believes in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment across our organization and collaborative initiatives. In our hiring processes, work environment, public events, and community relationships, we welcome and honor differences and do not tolerate discrimination. In addition to this belief in our organizational culture, we maintain adherence to Wisconsin Fair Employment Law.
The Milwaukee Artist Resource Network is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
How We Include All
Membership Driven
Growth and Goal Oriented
Continuous Improvement (Both Corporately and Individually
Integrity, Respect, Diversity, Inclusion, and Excellence
Evolving and Strong Criteria and Evaluation Practice
Self-consciousness of Values in All Actions
Our Values
Engaging with curiosity and honesty
Practicing patience and respect
Listening and seeking to understanding each other
Expressing empathy
Investing in our own diversity, equity, and inclusion journeys
Our Rules of Engagement
Volunteer at MARN
Currently, we are a partner working along side MIAD’s Service Learning Community. In their junior or senior year, all MIAD students complete a three credit Social Science course (HS380), which includes 35 hours of service in the Southeastern Wisconsin area.
Interested in helping our mission at MARN? Want to volunteer your skills? Reach out to admin@marnarts.org
Become a Member
Join an arts community supported by MARN’s goal to build a network of focused, equipped and creative workers, prepared for the challenges they will face and the skills necessary to meet those challenges. Community members, creatives, arts organizations, and art appreciators are all welcome to join.
