Sheboygan is Only Wisconsin Community to make list of America’s Most Unique Art Towns
Sheboygan encouraging arts & crafts entrepreneurs
Sheboygan, WI – Sheboygan has recently appeared on a list of “21 of America’s Most Unique Art Towns” on Cube Smart’s blog. “Art is meant to challenge, inspire, question, and surprise. These towns stand out for reembracing art in unique and fresh ways.” Lily Rogers, author of the blog, goes on to state, “The list is to celebrate the underrated places and artists that well deserve to be appreciated in our time.”
“Over the past few years the City of Sheboygan has worked hard on improving the quality of life,” stated Sheboygan’s Mayor Mike Vandersteen. “A community that is visually appealing and has access to the arts will do better at attracting world-class talent.”
Major investments in art are currently being made. The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is building the first of its kind 39-acre Art Preserve, a $40 million project, to curate, preserve and display artist-built environments. The City of Sheboygan has designed an Art & Culture District anchored by two world-class venues, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts, in the heart of the downtown.
During the last few years within the Arts and Culture District, the City added a second outdoor concert venue known as City Green, enhanced streetscape, encouraged public art and has enhanced the public space at the Library Plaza investing over $3.5 million.
“The City has embraced the unexpected but has strived to implement placemaking centered around art culture,” stated Chad Pelishek the City’s Director of Planning and Development. “Over the past few years, we have had new painting shops downtown, interest in pottery businesses and other craft makers. Over half of the eleven applications the Harbor Centre Business District received for the downtown pop-up shops this summer were from art-related entrepreneurs.
Ever encouraging more art and craft related businesses the City of Sheboygan has partnered with the Etude Group and Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation to explore the creation of a makerspace in part to support small craft businesses. The makerspace is apart of the FreshTech Innovation District initiative.
Sheboygan is #7 on the list of 21 communities for “Americas Most Unique Art Towns.” The full list can be found at cubesmart.com/blog/post/americas-most-unique-art-towns. Sheboygan is the only community on the list in Wisconsin.
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For Additional Information, Contact:
Chad Pelishek, Director of Planning & Development
City of Sheboygan
(920) 459-3383
