SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The John Michael Kohler Arts Center began a free summer concert series in 2014, but for 2015 they took steps to increase its presence in Sheboygan. Teaming with the City of Sheboygan and Sheboygan Squared, the series saw a weekly event consisting of several performances, food trucks, and other activities.
The results were impressive for JMKAC personnel. "We exceeded all of the goals that we had set, so we’re excited to look forward to next year’s concerts," says Deputy Director for Programming Amy Hort. Attendance to the series was around 14-thousand, more than the expected 11-thousand.
Hort says there were more than just the wide array of music that brought people to downtown Sheboygan. “Some people really loved the lawn atmosphere and being able to set up with their families. We had a lot of comments from people that they really enjoyed the comaraderie and the community of it and really having a moment every Thursday that they could come together with their friends and family and just enjoy something in a public space.”
The impact was also felt beyond the arts center. Cynthia Echols, Chief Advancement Office for JMKAC, says the economic impact to that area was greater than expected by 130-thousand dollars. She credits working with others for this success. “The city has been a fantastic partner for the arts center, and there in with us again already as is Sheboygan Squared, the business improvement district.”
Echols adds this concert series is the first step towards the city's development of a culture, arts, dining district. “Serve not only our community members but also tourism, and this is one of the first steps towards that, where we’re driving people into that urban corridor, giving them something really wonderful to do.”
SO WHAT'S NEXT?
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center, the City of Sheboygan, and Sheboygan Squared will be working together again to continue the concert series in 2016. Dates will be June 16 through August 18.
Horst says there will be a few changes following comments received from the public, but some things will remain the same. “People loved the food trucks, they loved the activities. Actually they’ve asked for some more activities. So I think we’ll probably have activities that go the length of the concerts rather than having them beforehand.”
Horst adds there is also a growing interest in having more groups be a part of the series in some form. “We’re really trying to figure out how we can do with a streamlined system to get as many people involved and as part of that concert series as possible. So we’ve started talking to some partners and reaching out to folks already.”
The big question is who will perform their music at the series. Last year there was a wide variety from rock to blues to country to hip hop to ethnic folk. “We had really run the gamut as far as styles of music, and we plan to do that again this year," says Danika Williamson, JMKAC Performing Arts Coordinator. She says there are feelers being put out in the Sheboygan area to see what people would like to see next year.
The series was helped in getting talent by receiving a 25-thousand dollar grant from Levitt Amp, nearly doubling their budget to pay for artist's fees. The arts center is again looking to get another grant. “All the money from the grant goes towards artists fees, so that enables us to bring in higher level performances for the year," says Horst. She adds if they don't get the grant, the concert series will continue on, but the talent may not be as well known.
Online voting is underway to determine which 15 concert series across the country will receive a grant. Find out more by clicking here.