Remember that “Moving City” art car? You know, that 2003 Ford Ranger that was fancied up by artist Sarah Davitt as part of the City of Milwaukee’s inaugural Public Artist in Residence Program (PAIR)? You know, that fancied-up 2003 Ford Ranger that was meant to draw attention to the city’s reckless driving problem? That fancied-up 2003 Ford Ranger that nearly every Milwaukeean got mad about when the thing broke down and it needed repairs, and it was revealed that the whole project had cost $88,000?
Yeah, that one.
Good times. Anyway, PAIR announced its latest phase on Monday! It’s looking for an artist to come up with a project that will pair with the Milwaukee Fire Department, and that will address safe housing. “The residency will utilize the visibility of MFD’s fire stations and vehicles to highlight the fundamental human right to affordable housing and safe, survivable housing,” a press release explains. “MFD is uniquely positioned as anchors in every neighborhood and centrally immersed in every one of the many diverse communities in Milwaukee.”
Brave enough to apply? Click HERE. Proposals are due March 16 at 11 a.m. (Oh, and the City is looking to fill a PAIR Liaison position, too.)
According to the press release:
The intended outcome of the residency is for the artist and host department to assess community needs and develop or improve programs and initiatives through creative problem-solving. The nature of the collaboration will evolve based on the interests of the selected artist and the department’s needs. The program also creates opportunities for cross-sector networking and offers a collaborative, generative space to explore new models for artist residencies forced on social impact.
The first three months of the residency will focus on introductions, immersion, and learning. As the artist and PAIR liaison learn about city processes, and city employees learn about the artist’s approach to problem solving, those experiences will be shared with the public for transparency and engagement.
As for program’s budget, the Request For Proposals (RFP) explains:
The PAIR budget includes up to $45,000 for payment of the Artist’s time and up to $25,000 for the development, implementation and fabrication of the project. Additional in-kind resources may be provided by both the MAB and the host agency. Private funding has been secured to hire a PAIR Liaison who will offer logistical support for PAIR including problem solving, documentation and evaluation.
Project costs are inclusive of all related expenses, such as printing, materials, training, equipment, video production, etc. The Artist is responsible for insurance, and for managing the project budget and submitting invoices.
“The next phase of the Public Artist in Residence program reflects safe, stable housing as the foundation for strong neighborhoods and a thriving city,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson says in the press release. “By partnering with the Milwaukee Fire Department, we are approaching housing safety in a way that is creative, community-centered, and proactive. This collaboration recognizes that preventing tragedy and strengthening housing conditions requires visibility and innovation, and this initiative brings all of this together for the benefit of Milwaukee residents”
“Safe housing is a matter of dignity, equity, and public safety. Through the Public Artist in Residence program, we recognize that artists are essential civic partners,” District 6 Alderwoman and Chair of Milwaukee Arts Board Milele A. Coggs says in the press release. “We are opening new pathways to engage residents, raising awareness to this critical issue, and addressing the real conditions impacting Milwaukee families. This initiative will ensure every Milwaukeean has access to safe and stable housing.”
“The Milwaukee Fire Department is deeply committed to reducing injury and death from fire. We believe that the very best fire rescue is the one that we do not need to make—that is to say, if we can prevent a fire from happening, that is the real win,” Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski says in the press release. “Further, if a fire does occur, if proper smoke detection and alarms allow for occupants to self-evacuate, that is the real win. Because we reside on the very margin of success and failure over and over and over again, we are uniquely positioned to draw attention to the issue of safe and survivable housing.”
Oh, and while it’s easy to poke fun of “The Moving City,” it’s worth mentioning that PAIR is a program that, you know, supports artists.
“The global budget figure for the Art Car includes a comprehensive outreach program that brought artist Sarah Davitt and PAIR liaison Angela Livermore into multiple communities for hands-on artmaking around traffic safety,” Milwaukee Arts Board Vice President Polly Morris told FOX6 in 2024. “Also, and not inconsequentially, it was a model for a way to support artists in our City, to keep them here, by compensating an artist to devote a year of work to a project. This is something that no other program in Milwaukee offers. Think about that the next time you want to pay an artist a couple of thousand dollars to make a mural and then expect them to make a living.”
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