A new pilot project called "Phantom Art Galleries - Wisconsin" is underway in parts of the state, to beautify the empty stores that plague many downtown areas by showcasing local art.
Organizers in Superior are open to all mediums, but note performing arts could be tricky; Marshfield organizers say emerging artists will have a chance to exhibit their work alongside experienced artists.
Matt Duckett is with the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse, another "Phantom Art Galleries" city, which has 30-40 vacant storefronts. Duckett says they'll rotate the art every month and artists can sell their pieces.
"That's kind of the spirit of the initiative, to motivate and activate the artists in town," says Duckett. "I think it's widely understood that artists are very good at moving into blighted areas or less economically developed areas and sort of turning all that around."
The Wisconsin Arts Board is funding the project through a federal grant. The Board's Karen Goeschko says art can dramatically impact a space that was once seen as depressing.
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"These projects revitalize the space so much that they actually appeal to people who would be investing in either renting our buying those spaces. So, it's in the landlords' best interest to engage with the project, because it helps people see the space in a completely different light."
Goeshko says the "Phantom Art Galleries" project is also underway in Chilton, Manitowoc, and Platteville. She says similar projects have been successful in Chicago, Tucson, and Seattle.
