Ever wonder what it would be like to be Neo in the Matrix?

In our 10th episode, the gang takes a break from COVID19 updates for the first of their Experts series where they ask Milwaukee's artists, arts administrators, and creatives - specialists with highly trained eyes, ears, and senses - what they see when they experience the world that we share.

Julia Griffith, Program Manager at Historic Milwaukee (https://historicmilwaukee.org/), talks about basements;

Karlies Kelley, Panadanza Dance Company (https://www.facebook.com/panadanzaofficial/), talks about authenticity in movement;

Adam Qutaishat, Q Music, (http://www.adamqutaishat.com/) talks about losing the connection on stage;

Brit Nicole, Spoken Word Artist (https://www.facebook.com/brit.nicole.18), talks about getting lost in the story.

Audio Transition: "Spectacullah (https://cullah.bandcamp.com/album/spectacullah) by Cullah

In addition to updating the week 2 progress of the MKE Artist Relief Fund (an additional $31,000 to 71 more artists, bringing the grand total to just over $44,000 to 99 artists in two weeks!), the gang celebrates some of the innovations of the Milwaukee arts community getting online and continuing to connect with their supporters and audiences during #SafeAtHome.

Wisconsin Conservatory of Music: MKE Sing Along (https://www.facebook.com/wcmusic.org/)

Eclipsed (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/eclipsed?fbclid=IwAR1sxJZ6m-eiw2fRebgs1nzZAwGUZQqvwxB0EaXw8JeE9WWiuZHp2DySBdo) and #OurHometoYourHome

Milwaukee Online Concert and Comedy Series (https://www.facebook.com/groups/milwaukeeonlineconcert/)

Ex Fabula Virtual Storytelling Workshop (https://www.facebook.com/events/820375135132674/)

Without a guest, David steps in as our 2-min Arts and Culture Czar and declares that it will be the arts and culture community that not only helps us through Covid-19 but will also be key to building a stronger city afterward. David misattributed his Ezra Pound quote to T.S. Eliot. Whoops.

Donate to the MKE Artist Relief Fund (https://www.imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/donate.php)

Audio Transitions: "Can't Help It," by Rexxx (https://rexxx.bandcamp.com/)

In this week's episode, the gang discusses Imagine MKE's COVID19 response and how you can get involved with the MKE Artist Relief Fund, story collection, and shaping our public policy response.

Due to social distancing for the foreseeable future, Mac and David recorded this week's episode over Zoom, which accounts for the webinar level sound quality for Mac (sorry, guys, but this was better than the call quality on the Rodecaster pro - boo!).

Learn more about the Imagine MKE COVID19 Response here. (https://www.imaginemke.org/be-an-arts-champion/covid19-action.php)

Donate to the MKE Artist Relief Fund here. (https://www.imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/donate.php)

Audio Transition: "Caroline's (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJeBfmow6X0)," by Amanda Huff

We recorded this episode with Julia Griffith, Program Director at Historic Milwaukee (https://historicmilwaukee.org/) just before the S fully hit the F.

It's probably our best episode thus far - the right mix of fun bits and expert knowledge about our city (100% from Julia) - and since we are all social distancing, you should listen.

Support our COVID19 MKE Artist Relief Fund here: https://www.imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/donate.php (https://www.imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/donate.php)

If you're an artist and you need to apply, please do so here: https://www.imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/apply-to-receive-support.php (https://www.imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/apply-to-receive-support.php)

Audio transitions: "GGOOLLDD (http://www.ggoollddband.com/) (The rousing bridge to this song should give us all strength through this trying time, "...all we need is two hearts and a stereo.")

In this very special episode, the gang welcomes Megan McGee, Executive Director at Ex Fabula (www.exfabula.org), to talk about how a small arts organization like theirs, with a focus on bringing people together to build community, is dealing with the disruptions due to the threat of COVID-19.

Megan shares a number of important insights about how the supporters, audiences, and funders of arts and culture groups can keep the sector strong through this crisis. Resources for freelance artists dealing with COVID-19 (https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/).

Audio transitions: "Let Go (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRN3ne75Wh0)" by Lex Allen

The gang welcomes Jim Neuner, with the Milwaukee Theater Alliance, who has been working with our Support for Artist work group on the agenda item to expand access to spaces for artists to work, rehearse, show, and perform. Jim joins the pod to reports on his interesting, paradigm shifting findings on the availability of spaces in Milwaukee.

Joyful abundance audio drop transition: "Fast Cash Babies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VGYlmeg0QI)" by Lil Chicken (now Chicken P) and Jigg.

Jim celebrates ArtWorks for Milwaukee (https://artworksformilwaukee.org/), an organization that strengthens Milwaukee's workforce through arts internships that help teens develop career skills.

This week, Mac and David visits with Jared Judge, Founder and CEO of BookLive (www.booklive.com), a Milwaukee-based tech company that helps get artists booked for gigs.

The gang share some fun stories of their first gigs, we learn about what Jared wanted to splurge on after his first gig, and they discuss the opportunities for artists of all disciplines in Milwaukee to get connected to the service.

Shout outs to #ImaginaryFriend @TheDanCondon and #FriendofthePod Antonio Butts for supporting the pod.

Audio transition: "Reparations" by Lorde Fredd33 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft4EZPAkOk8)

Mac and David welcome their first guest, Kennita Hickman, who is also an Imagine staff member leading the Support for Artists and Outreach work group, to the pod to discuss why Milwaukee doesn't have the infrastructure to produce a cultural icon like Prince and they begin to envision what would it take to create one. Clearly, this is a part 1 of a longer conversation.

Celebration of Joyful Abundance audio drop transition: "Fast Cash Babies (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VGYlmeg0QI)" by Lil Chicken (now Chicken P) and Jigg.

Kennita celebrates the development of arts and cultural infrastructure in Milwaukee like No Studios and Imagine MKE.

In this Bonus edition of the pod, Mac gets updates from Imagine MKE staff on the progress of each work group, Marketing & PR (2:59), Support for Artists (8:56), Public Policy & Engagement (20:34), and Neighborhood Partnerships 27:46).

The gang also shouts-out Work Group members who've been "doin' the work" and gives a preview of whats to come during the March round of Work Group meetings. 

All are welcome to participate, as long as you're willing to prep and take action afterwards! 

CLICK Here to RSVP (https://www.imaginemke.org/arts-calendar/) for your work group meeting.

Audio transitions: "All of Everyone at Once," Ruth B8R Ginsburg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nmCb63l2wI)

In this Bonus Episode, David reviews the progress that the organization has made against the shared agenda in the Second Quarter and previews some of the upcoming products in the Imagine MKE pipeline for the Third Quarter.