John Michael Kohler Arts Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1967 |
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| Location | 608 New York Avenue Sheboygan, Wisconsin  United States |
| Visitors | 160,000/yearly |
| Public transit access |  Shoreline Metro |
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is a special place in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA. It's a not-for-profit art museum and a place for live performances. The center shows and keeps unique art, especially "artist-built environments." These are like entire spaces or rooms created by artists. In 2021, the Arts Center opened a new museum called the Art Preserve. This new spot is just for these amazing art environments.
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A Look at the Arts Center's History
The Arts Center started in 1967. It was founded by a group called the Sheboygan Arts Foundation. This group later changed its name to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The center is named after John Michael Kohler, whose family home became the very first part of the museum. This historic house is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1966, the Kohler Foundation gave the Kohler family home to the Arts Foundation. The center officially opened the next year. Since then, it has grown a lot! It's now about 100,000 square feet (9,290 square meters). This huge space includes eight art galleries, classrooms, art studios, and two places for performances. There's also a shop and a café.
Many people visit the Arts Center each year, about 160,000! Since it opened, around 4 million people have explored its art. The center puts on up to 30 different art shows every year. It also runs the country's first art-focused preschool. The Arts Center has another small shop and exhibition space called ARTspace in nearby Kohler, Wisconsin.
The center offers many fun activities. These include art shows, dance performances, festivals, and concerts. You can also take art classes, watch demonstrations, or go on tours. A program called Connecting Communities started in 1997. It brings artists together with local communities. They work on projects like sculptures and public art.
Amazing Art and Exhibitions
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is famous for showing contemporary art. They often feature artists who are self-taught or use everyday materials in their work. Many of these artists are from Wisconsin.
The center has the largest collection of art by Eugene Von Bruenchenhein. He was a self-taught artist from Wisconsin. He made a lot of art but wasn't well-known until after he passed away in 1983. The Arts Center helped share his amazing work with the world. Today, the museum holds over 14,000 pieces by him!
In 2012, the center received the Mary Nohl Art Environment. Mary Nohl was an artist who created a unique art space at her home. The Arts Center helped save much of her work. Her art environment is special because it's one of the few created by a woman artist.
The Arts Center always has new and exciting exhibitions. They often feature new art and pieces made just for the center. Different galleries might focus on a single theme. Past shows have included works by artists like Ebony Patterson, Lenore Tawney, and Nek Chand.
Arts/Industry Residency Program
A very special part of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center is the Arts/Industry residency program. It was started in 1974 by Ruth DeYoung Kohler II and her brother Herbert. This program lets artists spend three months working at the Kohler Co. factory in Kohler, Wisconsin.
Artists get to use the factory's materials and equipment. They can work with pottery, brass, iron, and enamel. It's a unique chance for artists to create art in an industrial setting.
The Arts Center is also known around the world for its artist-designed washrooms. These unique washrooms were created through the Arts/Industry program. Artists like Ann Agee and Matt Nolen designed them. So far, almost 500 artists have been part of this special residency program. The Art Preserve also has four more artist-designed washrooms.
Exciting Performing Arts
The Arts Center's performing arts program started with small concerts. It grew bigger in 1970 with the start of the Youth Symphony. That same summer, the center also put on its first Summer Theatre season.
Many talented performers have appeared at the center. These include dance companies like the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Sean Dorsey Dance. Musicians like Esperanza Spalding have also performed there. The center hosts a variety of shows, from dance to music to theater.
See also
- Art Preserve
