This episode of ITP finds host Elisabeth joined by team member Rachel Shields Ebersole for a conversation with the Executive Director Jaymee Harvey Willms and Senior Curator Phoenix Brown from the Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Museums. In the conversation, they dig into some of the changes they have implemented and plan to implement to evolve the programming at, and experience of, attending the museums.  

Drawing inspiration from Sarah Allis’s will, the CAVT of today still seeks to “delight, educate and inspire.” The current staff at CAVT is made up of creatives, including Harvey Willms and Brown. As Harvey Willms reflects, “Artists are problem solvers...we are people who look at a system and see where it needs to be interrupted or supported.”  

In alignment with the goals of Milwaukee County, CAVT is focused on thoughtfully stewarding taxpayer dollars to contribute to the local culture as an art and civic institution that is a driver to public health outcomes by increasing access to art, shared histories, and public green space. CAVT also wants Milwaukeeans to see themselves in their spaces and programming—and provide opportunities for respite. Brown and Harvey Willms hope their vision can help the institution become more relevant to support not only physical health but also the mental health of Milwaukee citizens.  

CAVT is committed to becoming a more active player within the creative economy and becoming known as a museum that models new practices for supporting emerging and local artists. New museum stores will feature local makers, a revitalized residency programming has launched, and the organization is making investments in emerging artists. Brown hopes that through their vision, CAVT can demonstrate to Milwaukee that contemporary art is accessible. They also hope to keep funds in the local creative sector—by creating opportunities for artists and cultivating a cultural exchange where local artists are more supported—and continue to invest in Milwaukee.  

Follow the CAVT Museums on Instagram @charlesallisartmuseum and @villaterracemuseum 

Jaymee Harvey Willms 

Phoenix S. Brown 

John Michael Kohler Arts Center 

Anselm Kiefer 

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Washington County 

CIVAL COLLECTIVE 

MIAD 

Cincinnati Art Museum 

Milwaukee Art Museum 

Milwaukee County’s Healthy County Initiative 

Museums for All 

Fredrick Law Olmstead Parks in Milwaukee 

America’s Black Holocaust Museum