United Performing Arts Fund - UPAF

06/03/2026

This past Sunday, May 31, 2026, the UPAF Ride for the Arts presented by Miller Lite was our largest Ride since 2019, with more than 3,200 riders coming together in support of the performing arts across Southeastern Wisconsin.

From the unforgettable ride across the Hoan Bridge to the energy of performances throughout the day, this year’s Ride was a powerful reminder of what our community can accomplish together. Riders of all ages took on up to 20 mile routes across Milwaukee’s lakefront, downtown, and beyond, with many participants even looping the course multiple times throughout the day.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made this event possible:
• our fundraising teams
• our volunteers
• our sponsors and partners
• our UPAF Member organizations and performers
• our small but mighty staff who work behind the scenes for months to bring this celebration to life

Most of all, we want to thank YOU – the riders! Every mile pedaled and every dollar raised helps support a vibrant performing arts community that reaches hundreds of thousands of people throughout our region each year.

Take a look through the album, see if you can find yourself, and relive an incredible day celebrating community and the arts.

Registration for the 2027 UPAF Ride for the Arts is already open: https://events.upaf.org/event/2027-upaf-ride-for-the-arts-presented-by-miller-lite/e803960. So tell your friends and bring them next year so we continue make this Wisconsin's largest recreational bike event.

One Ride. Regional Impact.

📸 Photos by Meg Strobel Megow

06/02/2026

UPAF's Ride for the Arts 2026 was a rousing success!

With the most riders since Covid (over 3,200!) and perfect weather, we enjoyed seeing each and every one of you bike over the Hoan, or the Arts path, take in the amazing Member performances at UPAF fest or one of the Oasis stops, or some combination of it all. Your generosity helped us raise over $340,000 on Sunday for the performing arts in Southeastern Wisconsin!

We're also happy to celebrate that the Ride kicked off on the first day of the Wisconsin Bike Fed's "Wisconsin Bike Week"! Check out all the cool events happening this week where you can bring your bike: https://wisconsinbikefed.org/wisconsin-bike-week/

And here at UPAF, we're already looking forward to June 6, 2027 - Save the Date for UPAF's Ride for the Arts 2027!

05/30/2026

Ride for the Arts is TOMORROW May 31!

We can't wait! And don't worry if you haven't registered yet, you can still register tomorrow at the North Gate of the Summerfest grounds.

Weather is looking to be a little cool in the morning with a high of 70 degrees (according to our friends at WISN), but no precipitation in the forecast at all! We think that sounds like the perfect weather for bike ride across the Hoan.

Planning out your first ride, or just want to be prepared for your twentieth? Here's the "Know Before You Go" information we emailed to registered riders this morning:
https://conta.cc/4fgKRrp

See at least 3,000 of you tomorrow, Milwaukee for another great Ride for the Arts!

Email from UPAF Get Ready to Ride on Sunday May 31!     UPAF Ride for the Arts - Know Before You Go! Sunday, May 31, 2026 Henry Meier Festival Park Get Ready to Ride! Here's What's Inside: Ride Gu

05/27/2026

UPAF, The Marcus Corporation, and the spirit of connection all come together for this week's feature!

At United Performing Arts Fund, we love seeing how the performing arts are connected to the experiences that surround them. Dinner before a show, drinks after a performance, a concert with friends, or even a weekend staycation that includes exploring the arts and entertainment in Southeastern Wisconsin!

That spirit of connection is on full display through The Marcus Corporation’s workplace giving campaign; highlighting the power of participation, community engagement, and shared experiences.

From the fun energy of their annual Music Bingo kickoff to meaningful conversations around arts education and access, employees heard how the arts help strengthen our Southeastern Wisconsin and create opportunities for future generations.

We were especially grateful for remarks from Maggey Oplinger of Florentine Opera Company, along with insights shared by Greg Marcus, Marcus Campaign Chair Mark McDonald, and UPAF Campaign Co-Chair Vince Vitrano, who spoke to the importance of UPAF and the performing arts, including the role played in the cultural and economic vibrancy of our community.

The arts are woven into so many of the big memories and moments we share, and partnerships like these help ensure those experiences continue to inspire, connect, and enrich for years to come.

05/26/2026

2026 Ride for the Arts custom jerseys are here!

Whether you’re taking on the iconic Hoan Loop or enjoying the family-friendly Arts Path, this jersey is the perfect way to show your support for the arts while being part of Wisconsin’s largest recreational biking event.

Order yours today and pick up at packet pick up (Wed May 27 at the Avenue or Saturday May 30th at the Summerfest North Gate) or get one at the Ride merch stand on the day of the ride. Limited quantities, so when they're gone - they're gone!

https://upaf.org/2026-ride-jersey

05/24/2026

THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHY THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY… 🎭

When Ella, Max, and Olivia were young performers — involved in everything from community theater to First Stage Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Skylight Music Theatre — Nicole and I made sure they volunteered for the United Performing Arts Fund - UPAF Community Campaign.

Of course, it helped the campaign to have kids involved in fundraising.

But for us, it was about something bigger.

We wanted them to understand why they had those opportunities in the first place — the chance to see a show, be in a show, learn music, dance, and acting… and experience all the confidence, creativity, friendships, and life lessons that come with the arts.

Those opportunities existed because UPAF made the case every year to generous donors. Because people gave. Because millions of dollars were raised to support an incredible performing arts community here in Milwaukee.

We wanted our kids to understand that not every child… not every city… not every community has this.

Now it feels full circle as I help lead this year’s campaign as UPAF co-chair, working toward our $9.5 million goal.

The UPAF Ride for the Arts presented by Miller Lite is one week away, and I’d love to see you there — or have your support for this important work.

Link in comments 👇👇

05/23/2026

Are you registered for Ride for the Arts? Have you picked up your packet containing your 2026 Ride for the Arts shirt, bike bib, and more?

Today is one of the last days to do so! Head on out to Wheel & Sprocket Bayview from 11 am - 2 pm today to pick yours up. You can even register on site or beforehand (www.upafride.org ) and pick up there!

Not available today? No worries, you have two more chances to pick up your Ride packets:
🚲 May 27 - The Avenue |Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
🚲 May 30 – Summerfest Gate 1 (north gate) – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

We can't wait to see you!

05/22/2026

It's not news to us - but it may be news to other cities: Milwaukee tops the list for places to live for creative people and creative spaces!

In a state like Wisconsin that is 49th in arts spending - how did Milwaukee do it? Well, we know there are many ways (check out the article for how this was calculated), but we at UPAF believe we're part of that magic formula.

18 cents. That's how much Wisconsin spends per capita on the arts, and how we earned that 49th of 50 badge. But in Southeastern Wisconsin, UPAF's funding efforts (and your generous donations) mean that we raise that in our area to $3.52 per person. That's a 1,855.56% increase, in case you're wondering. That kind of funding means creatives get the spaces, the jobs, and living wages to create.

And that makes us top of the tops! Congrats Milwaukee!

Milwaukee is the top-ranked city in the country for creative people and creative spaces, according to a new report by Squarespace.

05/21/2026

Some people say the kick off to summer is Memorial Day weekend. At UPAF, we like to think of it as the weekend after that with the Ride for the Arts! UPAF's own Annemarie Scobey-Polacheck was excited to talk about that, plus three shows you could go see this weekend on this edition of What's Brewing Wisconsin on TMJ4 News!

Looking to plan this weekend and next? May we recommend:
🚲 Registering for Ride for the Arts (remember: kids 12 and under ride free, thanks to a generous donation from the Milwaukee Brewers Foundation) on May 31: https://f.mtr.cool/hhubrwilii
🎭 Checking out Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's production of Lorraine Hansberry's trailblazing classic: "A Raisin in the Sun"
🎭 Laughing along with George Burns and Gracie Allen in Milwaukee Repertory Theater's production of "George & Gracie."
🎵 Beginning the celebration of America's 250th birthday this year with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's "America the Beautiful: Patriotic Pops" featuring Broadway favorites and patriotic classics like “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “America the Beautiful.”

It's always fun talking with What's Brewing about the many shows that grace the stages each and every weekend in Southeastern Wisconsin - we hope we see you in the audience soon!

The United States of America celebrates 250 years of nationhood this year, and UPAF shared some of the uniquely American stories gracing stages near you this season.

05/20/2026

Smell of pancakes in the air? North Shore Bank's annual pancake breakfast, served up by Mike Kellman and Cheryl Lang, kicked off their UPAF workplace giving campaign in the best way possible.

Employees were buying arm-lengths of raffle tickets for the fabulous prize drawings, bringing incredible energy and enthusiasm to the week. The crowd also loved their morning performance by Festival City Symphony musicians Ellen Willman, Andrea Buchta, and Ingrid Titcheva, adding the perfect artistic touch to their campaign kick off.

Amid events throughout the week — including a fabulous food truck — North Shore Bank also hosted a special gathering for members of their emerging leaders group to learn more about Next Generation UPAF, featuring standout performances from Skylight Music Theatre’s Samantha Sostarich.

On this , we're reflecting on opportunities like this to connect with employees across departments and generations. These moments go far beyond fundraising, as they build understanding, spark new relationships, and help people see the direct impact the performing arts have on our community, our workplaces, and the next generation of leaders.