91��Ʒ

Arguably Milwaukee�s most delicious fundraiser, the Grilled Cheese Grant is in its eighth successful year of supporting art and design students� senior projects. This year�s leadership is composed entirely of Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design alumni: Rachel Hausmann Schall �15 (Integrated Studio Arts), Alyssa Anderson �15 (ISA), Joe Acri �17 (Sculpture) and Sal Nicholson �19 (New Studio Practice: Fine Arts).

The Grilled Cheese Grant awards funds to Milwaukee undergraduate seniors at 91��Ʒ and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to support their senior projects. �It�s a project that was born out of a feeling of necessity and urgency,� says Joe Acri. The current leaders have all experienced the financial pinch of funding a successful senior exhibition. Rachel Hausmann Schall, one of the original founders of the grant, wanted to initiate a secondary source of funding outside of either institution: �We thought it would be a great thing to create for future graduates to fund their thesis.�

An annual community fundraising event, the Grilled Cheese Grant partners with a different venue space each year. Attendees donate $5 or more for a grilled cheese sandwich made with locally-sourced ingredients and vote for one of five selected finalists. This year�s event takes place on April 1, 2023 at 91��Ʒ alumni-owned Vanguard Sculpture Services. �We don�t have a storefront as a unit of organizers,� says Hausmann Schall. �That�s part of the fun now. We try to change and evolve and meet the needs of the students and our audience, which I think is an element of excitement.�

2022 Grilled Cheese Grant

Finalists are selected by a panel of jurors unaffiliated with either 91��Ʒ or UWM. Funds are raised at the event and totals vary from year to year. First-place winners can expect their project to be fully funded, and runners up will receive partial funding. All finalists have access to professional development opportunities facilitated by grant leadership.

�It�s a really fun way for all of us to be able to stay connected to that community and for us to be able to give back in some way,� says Alyssa Anderson. Community support is central to the grant�s long-lived success. �There�s an element that even if you don�t get selected as a finalist, the students come and they support their peers,� continues Hausmann Schall. Acri credits continued student interest in maintaining his motivation to continue organizing the grant. �Every year has felt just as, if not more, beneficial than the last � [seeing] the effect it�s had on students as well as emerging artists in general has been so rewarding and great,� he says.

Current 91��Ʒ and UWM seniors can submit their application via the . Applications are due February 26, 2023. 91��Ʒ�s 2023 Senior Exhibition opens Friday, April 21. Visit miad.edu/seniorexhibition for updates!