Successful Creative Fusion gala closes Our Creative Future campaign

Raising more than $10 million is no small feat. The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) announced it had exceeded its comprehensive campaign goal of $10 million after its annual fundraising gala Creative Fusion: Fashion Forward, where donors generously raised more than $485,000 in scholarship support on May 6, 2023.

Our Creative Future, MIAD’s comprehensive campaign co-chaired by Trustees Madeleine Lubar, Sarah Zimmerman and Bob Mikulay, aims to fuel students’ promising careers, the college’s award-winning programs and Milwaukee’s creative hub. Announced at the 2022 Creative Fusion gala, the results of the campaign will provide the resources to fund everything from scholarships to innovative programs to community outreach.

“As long-time board members of MIAD and committed members of our Milwaukee community, we are certain of two things. Milwaukee is a city of great pride, civic engagement and promise. And, since 1974, MIAD has brought unmatched, nationally recognized value to our local creative economy by launching the professional careers of thousands of designers, entrepreneurs and creatives,” the campaign’s co-chairs wrote.

Integral to the successful completion of the Our Creative Future campaign was the 2023 Creative Fusion: Fashion Forward gala, co-chaired by Nezih & Katrina Hasanoglu and Laura & Adam Peck. The event celebrated MIAD’s new Fashion and Apparel Design major. Thanks to the amazing efforts of the co-chairs, MIAD staff, faculty, students and alumni and all of MIAD’s donors, the event raised more than $485,000 for student scholarships.

In addition to all that Our Creative Future campaign has fueled, from scholarships to new and expanded programs and facilities, MIAD President Jeff Morin expressed, “to look to the future from a position of stability and strength as we create our next five-year strategic plan and work to make Milwaukee and MIAD more equitable and vibrant places to explore and launch careers.”

Read more about the 2023 Creative Fusion event, learn more about supporting MIAD, read the Our Creative Future Campaign Report 2023 and explore MIAD’s new Fashion and Apparel Design major!