This page is a compilation of arts and culture resources available in Racine, Wisconsin, United States.
Art museums Racine Art Museum is dedicated to the exhibition, education, collection and preservation of contemporary visual arts, with a focus on artists who create meaningful statements in craft media. RAM's Wustum Museum of Fine Arts displays works in fine art and craft media that are organized around specific themes. RAM also offers arts education through Wustum Museum, where it has community outreach programs, studio art classes and workshops taught by regionally and nationally known artists working in craft media.Peggy Sue Dunigan, "Wustum Museum Highlights Wisconsin Photography", Express Milwaukee, August 20, 2012."Wustum Studio Art Program", Racine Art Museum. Retrieved April 2, 2014. SC Johnson Gallery: At Home with Frank Lloyd Wright displays a rotating selection of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs and artifacts, and explores the architect's influence on families and the American home."SC Johnson Gallery/Frank Lloyd Wright Gallery", ABC7 Video. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
Cultural institutions Racine Public LibraryLee Roberts, "Exhibit spotlights importance of libraries — and funding cuts that threaten them", Racine Journal Times, January 24, 2013.Lindsay Fiori, Students meet Racine Reads 1 million books goal, Racine Journal Times, February 1, 2012.Bridget Thoreson, Racine Public Library’s bookmobile had a banner year in 2011, Racine Journal Times, January 21, 2012. Racine Heritage MuseumLee Roberts, "The Racine Heritage Museum showcases Racine County's unique history", Racine Journal Times, January 30, 2014.Lee Roberts, "Racine Heritage Museum is a window to county's history", Racine Journal Times, September 18, 2014. Preservation Racine is a nonprofit organization established in 1973 to identify and actively encourage the preservation of buildings, sites, and districts in the Racine, Wisconsin area which have historical, architectural, and cultural value. The organization holds an annual tour of historic buildings to raise awareness and money for its mission.Lee Roberts, "Preservation Racine’s Tour of Historic Places: 7 buildings to be featured at Sept. 29 event", Racine Journal Times, September 15, 2013. Racine Zoological Gardens: The zoo has approximately 100 different species of animals from Wisconsin and around the world.Stephanie Jones, "Racine Zoo ramps up marketing; memberships now at nearly 2,000", Racine Journal Times, August 19, 2013.
Theater companies Racine Theatre Guild: RTG is a community theater that provides a variety of live entertainment and educational opportunities for all ages. RTG annually offers a season of eight main-stage plays and musicals, Racine Children's Theatre, Jean's Jazz Series and Comedy TonightLee Roberts, "Local theater groups ready to take the stage", Racine Journal Times, September 12, 2013"SC Johnson grant boosts Racine Theatre Guild, Children’s Theatre", Racine Journal Times, February 8, 2014. Over Our Head Players/6th Street Theatre:Elizabeth Snyder, "Racine’s ‘edgier’ community theater has been going strong for 20 years" Prime Magazine, 12/29/2013.
Performance groups (poetry and music) BONK! Performance Series: A monthly event that aims to bring poetry, art, and performance to the local arts community.Lee Roberts, "BONK! series to present its 65th show", Racine Journal Times, February 13, 2014. Family Power Music/Grassroots Wednesdays Open Mic and Artist Showcase: Grassroots Wednesdays is an open mic and artist showcase."Grassroots Wednesday's Open Mic & Artist Showcase", Racine Journal Times, December 11, 2013.
Visual arts organizations Art For Uptown is a grassroots initiative to revitalize Uptown Racine through the arts.Adam Rogan, "Mural project looks to brighten Uptown, attract business and young people", Racine Journal Times, September 10, 2018.Adam Rogan, "#ArtForUptown adds two new murals", Racine Journal Times, September 5, 2019. Racine Arts Council encourages, supports and advocates on behalf of emerging and established artists, artistic groups in our community and young people interested in the arts.Lee Roberts, "Scene & Heard: Racine County potters play with fire for ArtSpace show", Racine Journal Times, March 20, 2014.Lee Roberts, "Racine Arts Council to showcase new Artspace during Gallery Night", Racine Journal Times, November 19, 2009. Black Arts Council of Racine is an organization that highlights and develops local African American artists and encourages them to pursue their artistic passions.Katie Knoff, "The Black Arts Council of Racine Halloween contest winners", Racine County Eye, November 4, 2020. Spectrum School of the Arts & Gallery offers art classes and exhibits the work of member artists.Aaron Knapp, "Love is in the art: Spectrum gallery artists giving away works during February exhibit", Racine Journal Times, February 8, 2014.Lee Roberts, "Scene & Heard: Fall entertainment is in full swing", Racine Journal Times, September 19, 2013. Racine Art Guild promotes creative art for the mutual benefit of members and to advance the appreciation of art in Racine."Racine Art Guild presents first themed exhibition", Racine Journal Times, February 3, 2013. Racine Camera Club helps local photographers improve the quality of their images and learn new techniques, along with holding photographic exhibits and contests."Camera Club celebrates 75th anniversary with exhibit", Racine Journal Times, January 9, 2014. Lighthouse Quilters Guild promotes the art of quilt making and related textile areas.Lee Roberts, "A quilt fan's dream", Racine Journal Times, October 8, 2009.
Galleries Art Metals Studio is a store and gallery in downtown Racine featuring custom designed jewelry.Lee Roberts, "Bringing it home for Gallery Night", Racine Journal Times, July 15, 2010.Lee Roberts, "Scene & Heard: Plenty of new local music, art to enjoy", Racine Journal Times, April 21, 2011. Artist's Gallery is a cooperative of 40 regional artists located in downtown Racine."‘Urban Rhythms’ photography show opens at Artists Gallery", Racine Journal Times, April 1, 2014. Mahogany Gallery is a gallery, cultural center and creative space in Uptown Racine dedicated to educating, exhibiting and exploring the diaspora of Black American artists, literature and history.Rachel Kubik, "Mahogany Gallery moves from Kenosha to Uptown Racine", Racine Journal Times, September 20, 2020. It is one of only a handful of Black-owned bookstores in Wisconsin.Rachel Kubik, "There are only a handful of Black-owned bookstores in Wisconsin; Racine is home to one of them", Racine Journal Times, September 20, 2020. Northern Lights Gallery in downtown Racine features fine art, photography, limited edition prints, ceramics, blown glass, sculpture and jewelry."Sand Sculpting is focus of Saturday's Art Venture in Downtown Racine", Racine Journal Times, July 14, 2011. OS Projects is a contemporary art gallery in downtown Racine featuring visual artists from the Chicago-Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee urban corridor in solo and small group exhibits.Zach Mortice, "A New Gallery in Racine, Wisconsin, Plays off Its Historic Brick Surroundings", Metropolis, August 21, 2019."OS Projects presents Seams Apparent: Maureen Fritchen & Gina Lee Robbins", Shepherd Express, July 13, 2019. Photographic Design Gallery displays photographs by the owners, along with shows by visiting artists in various media.Lee Roberts, "Forty years between shots - Photo exhibit depicts Downtown Racine then and now", Racine Journal Times, August 3, 2012.
Music organizations Belle City Brassworks performs concerts in Racine and Kenosha that showcase guest artists.Lee Roberts, "Scene & Heard: Euphonium soloist to perform with Brassworks Sunday", Racine Journal Times, November 7, 2013.Lee Roberts, "Belle City Brassworks is going strong after 20 years for the same reason the group got started … for love of music", Racine Journal Times, November 6, 2008. Belle Ensemble, a professional vocal chamber music ensemble, was founded in 2015 with funding from a Racine Arts Council ArtSeed grant. Their repertoire covers a diversity of European and American choral works, performed for audiences at Racine and Kenosha venues.Alyssa Mauk, "ArtSeed grant award recipients announced", Racine Journal Times, August 30, 2016.Lee Roberts, "Belle Ensemble presents 'An Old Fashioned Christmas'", Racine Journal Times, December 15, 2016.Caitlin Sievers, "Belle Ensemble, Park students to collaborate in poetry, musical performance", Racine Journal Times, September 11, 2018. Choral Arts Society of Southeastern Wisconsin is an auditioned community chorus of between 60 and 70 singers who perform master choral works and present musical outreach programs. The CAS's repertoire includes major classical choral works, operettas, show tunes, gospel, and original works by contemporary composers.Lee Roberts, "Choral Arts Society’s upcoming season boasts musical diversity", Racine Journal Times, October 10, 2013. Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps are an all-age co-ed drum and bugle corps that focuses on education and mentorship. The Kilties perform each year throughout the country in drum corps shows, parades, concerts and exhibitions.George D. Fennel, Racine : drum and bugle corps capital of the world, Arcadia Publishing, 2008.Alan R. Karls, Racine's Horlick Athletic Field: Drums Along the Foundries, The History Press, 2014. Racine Concert Band has been offering free public concerts for over 90 consecutive seasons."Racine Concert Band final concert set Aug. 14", Racine Journal Times, August 8, 2016. Mark Eichner, the band's director, says "We're committed to the great American tradition of family-friendly outdoor concerts in the style of the famous Sousa band.""Racine Concert Band strikes up its 96th season", Belle City Magazine, July, 2018, pp. 24-27.Delbert Eisch, And the Band Played On: A Fascinating Look at the History One of America's Elite Community Bands, Independent publisher, 2010. Racine Symphony Orchestra performs five to six concerts per year, three pops concerts, two to three Masterworks concerts, and an annual concert for fifth graders.Lee Roberts, "Trio of upcoming RSO concerts feature music for a lifetime", Racine Journal Times, March 13, 2014. Spirit of Racine Music Makers is an ensemble of musicians, vocalists, hand bell and chime ringers that endeavors to bring peace, social justice and love to the world through music."Spirit of Racine Music Makers offers festive Irish music virtually", Racine Journal Times, March 16, 2021. The Dairy Statesmen is a men's a capella show chorus that performs a variety of music, from standards to barbershop music, in the Racine area."Dairy Statesmen to hold guest night", Racine Journal Times, June 25, 2016.Lee Roberts, "Sharing the love for Valentine's Day", Racine Journal Times, February 3, 2016.
Concert series Animal Crackers Concert Series presents four summer concerts featuring national and international recording artists performing in a wide variety of jazz genres, from traditional to hybrid forms. The concerts are held at the Racine Zoo.Lee Roberts, "Scene & Heard: Animal Crackers 2013 lineup unveiled", Racine Journal Times, May 9, 2013. Blank-Fest Wisconsin is an offshoot of Blank-Fest New York, which was created to help the city's homeless population. Musicians donate their time to perform, and audience members bring a blanket in lieu of a ticket. Blankets are then distributed to the area's homeless.Alex Corradetti, "Racine & Me: Thoughts for Food", CBS 58, December 11, 2022. Bluegrass Music Festival is an annual 2-day festival that promotes the authentic bluegrass sound and features regional and national musicians. Proceeds from the festival support area non-profits."Bluegrass back in the Belle City: Bluegrass Music Festival to kick off in Mount Pleasant Friday", Racine Journal Times, November 3, 2022.