When ART Milwaukee celebrates its first birthday on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, several Carroll University students and alumni will be among the more than 100 artists showcasing their talents. The Art in the Grand, the Grand is Art ART Jamboree will begin at 6 p.m. in the Plankinton Building of the Shops of Grand Avenue, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. This event is free and open to the public, and parking is free in the Grand Avenue lot until midnight.

Jeremy Fojut, president and co-founder of ART Milwaukee, said, “We’re excited to partner with local universities for this event and moving forward. Creative industries would be unable to thrive as they do in the Grand or throughout Milwaukee without a strong art education like that which is offered by Carroll University.”

Carroll’s participants include:

Visual Art

• Lexie Bragg
• Justin Fondrie, a 2011 graduate
• Emily Kundert
• Malory Larson
• Jessica Martinez
• Amanda Palczynski
• Nicole Pollack
• Heidi Prange ’10
• Emilee Richter ’10
• Ericka Surowaniec
• Brittany Wirtz

Theatre Arts

• Justin Almquist
• Adam Hobbs
• Brandon Koster
• Veronica Paredes
• Danielle Regan
• Daniel Slattery

 The birthday party commemorates ART Milwaukee’s year of creating a social experience around art, creating opportunities for artists and building a sense of community around Milwaukee.

The event also includes 10 singer-songwriters, DJs and more than 20 creative partners, such as student artists from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, choir students from Marquette University, Milwaukee Public Theatre, Spreenkler design and marketing agency, Third Coast Digest webzine, Flux Design design/build firm, and more.

Mall vendors will provide complimentary food samples and Stone Creek Coffee will offer complimentary tastings. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. For more information, visit http://www.artmilwaukee.com/art-jamboree.html