Art works
Brissman Foundation grant funds mural in downtown Milan
This summer, the Village of Milan, Illinois, got a little brighter as a new 1,350-square-foot mural came to life. Each brushstroke tells a story of collaboration, creativity, and community pride.
The project, the largest in the history of the Quad City Arts’ Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program, was made possible through a grant from the Grant W. Brissman and Virginia M. Brissman Foundation, administered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation.
Metro Arts is a paid, five-week summer apprenticeship open to young people ages 15 to 21. Participants work side by side with professional artists to complete public-facing projects—murals, mosaics, performances, poetry, and more—while also learning the professional and business skills that sustain a creative career. “Art is work,” says Ben Gougeon, director of community engagement at Quad City Arts. “We want our apprentices to understand that creativity is valuable, and that being an artist means being professional, adaptable, and collaborative. It’s a real experience and it impacts our community.”
The Milan mural exemplifies the impact of that hands-on learning. Under the leadership of Metro Arts Lead Artist Heidi Sallows, apprentices transformed the walls of downtown Milan into a celebration of color and connection. The project gave young artists an opportunity to work on a large-scale commission and brought renewed energy to a key community corridor. The mural graces the side of Buckrop Chiropractic, with the wall space donated by Karla Buckrop.
“Public art changes how people see their community,” says Kristall Laursen, Quad City Arts’ development director. “When the Brissman Foundation supported this project, they were investing in Milan’s future and in the next generation of creative leaders.”
That investment aligns directly with the Brissman Foundation’s focus on youth and community development. “By supporting Metro Arts, we aimed to create meaningful employment and mentorship for local teens while enhancing Milan’s downtown area,” said Gerry Huiskamp, a Brissman Foundation trustee. “The result is a massive win for both art and economic vitality.”
For Quad City Arts, now celebrating 25 years of Metro Arts, the program has become a cornerstone of their mission to make art accessible, visible, and integral to life in the Quad Cities region. Alumni of the program often continue in the arts—attending art school, exhibiting work, leading new projects, and even returning as mentors for the next cohort of apprentices.
“We see Metro Arts as the start of an artist pipeline,” Gougeon explains. “Some of our apprentices have been with us for several years. You can literally watch them grow as artists, as professionals, and as people.”
Grant Brissman, a graduate of Rock Island High School and Brown’s Business College, was a pioneer Milan business owner who founded Brissman’s Auto Supply in 1948 and operated it for nearly 30 years before retiring in 1978. He also served as a founding director and shareholder of Blackhawk State Bank in Milan. His wife, Virginia, worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Company for 40 years before retiring in 1977. Married for 60 years, the couple left a legacy of generosity that continues through the Brissman Foundation, established through their estates and administered by the Community Foundation.