Downtown Whitewater, Inc., the parent organization of the Whitewater City Market recently announced it received a $1,500 grant from the Whitewater Community Foundation. The organization will use the funds to continue supporting the expanded live music at the Whitewater City Market, held on Tuesdays.
Following visitor surveys during the 2015 market, the planning committee noted that 47 percent of market goers listed live music at five out of five in importance. To offer perspective, that put music above parking and bathrooms in the shoppers’ minds. In response, the market committee immediately planned an expansion of live entertainment, booking multiple musicians on key evenings. Since that survey, more than 14,000 market goers of the 2016 Whitewater City Market have benefited from the weekly live music.
“It’s by far the most organized, authentic markets that I’ve performed at. Thank you to all the managers, vendors and the great crowd. Looking forward to playing there again,” one musician is quoted as saying.
The Whitewater Community Foundation makes this offering possible. Brienne Diebolt-Brown, program director explained the organization’s commitment:
“The arts are a necessary part of our lives; they nourish the soul and bring us joy. When Downtown Whitewater applied for a Whitewater Community Foundation Community Action Grant to fund musicians at the new Whitewater City Market, the board was pleased to provide the monies,” Diebolt-Brown said.
“Not only should artists be paid for their work, but honoring them in this way honors our city, schools and neighborhoods by supporting our artisans, musicians, farmers, teachers and entrepreneurs… our neighbors,” she added.
The Foundation has supported the community “for over 20 years by making scholarships available to hardworking high school students. This is the next step in preserving and enhancing Whitewater’s cultural legacy – creating opportunities for people who can make beautiful things happen,” Diebolt-Brown said.
Downtown Whitewater, Inc. is a nonprofit, community-based organization devoted to preserving, improving and promoting Whitewater’s quality of life by strengthening our historic downtown as the heartbeat of the community.
The community building aspects of the market are invaluable, and much of this is facilitated by free music and open spaces for market goers to relax, shop, and eat. The market runs through Oct. 25 and thanks to this effort, great live music will continue to be available each week.
