Artist Symphony Swan-Zawadi founded The CR8TV House, a community arts and culture space in Milwaukee, in 2023, just a couple of months before joining the newly launched Milwaukee-based Ruth Foundation for the Arts as manager of public initiatives.
Swan-Zawadi’s idea for The CR8TV House was born from personal loss, according to Maggy Olson, director of equity and instruction for Greendale Schools.
“It breathes new life into her childhood home, transforming it into a haven for creativity and community engagement,” said Olson. “Her diverse career, from nurturing young talents as an art educator to steering nonprofit organizations as a senior executive, underscores her unwavering dedication to empowering individuals and fostering inclusive artistic communities.”
“At the core of Symphony’s artistic practice lies a deep reverence for the power of storytelling,” said Monique Liston, chief strategist at UBUNTU Research and Evaluation. “Drawing inspiration from archival photos and cherished memories, she crafts narratives that resonate with the universal themes of family, community and resilience.