Art and culture are often the backbone of a thriving community. There is so much to experience and discover in our backyard … one of the reasons that makes Milwaukee truly a great city.

Earlier this week, the Southeastern Wisconsin Arts Guild launched a new look and feel to its website, offering area creative people a place to gather and find out about other writers, performers and artists that make a home here in the Dairyland.

"The website and blog were developed inhouse and designed to serve as a hub that more effectively connects the arts with audience, business and other stakeholder groups," SWAG president Dan Laske said.

The effort was part of the organization’s anniversary celebration, where it is holding a digital open house, seeking others to join the cause.

"As an organization, I really feel that we stand alone among other arts organizations.  We are 100 percent focused on helping to sustain and grow our arts and culture sector for the way it improves quality of life and adds to the economic bottom line," Laske said.

"No local arts organization does more for it's members than SWAG does in actively promoting and creating new opportunities for them.  We value our members extremely highly.  That is why we developed this newer site.  Not that the former site underperformed. However, with changing trends in online-social media marketing, we knew that we could build a more effective site for presenting our members to the public, and Milwaukee to the world …"

The membership is pretty diverse in background and what I’d call the craft they participate in. From musicians to stage actors, to painters and other visual artists, it is a group of people that share their creative spirit and work with others.

There is a full creative community in the traditional and digital media world that call Milwaukee home, and they actively contribute to the fabric tapestry of our society.

GOOD EATS: MKEfoodies and Milwaukee – Food for Thought are teaming up to help launch a new food publication called "Edible Milwaukee."

The first edition is slated to hit the streets in May, and it kicks off with a launch party on May 18.

"As food lovers, we are honored to stand behind (an) organization whose mission is so firmly situated in the local food arena, and whose aspirations include a commitment to clean, just food," Paul Fredrich, co-founder of MKEfoodies, said in a release.

"As Milwaukeeans, we’re even more excited about the evolution of our city's food scene and are really excited to welcome a publication like ‘Edible’ that aims to tell the story from an alternative angle."

The "Edible Milwaukee" launch party and "Friendraiser," will be from 7 to 10 p.m. at Great Lakes Distillery in the Fifth Ward. Participants will include Atomic Chocolate, Buckley’s, Chef Gregory Leon, Harvest Cafe - Watertown, Martha’s Pimento Cheese, Maxie’s, The National, Odd Duck, Sazama’s, Wolf Peach, and Valentine Coffee.

"We are really excited about the establishment of ‘Edible Milwaukee,’" said Milwaukee chefs and co-founders of Milwaukee – Food for Thought, Thi Cao and Nell Benton.

"The enthusiastic support of area chefs and restaurants just goes to show that the Milwaukee food scene is becoming more serious about  the importance of sourcing locally and sustainably. We feel that this publication will be a great resource for the culinary community."

Find out more at MKEfoodies.com.