The two museums made an odd couple: Villa Terrace, a lakeside Italian-style estate known largely as a wedding venue; and Charles Allis, a tucked-away Tudor mansion housing 19th-century art. Both century-old buildings were once the homes of prominent Milwaukee families, the Smiths and the Allises, turned into cultural institutions for the public to enjoy. Milwaukee County owned each and, since 2012, operated them under one nonprofit, Charles Allis Villa Terrace (CAVT) Inc.
Then came the divorce. After years of looming expenses, the county completed the process of splitting up and offloading the properties in January 2025. Now, 21 seismic months later, the two museums seem to be on their way toward a more stable future. How did we get here?
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What’s the background?
In 2024, the county solicited outside proposals for operating the Villa Terrace and Charles Allis. Ultimately, it opted to split the two museums but maintain their cultural missions. At the start of 2025, Friends of Villa Terrace took over operations of its namesake while CAVT continued to run the Charles Allis, with both to eventually gain ownership upon achieving certain conditions.
What were the terms of the deals?
If they met annual financial benchmarks, both institutions would receive operational support from the county already earmarked through 2028, splitting it 50-50.
For the Villa Terrace, to unlock $1.2 million in county capital funding across three years, the nonprofit needed to raise the same amount in capital/maintenance funds. It was also required to establish a $500,000 endowment.
For the Charles Allis to prove it can independently survive, CAVT had to meet financial and organizational goals to purchase the building for $1 within two years. Otherwise, it would have been sold and the art collection transferred to the Villa Terrace.
How has the Charles Allis fared?
It’s been a bumpy ride for the underdog museum. By July 2025, the nonprofit had no director, was losing board members and falling short of its $100,000 revenue benchmark a month from deadline. Board chair Marquayla Ellison admitted in a county meeting that the museum faced closure without county funds. “It raised a lot of alarms,” she says.
The next month, the Charles Allis hired UWM professor Bill Wood as interim director, who developed a strategic plan. Ellison held honest conversations with donors and grant-givers. Before long, the museum hit its financial benchmark. It grew its board to 13 members and rebuilt its staff. And, in April of 2026, the Charles Allis officially purchased its building.
What about the Villa Terrace?
The museum launched a $5 million capital campaign for major structural improvements in January 2025 – and succeeded just over a year later. It continued cultural programming and hired an eight-person staff, a third-party events company, and a new executive director (Alec Story, who resigned in June of 2026).
What does the future look like?
Filling the hole of executive director has been a priority for both institutions. The Villa Terrace is active in its search, while the Charles Allis hired Dena Kopolovich, a multimedia artist and educator, in August. “That’s not the final piece,” Ellison says. The Charles will continue bringing in revenue to hit its 2027 benchmarks while growing exposure, expanding programming and hosting more events.
Because of unexpected issues with the Villa Terrace’s structural foundation, board chair Doug Rose emphasizes the need for continuing community support. Its focus is keeping the estate accessible and long-lasting for the public.
