For years, OnMilwaukee.com has supported the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). This year is no different as we are sponsoring the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts and, as you've seen, also running ads for the current fundraising campaign.

Milwaukee's own one-stop-shop for arts funding and promotion is the largest united arts fund raising money for the performing arts in the United States.

Its in the middle of its campaign to raise $9 million by mid-June and is reaching out to the Southeastern Wisconsin community in a comprehensive way to help achieve this goal.

To this end, I asked UPAF president Cristy Garcia-Thomas a few questions about the organization and the arts.

OnMilwaukee.com: What is UPAF?

Cristy Garcia-Thomas: The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) is a nonprofit organization, based in Milwaukee, that funds world-class performing arts organizations through an annual community-wide fundraising campaign. As the largest single funding source for its member groups, UPAF is a catalyst in ensuring performing arts stability in our community. UPAF has championed this for over 42 years and is regarded as the nation's largest united arts fund dedicated solely to the performing arts. More than $208 million has been contributed to UPAF by individuals, businesses and foundations that believe in supporting a high quality of living through a dynamic and diverse performing arts sector. UPAF currently funds 36 Member and Affiliate performing arts organizations that serve over one million people, including over 400,000 children in the seven county region. UPAF Members and Affiliates represent the finest in music, theater, dance and opera.

OMC: Why does Milwaukee need UPAF, can't the groups raise their own money?

CGT: UPAF is able to raise dollars more efficiently and effectively than is possible by any individual organization. For example, through the cooperation of hundreds of businesses, UPAF invites employees to contribute to the arts through a gift to the United Performing Arts Fund. A single gift to UPAF impacts over 1 million people, including over 400,000 children, every year through education, outreach and performances by UPAF's members and affiliates. It would be impossible for numerous individual organizations to host these types of employee giving campaigns. In addition, some corporations, foundations and individuals also choose to support the arts through a single gift to UPAF, trusting in the strict guidelines UPAF adheres to in stewarding the funds contributed. Only through UPAF is this possible.

OMC: Obviously ticket revenue isn't enough for most of the groups. How can they all survive?

CGT: Ticket revenue only covers a small portion of the costs to produce great art, educate thousands of children and entertain our community. Performing arts groups rely on the generosity of the community to support the indispensable opportunities a strong arts sector gives back. What happens on stage is only part of the story, and the contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations are critical to the long-term stability of the performing arts. We are fortunate to live in a generous community, which supports UPAF and our member and affiliate organizations, along with many others in our region.

OMC: How can individuals best support the arts in Milwaukee?

CGT: Throughout the community, individuals are encouraged to participate in the arts -- go to a performance, talk about the experience, contribute to the United Performing Arts Fund and invite your friends, neighbors and co-workers to join you in this exciting, entertaining, impactful and indispensable asset to our community.

OMC: Greg Sandow recently wrote this on WSJ.com, "The arts are going to need a better strategy. And in the end it's going to have to come from art itself, from the benefits art brings, in a world where popular culture -- which has gotten smart and serious -- also helps bring depth and meaning to our lives." How can the arts truly become a bigger part of our popular culture? Or don't they need to?

CGT: The arts are already part of our popular culture, as evidenced by the well attended Gallery Nights and sell-out performances of our member groups. However, by engaging in the arts, individuals can be the catalyst that reinvigorates and redefines the arts experience for themselves and their friends. Through the use of social media outlets, the arts groups and UPAF are reaching new audiences and telling our stories in new, fresh and inviting ways. Allowing the arts experience to uplift and engage, our region benefits not only from the intrinsic value of the art itself (art for art's sake), but also the substantial economic, educational and entertainment impact it offers to our region. Telling these stories, helping the public understand that the arts are more than what happens on stage, will also help to embed the indispensable nature the arts play in everyone's life.