By Kendahl Kivisto
The Mulva Cultural Center located in downtown De Pere is nearing closer to its grand opening this fall 2023. The $70 million investment donated by the Mulva family will be a center devoted to expanding culture and art in the De Pere / Green Bay area. This facility will host various exhibits and promote culture for generations to come.
As De Pere natives, the Mulva family has devoted millions of dollars to the De Pere area as they take pride in the development of education, community space, medical advances, and religion. Some of their other contributions include the Gehl-Mulva Science Center, Mulva Family Fitness Center, Mulva Library, ‘The Conversion” statue, Ferguson Family YMCA pool, De Pere Little League and high school baseball fields, De Pere Lock & Dam beautification project, and Curative Connections.
Artist rendering of the MCC Atrium and the view from the street.
The first exhibit that will be shown at the MCC is “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Beatles,” an exhibit curated by the GRAMMY Museum. The exhibit will feature the fab-four and provide the history of rock and roll in the ’60s. The MCC will have seven different areas to provide content in, including History, Natural History, Science, Arts and Photography, Pop Culture, World Religions, and Immersion. All exhibits will be centered around these topics. Tom Shefchik, the Executive Director of Community Relations, explained, “No matter the choice of exhibits, the Mulva family will remain committed to being a world-class cultural destination.”
The opening, which has been extended past its original date of September 2023, is being said to happen this fall. Shefchik stated, “The companies involved, and all of the various trades working on the facility have done a remarkable job. The craftsmanship is second to none, and that will be evident to visitors right as they arrive at the facility and, in particular, as they enter the building. With a project of this size, it really isn’t unusual to face some unexpected challenges and resulting delays. The delayed opening is tied to the construction delays, which in many ways was related to some supply chain issues.”
Even with the setback in opening, the De Pere community seems excited about the new opportunities that the Mulva Cultural Center will bring, including economic, social, academic, and community-building opportunities.
De Pere resident Antonia White stated, “My family is super excited about the opening of the Mulva Cultural Center. I think it is a great addition to our community and will offer new opportunities to learn and promote the arts.”
Shefchik explained that there will be no negative monetary effects on the community due to the building of the Mulva Cultural Center, and if anything, they expect there to be a positive increase in the De Pere economy. “We expect that the Mulva Cultural Center will draw people to the community that otherwise may not have visited. Tourism is a large part of the economy of the Green Bay, Fox Valley, and Door County areas. We want to give tourists another reason to visit and maybe spend some additional time in our community. In addition, we want to add to the already vibrant arts community that has developed in the downtown De Pere area.” Schfchik stated.
The Mulva Cultural Center, located in De Pere, Wisconsin, will be a fantastic new addition to the historic city. The Mulva family has donated the money to fund the building and installment as a gift to their beloved hometown. The MCC will be opening later this fall and showing “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Beatles” as their very first exhibit. The community seems to be very excited about this new world-class facility and is looking forward to the opportunities it will bring and the positive effects it will have on the local economy.