Jenny Bienemann’s Haiku Milieu

Haiku Milieu is a creative movement founded by award-winning singer-songwriter, poet, and visual artist Jenny Bienemann.

Her acclaimed book Sundays with Jenny won the poetry category in both the 2025 International Book Awards and the New York Book Festival. What began as Jenny’s daily pairing of a haiku with an original photograph has grown into a vibrant creative community devoted to the extraordinary in the everyday.

Splitting her time between Oak Park, Illinois and Fish Creek, Wisconsin, Jenny connects thousands through books, a beloved weekly newsletter, and the Haiku Milieu Concert Series.

Every Sunday at 6 a.m. CST, the Haiku Milieu Newsletter arrives in inboxes around the world, becoming a cherished Sunday ritual. Since 2019, it has never missed a week.

The Haiku Milieu Concert Series invites musicians to create and perform brand-new songs inspired by Jenny’s haiku and photographs.

Each concert commissions 20+ new songs, nearly 500 original songs have premiered and are shared on the YouTube channel.

All of the artists are paid.

Jenny says:
“I love the Haiku Milieu concerts!

As Haiku Milieu expands and I consider what else it might become beyond books, music, emails and concerts, I’m building a community-supported model through fiscal sponsorship.

This ensures the continuation of the concert series and enables it to grow sustainably, nurturing creativity, collaboration, and connection.”

Producing each concert costs about $3,650, and ticket sales cover only about 25% of the expenses.

Your gift helps bring these concerts to life:

$100 (or any amount) keeps the music and collaboration alive
$250 supports program books and special show elements
$500 funds videography so each concert can live on
$750 supports rehearsal and artist resources
$1,000 commissions brand-new songs from songwriters
$1,500 helps cover band rehearsal and performance costs
$2,500+ helps fund the full concert production

Supporters receive:

• Invitations to observe rehearsals
• Recognition from the stage, on the Haiku Milieu website, and in programs
• Complimentary program book, apparel, and the Sunday email
• The pride of helping create a one-of-a-kind concert with extraordinary artists in your community

Haiku Milieu seeks to:

• Find the extraordinary in the everyday
• Unleash the power of creative collaboration
• Cultivate belonging on the page, in inboxes, and in performance spaces
• Empower personal expression by reminding everyone that creativity is a joyful birthright

Together, we can do it!