Wisconsin Arts Board prepares for Create Wisconsin Day and budget discussions

Create Wisconsin Day is set to take place on March 25, 2025, and discussions at the recent Wisconsin Arts Board ERC meeting highlighted its significance for the state's arts community. Chella, a representative of the Arts Board, emphasized the need for strategic planning to ensure the event's success and to communicate the importance of arts funding to attendees.

A key focus of the meeting was the proposed increase in per capita funding for the arts, which would raise funding from 50 cents to 68 cents. While this increase is a step forward, it still leaves Wisconsin lagging behind other Midwest states, with the state remaining just one cent below Iowa. The board members expressed hope that upcoming discussions in the joint finance committee would provide clarity on the budget and allow for more informed conversations at Create Wisconsin Day.

In addition to the funding increase, the meeting addressed several other arts-related initiatives in the governor's budget proposal. These include a match to the National Endowment for the Arts, the Bridal Creative Economy Initiative, and the reinstatement of film incentives along with the establishment of a film and creative industries office. The board noted that while these proposals are promising, they still require legislative support to become a reality.

As the meeting concluded, members reiterated the importance of advocating for the arts and preparing to share the potential impacts of these funding changes with legislators and the public. The Arts Board aims to highlight the historical significance of this proposed investment, as it marks the first general increase in funding since 1992. The upcoming Create Wisconsin Day will serve as a platform to rally support and inform stakeholders about the critical role of the arts in the state's economy and culture.