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Committee debates tone of legislative letter as governor’s budget proposes per‑capita boost and film incentives
Summary
External Relations Committee reviewed a draft legislative letter and planned advocacy for Create Wisconsin Day, while staff outlined four arts‑related items in the governor’s proposal: a per‑capita funding increase, an NEA match, a creative economy initiative, and reinstated film incentives with a film office.
The Wisconsin Arts Board External Relations Committee reviewed a draft legislative letter to state lawmakers and discussed how the agency should position itself as the state’s arts agency while urging support for pending budget items. Members also discussed advocacy plans for Create Wisconsin Day (March 25) and precongressional outreach at Legislative Days on March 19.
George (staff) summarized elements in the governor’s proposed budget that affect the arts: "the 4 things that are in the budget that are arts related, the first is the increase in per capita funding. The second is the match to the NEA... the bridal creative economy initiative... and then finally, the notion of the reinstatement of the film incentives and the creation of a film and creative industries office, which would have 3 people at the Department of Tourism in that space." Committee members emphasized these items are proposals and still must pass Joint Finance and other legislative steps.
Why it matters: committee members said these proposals could change the board’s funding landscape — if enacted — and the board’s role at upcoming public events is to explain how any new funding would be passed to the field, not retained for agency operations. "We're passing this money through to the field," George said, emphasizing that increases to the board’s appropriation are intended for grants and field investment.
Members also debated the tone and content of a draft legislative cover letter intended for legislators. Some members urged brevity and numeric focus to appeal to legislators’ attention spans; others recommended including concise language that reintroduces the board as a state agency. One committee member suggested offering to connect legislators with community arts organizations: "Can we also maybe add to that that that we're here to help connect them if they need it? And we're happy to to do introductions with these organizations." Staff agreed to lift language from prior introductory letters and to avoid language that could be perceived as partisan.
On upcoming events, staff described plans for the national conference (the board will have a marketplace table and a breakout session on outdoor arts), Create Wisconsin Day (March 25) where staff expect to highlight the governor’s proposals if they remain intact, and Legislative Days on March 19 when 1‑pagers on the per‑capita increase will be distributed to legislators’ offices.
Next steps: staff will revise the draft legislative letter to balance mission language and numeric framing, prepare a one‑pager for Legislative Days and Create Wisconsin Day, and coordinate talking points for board members who will represent the agency at both events.
Ending: The committee will continue to refine the legislative letter and prepare advocacy materials ahead of Legislative Days (March 19) and Create Wisconsin Day (March 25); staff emphasized that budget proposals remain subject to change until finalized by the legislature.
