Wisconsin Arts Board approves grants, backs governor's per-capita proposal and narrows accessibility definition

The Wisconsin Arts Board oned a series of unanimous votes to approve grant recommendations and discussed the governor's proposed boost to arts funding and federal uncertainties affecting the National Endowment for the Arts.

Board Chair Brian Kelsey Fishcrick said the board must press legislators and constituents while the governor's proposal is still being considered: "But we don't know what's going on at the federal level. So my existential nightmare thought is what if our state only match the NEA, and the NEA is cut dramatically? What does that look like for us?" Fishcrick said during the meeting at the Governor's Conference on Tourism in La Crosse.

The board spent much of its meeting approving grant recommendations (regranting partners, Arts Challenge awards, 50th anniversary awards and the Woodland Indian Arts program) and heard detailed budget and program updates from staff.

Why it matters: The board moved to strengthen its case for increased state support while acknowledging the budget process is only beginning. The governor's budget proposal would, if enacted as proposed, raise the state per-capita arts allocation from $0.18 to $0.68 and would add roughly $2.9 million to the agency's budget, an increase board members said could materially affect artists and organizations statewide.

The governor's proposal and NEA uncertainty George Sugars, arts-board staff, summarized the governor's request and other budget items for the board: "The governor has proposed 4 things in the arts. 1 is the increase through our per capita spend. So we go from 18¢ to 68¢. He's adding 50¢ over $2,900,000 in the budget." Sugars also noted the governor proposed restoration of a film and creative industries office and matching the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding in the state budget.

Board members discussed timing and the legislative process. Sugars reminded members that proposals go to the Joint Finance Committee, where items can be retained, reduced or removed. Several members urged outreach to legislators and attendance at upcoming Joint Finance hearings.

Multiple speakers flagged the NEA's uncertain federal status. Chair Fishcrick said the board must prepare for scenarios in which federal NEA funding could be reduced and emphasized that a state match tied to NEA levels could leave the state vulnerable if federal allocations fall.

Access, compliance and the accessibility committee recommendation Bill (Accessibility Committee chair) led the committee's report and said the group recommended aligning the board's working definition of accessibility with the NEA's framing for the time being. Bill read the NEA language for members: "NEA was to make the arts accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and people living in institutions." The committee's recommendation was presented as a pragmatic starting point that could be broadened in future.

Committee members and staff discussed compliance and reporting concerns. The board heard that some grantees fail to complete the accessibility portions of their required reports. Staff cautioned that if the agency were audited, incomplete accessibility reporting could pose problems. The board and staff agreed to pursue available, NEA-approved reporting tools and to consider technical assistance to help smaller grantees meet requirements without undue financial burden.

Budget and program highlights Staff reviewed the board's year-to-date budget picture and several line items: - A state operations detail showed DOA overhead assessments moved to the state side of the budget, reducing pressure on the agency's operating funds. - Travel expenditures were closely aligned with budgeted amounts. - A subscriptions/dues line included duplicate entries for a national membership, which staff said DOA will reconcile. - Poetry Out Loud: Staff announced Riley Stemann won the state Poetry Out Loud championship for the third time; staff said, "This young woman has won the last free poetry out loud, Riley Stemann. And, so she'll go out to DC again come this spring and compete on the national level." Board members noted the NEA recently increased Poetry Out Loud funding from $20,000 to $25,000, enabling the state coordinator to attend the national competition.

Grants and votes at a glance The board approved a slate of programmatic awards and regranting recommendations during the meeting. All motions recorded on the transcript passed by voice vote unless otherwise noted. Items below summarize the formal motions and outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes.

- Agenda, with amendment (add brief accessibility report under executive section): Motion to approve carried by voice vote (motion and second not specified in the transcript). Outcome: approved. - Minutes from Dec. 6 meeting: Motion by Jennifer Schwarzkopf ("Schwartzkopf so moved") with a second (recorded as Susan). Outcome: approved by voice vote. - 50th anniversary awards: Staff reported 19 of 22 awards had been approved by the board, with three applications pending budget clarification. Outcome: board approved the 19 recommendations (individual checks to be issued after budget questions are resolved for the remaining three). - Wisconsin regranting program recommendations: The board approved the regranting slate. Two items—Saint Croix Valley Community Foundation and Milwaukee Arts Board—were voted on separately per conflict and recusal procedures and were approved by subsequent motions. Outcome: approved. - Wisconsin Arts regranting partner changes: The Northern Lakes Center for the Arts formally left the regranting program; the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin elected to sit out the year. Staff explained those dollar pools are being redistributed to remaining regranting partners. Outcome: informational; funding redistributed as part of regranting approvals. - Arts Challenge Initiative awards: The board approved the recommended Arts Challenge Initiative grantees (a list of community organizations and arts groups was presented in the board packet and read into the record). Conflicts were stated and managed on the record; motions to approve the slate carried by voice vote. Outcome: approved. - Woodland Indian Arts Program: Staff recommended funding for four of five applicants; the board approved the four recommendations by voice vote. Outcome: approved.

Discussion, outreach and next steps Board members discussed continued outreach to legislators, Create Wisconsin's scheduled advocacy activity (Create Wisconsin Day on March 25), and other local advocacy efforts, including Door County's legislative day planned for the coming week. Anne (Create Wisconsin representative) noted Create Wisconsin would help organize meetings with legislators and urged board members and constituents to thank the governor for proposing the funding increase and to advocate to keep it through the budget process.

The board also reviewed plans for upcoming meetings and for hosting a March 2026 session in Milwaukee; members asked staff and committees to begin planning for a mix of rural and urban engagement sessions at that meeting.

Ending Board members adjourned after completing the agenda and the staff confirmed the next meeting date on the board calendar.