Wisconsin Arts Board external relations committee unveils one‑pager for legislators, aims for January digital release

The Wisconsin Arts Board’s external relations committee on Friday presented a draft one‑page summary designed to give legislators and the public a concise view of the sector’s economic and community impact and said it plans a digital release in January 2025.

The one‑pager will personalize data by congressional and legislative district, using five years of staff reporting (fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2024) and economic figures drawn from the Arts & Economic Prosperity study’s most recent data. The committee said the document will emphasize job creation and the arts’ state contribution alongside national comparisons.

“One of the main functions of the external relations committee is being able to communicate the story of impact from the Wisconsin Arts Board,” Cielo, a member of the external relations committee, said during the presentation. She told board members the piece is intended both to “analyze the story of the Wisconsin arts” and to give legislators community‑level talking points.

The committee showed a mockup and asked for board feedback on data points and visuals. Kathy Lang, who has supported the committee on design, was thanked for work on making the visuals “easily digestible.” Committee members said staff will prepare district‑level math so each board member can receive a packet listing legislators to contact; outreach will be led by board members rather than by staff.

George, a staff member who answered process questions, said staff will serve as the central contact for legislators who have follow‑up questions about the one‑pager. A representative from Create Wisconsin described ongoing advocacy and training for the governor’s budget hearings and urged board members to assume three‑minute testimony slots for the hearings unless otherwise advised.

The committee described outreach as a mix of digital distribution, a legislative letter to newly seated lawmakers and coordinated “phone‑touch” follow up by board members. The proposed timeline calls for a January 2025 digital launch, followed by distribution to legislators and a coordinated outreach push during the governor’s budget hearing season.

Committee leaders asked board members to review the draft and recommended messaging so the design team can finalize the product.

The board did not take any formal vote on the one‑pager during the meeting; staff and committee members will return with a revised draft after gathering feedback.