The Monona Tourism Commission approved an $8,041 grant request from Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival, Inc. to fund a one-day community event linked to the group’s larger biennial festival.

The applicant described the event as cultural programming and local promotion that will include sculpting demonstrations, Indigenous artists and a storyteller at Ahouska on Aug. 16; organizers said the day is intended as a lead-in to a planned 10-day festival at San Damiano in 2026.

DJ Whitehorse Klaus, who introduced himself as “a long time Winona resident” and said, “I am an enrolled member of the Ho Chunk nation and actually, an elected official of the Ho Chunk nation,” explained the cultural context for the event and that the nonprofit obtained 501(c)(3) status within the past year. He said the one-day program has limited lodging needs and estimated about 10 hotel stays tied to performers and demonstrators. When asked why the hotel-stay projection was low, DJ Whitehorse Klaus explained many indigenous performers are committed elsewhere during powwow season and said the 10‑stay figure reflects conservative planning for demonstrators and visiting artists.

Commissioners probed the festival’s finances and revenue plan. Commissioner Paula Kugel asked whether the grant request represented the full event budget; the applicant confirmed the $8,041 request is the bulk of the funding for the one‑day community event and said the program will be free to the public, with food vendors holding local permits and some in-kind support from the Ho-Chunk Nation Madison office for equipment and coolers.

Commissioners expressed support for continuing the festival after the successful 2024 inaugural event and noted the cultural and tourism benefits. On a motion to approve the request, the commission voted in favor by voice vote; the minutes record “Motion passes.” Staff and the applicant discussed coordinating with local hotels and marketing to maximize overnight stays tied to the festival.

Organizers told the commission they plan to reapply for larger marketing grants for the 2026 festival and estimated the full 2026 event budget could approach $80,000; they said that larger application will include marketing-revenue plans and donor/sponsorship efforts.