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'Concerts and Cuisine' fundraiser nets $320,000 for Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and supports Concerts on the Square
Summary
A board member reported raising $320,000 for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra through a 'Concerts and Cuisine' event; the funds are intended to help cover the costs of the orchestra's free 'Concerts on the Square' series and similar nonprofit events.
A recent fundraising event called Concerts and Cuisine raised $320,000 for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, a board member told the Wisconsin Arts Board.
The fundraiser, organized around a multi‑course competition between roughly 34 chefs, drew about 540 attendees this year, the speaker said. Board members emphasized that while outdoor concerts such as the orchestra’s annual Concert on the Square are free to the public, the musicians and production costs are not, and fundraisers help underwrite those expenses.
The speaker also said they have run similar benefit events for other nonprofits, including Capital City Theatre and Full Compass, and that such events can be an important revenue source for performing-arts groups that regularly present free or low-cost programming.
No formal board action, grant award or budget line item was proposed during the meeting; this report was presented as an informational fundraising update.
