Wisconsin Arts Board re-elects officers, flags bylaws misalignments and considers reactivating Creative Wisconsin committee

The Wisconsin Arts Board approved a slate keeping Brian Kelsey as chair and Lynn Ritchie as vice chair and confirmed other executive posts at its annual meeting, board members said.

The action came as John Potter, chair of the bylaws committee, reported the committee had found three sections where current board practice diverges from the written bylaws and recommended staff and committee chairs be consulted about whether to change practice or propose amendments.

“The bylaws committee met recently, and that consists of Matt and I. We found 3 sections where the practice of the board deviates from the bylaws,” John Potter, bylaws committee chair, said. He told the board the committee will contact the appropriate chairs and board staff to determine whether to amend the bylaws or change practice.

Why it matters: the board’s bylaws govern meeting notices, committee designations and officer roles. Potter said one specific provision referenced meeting by telephone; the committee will recommend either deleting or updating that language. Any amendments would be worked on over the fall and — if the board follows its notice requirements — be circulated in advance of a December vote.

Most important actions and votes - The board approved the annual meeting agenda (motion moved by Karen Ann Hoffman; seconded by a board member listed as Rachel). The motion carried. - The board approved a slate that the nominating report identified as retaining Brian Kelsey as chair, Lynn Ritchie as vice chair and Dane Herring as secretary; John Potter and Karen Ann Hoffman were reported as serving as members at large on the executive committee. A motion to confirm the slate was moved and seconded and the motions carried on voice votes. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Committee appointments and status Board members reviewed standing and ad hoc committee rosters. John Potter said the accessibility committee is listed in the quarterly meeting agenda as a standing committee but is actually an ad hoc committee; the bylaws committee will recommend whether to formalize it as a standing committee and, if so, ask the accessibility committee to define responsibilities and return a proposal at a future meeting.

The board also discussed the Creative Wisconsin committee, which Potter and other board members described as inactive. Board members reviewed the committee’s prior purpose — to broaden engagement with the creative economy beyond nonprofit arts and to bring business and industry perspectives to policymakers — and agreed to contact previous committee members to gauge interest in reactivation. Potter and other board members said reactivation would help the board and industry offer testimony or outreach during the state biennial budget process.

Board follow-up and timeline Potter told the board any proposed bylaw amendments would be developed over the fall and presented in line with the board’s notice requirements so members could be prepared to vote in December. Board members said they will reach out to the previously listed Creative Wisconsin members to determine interest and report back at the September meeting.

Meeting context and participation Board staff said a small group of members was present for the annual meeting; the chair noted “there’s 8 of us here” at the start of the session. The bylaws discussion was led by the bylaws committee chair and drew several members into planning next steps; no formal bylaw amendment was adopted at this meeting.

Less-critical details and next steps No changes were made to committee assignments beyond confirmations of the current rosters; board staff will provide a list of committee member names and affiliations to members who requested them. The board adjourned the annual meeting and moved to the regular meeting portion of its agenda.