Wisconsin Arts Board moves to discuss federal grant terms in closed session during Kenosha meeting

The Wisconsin Arts Board met in Kenosha and approved its agenda before moving to convene a closed session to consult with legal counsel about a federal grant award.

Board members and staff introduced themselves at the start of the meeting, naming attendees from Lancaster, Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha and state administration. The meeting was hosted at Lemon Street gallery; organizers including Vivian and Shelby were thanked for coordinating the site visit and tour.

After introductions, a motion to approve the agenda was made and seconded and the chair called for the question; multiple participants responded “Aye,” and the chair indicated no opposition, approving the agenda as presented.

Later in the meeting the board moved to enter an executive (closed) session “to confer with legal counsel with respect to terms of a federal grant award,” citing the statutory exception for conferring with legal counsel. The motion was moved (the chair thanked Jennifer Vandermews after the motion) and seconded (the chair thanked a participant identified only as “Tyler” after the second). The chair called for a vote, but the provided transcript ends before a final tally or an announced outcome for the closed-session motion.

The board’s invocation of the closed-session exception signals the discussion would be held outside the public portion of the meeting under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(g). The transcript does not include further details about the grant—its source, amount, or specific contractual terms—or whether the board approved any related action in open session.

The meeting record provided ends while the vote is being taken; the next procedural step, any subsequent open-session report or final action, is not recorded in the supplied transcript.