The Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB) is a state agency based in Madison, Wisconsin . It is one of fifty-six state art agencies of the United States and works as a partner regionally with Arts Midwest and nationally with the National Endowment of the Arts . WAB's mission statement declares that it “is the state agency which nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development and serves as a resource for people of every cultural heritage.”
31-779: The statutory agency known as the WAB was preceded by the privately funded Wisconsin Arts Foundation and Council (WAFC). Established in 1956, the WAFC organized conferences, published a quarterly arts calendar, and worked for state support of the arts. It changed its name to the Wisconsin Arts Council (WAC) in 1970 and in 1977 became the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts. In 1963, Governor John Reynolds created
62-402: A grant awarded by the board to support those administrative costs of an organization that are not directly related to the development of an artistic performance or product. The Arts Board is composed of an executive director and three staff members. It is governed by a fifteen-member board. Board members are Wisconsin citizens from all areas of the state and are appointed by the governor to serve
93-677: A three-year term. The current chair of the board is Brian Kelsey. The Arts Board meets at least four times a year and the meetings are open to the public. Brian Kelsey, Chairperson, Fish Creek Lynn Richie, Vice Chairperson, Land O' Lakes Jayne Herring, Secretary, Kenosha Marcela "Xela" Garcia, Milwaukee Karen Ann Hoffman, Stevens Point John W. Johnson, Madison Susan Lipp, Madison Dinorah Márquez Abadiano, Milwaukee William Mitchell, Lancaster John H. Potter, Hudson Gerard Randall, Milwaukee Mary K. Reinders, Mount Horeb Rafael Francisco Salas, Ripon Jennifer Schwarzkopf, Fitchburg Matthew Wallock, Madison The Arts Board
124-476: Is first and Illinois second. Warren P. Knowles Warren Perley Knowles III (August 19, 1908 – May 1, 1993) was an American lawyer and politician, and was the 37th Governor of Wisconsin . Prior to that, he was the 32nd and 34th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin , and represented St. Croix , Buffalo , Pepin , and Pierce Counties in the Wisconsin Senate for fourteen years. Knowles
155-731: Is funded by the state of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Through multiple granting programs to organizations and individuals, WAB provides grants that support community and economic development through creative expression and arts education and serve people of every culture and heritage in Wisconsin. WAB's grant programs include Creation and Presentation organizational support grants, Creative Communities project grants, Folk Arts Apprenticeship grants, Arts Challenge Initiative grants, Woodland Indian Arts Initiative grants, and Regranting grants. Twenty years ago, Wisconsin
186-797: The St. Croix County Board of Supervisors . Knowles was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1940, becoming Majority Leader after only two years in office in 1943, but during World War II he took a break to serve as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Nevada . Following his military service, Knowles resumed serving in the Wisconsin State Senate and returned to the leadership position for 5 additional legislative terms until his election as lieutenant governor in 1954. Knowles resigned his Senate seat and
217-669: The 1973-1975 budget bill to create and publicly fund a state arts council. On August 2, 1973, the Wisconsin Arts Board was established by the Wisconsin Legislature in Section 20. 15.53 of Wisconsin Assembly Bill 300. The newly formed Board elected Gerald Bartell as the first Chairperson of the Wisconsin Arts Board. The Board then hired Jerrold Rouby as the first Executive Director. Within four years,
248-700: The Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures (CSUMC), the Arts Board convened educators and folklorists at Folklore Village in Dodgeville. The result was Wisconsin Teachers of Local Culture (WTLC), a network of educators who could inspire and support each other by offering professional development opportunities focused on local culture and curricula. In 2008, the Arts Board introduced its current iteration of
279-453: The Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, inspired by the successes of its original apprenticeship program (1985-1997). The program is designed to strengthen and encourage the continuity of Wisconsin’s diverse cultural traditions by supporting distinguished traditional artists in passing their skills and knowledge on to committed and talented apprentices from their community. In 2011,
310-490: The Governor's Council of the Arts in order to promote the arts throughout the state. The Council did this particularly by establishing the Governor's Awards, but it did not receive state funding. The WAFC and the Governor's Council worked as separate entities. In 1965, the newly elected Governor Warren P. Knowles dissolved the Governor's Council of the Arts and designated the WAFC as “the official state coordinating group of
341-589: The Milwaukee Foundation, Inc., for deposit in the High Point fund, the amount appropriated under s. 20.380 (3) (e). (2) The board may: (a) Enter into contracts with individuals, organizations, units of government and institutions for services furthering the development of the arts and humanities. (am) Enter into contracts with American Indian individuals, organizations and institutions and American Indian tribal governments for services furthering
SECTION 10
#1732794185612372-541: The Wisconsin Arts Board granted funds for projects in 71 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. In 1980, The state legislature established Wisconsin’s Percent for Art Program as part of the Arts Board’s work, for the purpose of placing artwork in public settings. In 1981, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Wisconsin Arts Board created its Folk Arts Program. The Wisconsin Presenters network (WPN) formed with
403-904: The annual meeting of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in Milwaukee and convened with Wisconsin artists to create the Wisconsin Assembly of Local Arts Agencies (now create Wisconsin). In 1993, the Wisconsin Arts Board became a founding member of the Cultural Coalition of Wisconsin. In 1995, the state legislature established the Wisconsin Regranting Program, which provided grants to local arts agencies and municipalities that were in turn matched with local dollars and granted out in support of local arts projects. In 1998, The Arts Board
434-527: The appropriation under s. 20.380 (3) (km). (g) Arrange and schedule the portrait of the governor or any former governor. Costs incurred under this paragraph shall be charged to the appropriation under s. 20.380 (3) (c) up to a limit of $ 10,000 per portrait. Costs in excess of $ 10,000 per portrait may be charged to the appropriation under s. 20.380 (3) (c) only with the prior approval of the joint committee on finance. (h) Annually, award an amount equal to at least 5 percent of all state and federal funds received by
465-621: The arts from the NEA’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant program. In 2021, the Arts Board established the Wisconsin Arts Rescue Program (WARP). According to Chapter 41 Subchapter IV of the 2021-22 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations WAB's powers and duties are as follows: (a) Continually study the artistic and cultural activities within the state. (b) Assist arts activities in
496-446: The arts. No grantee may receive any funds distributed as grants-in-aid under this paragraph unless the grantee provides at least 50 percent of the estimated total cost of the project, either in the form of moneys or in-kind contributions of equivalent value, to be funded under this paragraph. (fm) Conduct a program identical to that described in par. (f), but only for American Indian individuals and groups. The program shall be funded from
527-458: The arts.” Under its new designation the WAFC continued the Governor's Awards and received a study grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to investigate the formation of a state funded arts council. In 1967–1968, Governor Knowles introduced a bill to establish a state supported arts council, but the measure was tabled. Under the urging of the WAC, Governor Patrick Lucey introduced a clause into
558-407: The board in that year for grants to artists and arts organizations to artists who are minority group members and arts groups composed principally of minority group members. In this paragraph, “minority group member" has the meaning specified in s. 16.287 (1) (f). (i) Administer challenge grant programs for the purpose of encouraging the fund-raising efforts of arts organizations. (j) Annually pay to
589-447: The development of the arts and humanities. (b) Accept all gifts and grants and expend them for the purposes intended. 41.53(2)(c)(c) Award an operational grant to an organization if the sum of all operational grants awarded in the current year does not exceed 50 percent of the sum of all grants awarded to organizations from the appropriations under s. 20.380 (3) (b) and (o) in the current year. In this paragraph, “operational grant" means
620-676: The help of the Wisconsin Arts Board in 1981. In 1985, The Arts Board piloted the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program. Initially, the program focused on serving the Native American communities of Wisconsin. This iteration of the program ran from 1985-1997. In 1989, the state legislature established the Arts Incubator Program. In 1991, the Arts Board developed an advisory committee, “Access to the Arts for Persons with Disabilities,” and hosted
651-465: The independent bodied Arts Board was folded into the Department of Tourism, where it retained its independent, Governor-appointed board.On March 17, 2020 the Arts Board staff transitioned to remote work in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Staff immediately initiated virtual listening and resource sessions in partnership with Arts Wisconsin. The Arts Board funneled federal emergency funding for
SECTION 20
#1732794185612682-548: The lowest scoring championship game in the State's history, 9–7. He was recognized in the River Falls Wildcat Athletic Hall of Fame with a Distinguish Citizen Award. In 1943 he married Dorothy Guidry, whom he later divorced in 1968. Knowles died after suffering a heart attack while participating in the Governor's Fishing Opener, an event he helped organize 25 years earlier. His body was donated to
713-777: The national Lyndon B. Johnson tidal wave, he served three two-year terms from 1965 to 1971. During these years, he called out the National Guard periodically to maintain civil order during the University of Wisconsin 's anti-war and civil rights demonstrations. Under Knowles, the Conservation Department and Department of Resource Development were merged into the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources , vocational and higher education and traffic safety were prioritized, and state government
744-508: The office for one more term. During his second term as lieutenant governor, he entered the crowded field for the special election for the remainder of Sen. Joseph McCarthy 's term upon his death in 1957. He placed fourth behind former Governor Walter J. Kohler Jr. and Congressmen Glenn R. Davis and Alvin O'Konski , receiving 8% of the vote. Elected governor narrowly over the Democratic incumbent John W. Reynolds in 1964 against
775-499: The state. (c) Assist communities in creating and developing their own arts programs. (d) Encourage and assist freedom of artistic expression. (e) Promulgate rules, pursuant to ch. 227, for the implementation and operations of this subchapter. (f) Plan and implement, when funds are available in the appropriations under s. 20.380 (3) (b) and (o), a program of contracts with or grants-in-aid to groups or, in appropriate cases, individuals of exceptional talent engaged in or concerned with
806-585: Was a 1926 graduate of River Falls High School (side note Warren P. Knowles Sr., was an 1897 graduate of RFHS). During his high school days, Knowles was a standout athlete both on the football field and basketball court. During his senior year of high school, his team won the 1925 Wisconsin State Football Championship and placed second in the Wisconsin State Basketball Tournament losing to Stevens Point in
837-686: Was born in River Falls, Wisconsin , graduated first from River Falls High School in 1926 and then Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota , in 1930, and received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School three years later. In 1933, Knowles joined the law firm now known as Doar, Drill & Skow S.C. in New Richmond, Wisconsin. From 1935 to 1964, the firm was known as Doar & Knowles. From 1935 to 1940, he served on
868-869: Was centrally involved in Wisconsin’s celebration of its Sesquicentennial, co-producing the Wisconsin Program of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and re-staging an expanded version of that program on the Capitol Square in Madison. In 2001, The Arts Board received funds from the newly negotiated gaming compacts. In consultation with Wisconsin’s Tribes and Bands, the Arts Board developed the Woodland Indian Arts Initiative. In 2003, In partnership with
899-604: Was reorganized. Knowles opposed right-to-work legislation. Knowles's brother, Robert P. Knowles , served as President Pro Tempore of the Wisconsin Senate during his last two terms as governor and during the first four years of Governor Patrick Lucey 's administration from 1971 to 1975. After leaving the governor's chair, Knowles became chairman of Heritage Wisconsin Corporation, a Milwaukee bank holding company. Son of Warren P. and Anna D. Knowles, Knowles
930-499: Was succeeded by his brother, Robert , who won an April 1955 special election to finish the unexpired senate term. Knowles was also a delegate to the Republican National Convention several times. Knowles would be re-elected to a second term as lieutenant governor in 1956, but was narrowly defeated in 1958 by Democrat Philleo Nash . But Knowles would return and defeat Nash in the 1960 election to reclaim
961-434: Was typical among the 50 states, investing a healthy amount of money towards arts funding. Then in 2011, the Wisconsin Arts Board's budget was cut by 67 percent, sending Wisconsin (at the time) to 48th in state support for the arts. Since then, the situation has worsened. Wisconsin now ranks 50th in the nation in public funding on a per capita basis for the arts, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Minnesota