As always, the Arts Board met the new month with enthusiasm, and every day in July met us with the same energy. Among the many meetings and technical support that we do behind the scenes, July was very important, as we traveled to Kenosha and Racine, and met with our constituents, artists, and arts organizations there. Also in July, the 2025-2027 Biennial Budget was passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature, and signed by Governor Tony Evers.
External Relations Committee Meeting
We weren't able to hold an ERC meeting in June due to scheduling conflicts... which means this month's ERC meeting was especially packed! We spoke about data relevant to the arts in Wisconsin, data analytics tools to visualize and actualize the impact of the Wisconsin Arts Board further, and our board members spoke about what's happening in their local communities, and what they are hearing from the field. We always live stream our public meetings, watch this month's ERC meeting on our Youtube.
2025-2027 Biennial Budget Breakdown
How did the Arts Board fare in the biennial budget? We did not see the increase the Governor proposed in his budget ($2.9 million), nor did the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) choose the option to return state arts funding to pre-2011 levels ($1.5 million). The JFC chose only to match the increase provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. While it is not what we hoped for, it does include the good news that we will not have to pursue a 13.10 request from the legislature and wait for its passage to do our work.
What you may do?
Express gratitude through your social networks and to the Governor and your legislators for the bipartisan support of the arts through the state budget.
Thank your fellow arts advocates for their work during the biennial budget process. It is important to note that while it may not look like it, Wisconsin arts advocates made a huge difference in this biennial budget process. One only needs to read about the challenges faced by our peers in New Hampshire and Missouri to know this is true.
If asked, acknowledge that the Arts Board has accepted its offer of Partnership funding from the National Endowment for the Arts for State Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). This includes specific, one-time funding for arts and health and America 250, the celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial. More on these items in future communications.
Refer people with questions about the film incentives and film office to the Department of Tourism. People are justifiably excited and expect the film office to open and the incentives to go into effect right away. That won’t happen yet. There is work to be done before there is a film office and before incentives will be available. To that end, please use Secretary Anne Sayers language, which I repeat here, explaining that the biennial budget:
Created a Film Office housed at the Department of Tourism, including one staff position and $5 million in film tax incentives at the Department of Revenue. This item is getting incredible interest. Funding for this position does not begin until Oct. 1, so we are asking for patience as we begin to rebuild the Wisconsin Film Office. Our first order of business is to create a platform whereby interested parties can sign up to be notified of future film updates. Please stay tuned for that update in your inbox.
Celebrate Tourism’s increased marketing budget, as you have the opportunity. This funding will be used to promote the state brand, of which the arts and culture are a part.
As you have the opportunity, remind people that, in addition to the Arts Board and Department of Tourism, other parts of the state budget support the arts and culture. These include support for the Wisconsin Historical Society, PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio, the State Building Commission, UW-System, the Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Department of Workforce Development, etc.
One last, important note: our federal support from the NEA is only for the first year of the state’s biennium, so our education of federal and state officials must be ongoing.
Read our full breakdown here.
Visiting Kenosha and Racine
We had an absolutely amazing time in Kenosha and Racine. We began our morning in Kenosha, hosting a coffee chat at Anna's on the Lake, where we were able to connect in with leaders and artists in Kenosha, hearing about their sucesses, their struggles, and most importantly, the massive impact they are making within their communities (and beyond). Following our first get-together, we met with with Kris Camilli, the new ED of the Kenosha Public Museum, and later over lunch, we met with Robb Woulfe, the new ED of the Racine Art Museum.
Going from Kenosha to Racine, we made an impromptu, but very welcomed, stop at Artists Gallery, a local community art gallery that features on of a kind three-dimensional pieces, paintings and pottery. Later, we met with Diane Carlson, the ED of the Racine Arts Council. Last but certainly not least, what's a trip to Racine if you don't go to THE kringle spot? We held our second coffee chat at O&H (HUGE shoutout to the staff there) and heard from artists and leaders from Racine about what they are experiencing currently, and what they are doing as champions of the arts. We were fortunate to also share the time with Willow Newell, Miss Wisconsin (and former Miss Racine!). Hearing about her platform, Expression without Exclusion, left folks in Racine full of excitement and hope.
