This information was originally featured in the sixteenth edition of Creative Copy, a free service of the Wisconsin Arts Board.
Creative Copy serves artists and arts organizations in Wisconsin, and connects you with useful, timely, and important resources. If you have suggestions, comments, or questions, let us know. Make sure to
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Connect In?
Our agency serves all people in Wisconsin, in all communities, no matter how large or how small. We've often heard that outside of the free services we offer (like our newsletters and technical support to artists), and the grant making responsibilities we hold, one of the other important pieces of our work is our ability to convene communities. So this week, we want to highlight how we'll be convening people within the Kenosha and Racine communities in a few weeks, how you can connect in and identify arts allies within your own community, and how individual artists can stay connected into information on recent legislation (President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act) that affects them.
Identifying Arts Allies in Your Community
"Connecting in" can look like a lot of different actions, as an individual, as an organization, as an educator, or even as a young person. We want to share a resource adapted from the Robert E. Gard Wisconsin Idea Foundation, a checklist we created to help arts organizations connect in locally, and identify arts allies in their community. You can access the checklist via PDF
here, we recommend printing and filling it out, and revisiting it annually, or whenever changes within your community leadership occur. This checklist is by no means comprehensive, so adapt it to suit your organization's focus and needs!
Connecting Into Information on Legislation Affecting Artists
Not just organizations, but individuals should also try to connect in, wherever possible with their communities. Given all of the changes within our state, and the US as a whole, it's especially important to stay up to date on current legislation. President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was recently passed on July 4th, 2025, and we advise artists to consult information sources, like this
guide, to understand how OBBBA affects them. The Wisconsin Arts Board also offers technical support to artists, so don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions, and we'll try to help, or connect you with someone with more information!
Come Meet Us in Kenosha and Racine on September 12th, 2025!
RSVP HERE
As a part of our Quarterly Board Meeting, the Arts Board's board members and staff will be in Racine and Kenosha in September.
While you do not have to RSVP to attend our events, we highly encourage you RSVP, for logistical reasons.
Our friends at the Racine Art Museum (RAM) will be hosting a "bring your own brown bag" luncheon on Friday, September 12th, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, where you'll be able to connect with people from the regional arts communities, and the Wisconsin Arts Board's board members and staff.
Our friends at the Kenosha Community Foundation and Create Wisconsin have arranged a "Creative Community Mixer with the WI Arts Board" later that day, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Friday, September 12th, 2025.
*** If attending the Kenosha event, please also RSVP via email to events@kenoshafoundation.org by September 9th, 2025 ***
We invite all to join us to,
- Learn about the services and grants the Wisconsin Arts Board offers;
- Share your work, experiences, and ideas;
- Build connections with artists, arts organizations, and creative professionals from across Kenosha and Racine counties;
- Explore collaborations and discover resources and partnerships to support your work and strengthen our creative community;
- Show your support and demonstrate the vibrancy and value of the Kenosha and Racine arts scene to statewide leaders.