Below you'll find resource guides sorted alphabetically in two categories; locate and learn. Pages in the locate category will help you find things in your community, from film festivals to makerspaces. Pages in the learn category will provide information on a specific topic, like resources for immigrant artists and tips for disaster recovery and readiness.
Many of these resource guides were first featured in Creative Copy (CC), a Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB) e-newsletter that distributes information to artists and arts organizations. If you think we missed something, or if you have a question, reach out to WAB via email at artsboard@wisconsin.gov or phone at 608-266-0190. If you haven't already, make sure to join our email list to receive CC and other WAB resources!
To request these resources in an alternative accessible format, please contact ADA Coordinator Nathaniel Petreman via email at nathaniel.petreman@wisconsin.gov or phone at 608-264-8191.
Art Fairs & Festivals 2026Art fairs and festivals are all events in which the primary purpose is centered on the display, or exhibition, of art. We've created a list and corresponding map with the fairs and festivals across the state that have an exhibition component for artists.
Art Markets 2025Purchasing an item from an artist at an art market goes beyond finding a special piece. Artists are workers, and buying locally during the holiday season allows you to support your local community. This resource page also contains a list of art markets.
Artist Collectives, Centers, CooperativesWe know connectivity is important for Wisconsin's arts ecosystem, so we’ve gathered a resource list with artist collectives, cooperatives, and centers from different regions of the state, as well as Wisconsin-wide/Midwest organizations.
Community BandsMusic can be found in every space, community, city, and culture. Existing in all parts of the world, community bands are uniquely uniting, and give people a voice not just through words, but through music, too. Hundreds of community bands are active in Wisconsin, with some being founded in the 1800's, and all having deep roots in their communities.
Community ChoirsChoir singing is increasingly recognized for its potential health and wellbeing benefits, with amateur adult community choirs offering accessible opportunities for participation (Bloska et al., 2025). From the Monroe Swiss Singers: a mixed-voice choral group specializing in Swiss folk music, to greenTONE: an a capella group of women without instruments, to the Superior Singers: an entertainment choir based in Duluth-Superior, there's a community singing group in Wisconsin for you.
Fantastic FilmFrom incentives within the biennial budget, to award winning films (Green and Gold; Public Enemies; so many more), Wisconsin’s film scene is rolling! Here we share some additional resources for Wisconsin filmmakers and fans: a growing list of Wisconsin's film festivals; film incubators/places in Wisconsin to study film (and video and animation); film archives in Wisconsin, and more.
Local Arts AgenciesAcross the United States, more than 4,500 local arts agencies (LAAs) provide a wide range of programs and services. LAAs are intermediaries, serving artists and arts organizations, local residents, visitors, and other community partners. From the north to the south, from the east to the west of Wisconsin, you can find LAAs everywhere in the state.
MakerspacesIf you aren't familiar, makerspaces are community operated, usually non-profit, cooperative spaces that encourage learning, making, innovating, tinkering, and teaching. Makerspaces vary in size and capacity, but most makerspaces are creative hubs where people can go to use tools and materials, while collaborating with creatives in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) fields.
Poet Laureate Programs in WisconsinPoet laureate programs exist at national, state, and local levels, and promote poetry while engaging communities through literary arts. Wisconsin is home to a statewide program, 9 county and city programs, and 2 youth programs.
Youth Poetry in WisconsinFrom being stamped into sidewalks in Appleton, Madison, Lake Mills, and more, to serving as a cornerstone of organizations like Woodland Pattern in Milwaukee, poetry is celebrated throughout Wisconsin. During Youth Arts Month (every March), we are shining the light on youth poetry across the state.
Winter Work, Spring FruitFor many Wisconsin artists, winter is a time to burrow. The beginning of spring is when eyes begin to blink open, and a nose peeks out from the ground. This page hosts resources to help artists take advantage of the inner reflection the transition period between these two seasons brings, while offering a few prompts to help bring new perspectives to ideas that may be buried under the snow.
Arts. Education. Youth Development Arts education empowers children to grow their creativity, and grow into not just educated adults, but adults with tools and understanding necessary to leverage the information they’ve learned.
Connect InOur 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. This page also includes a worksheet to help you connect in with your local community!
Creative Careers in WisconsinWe're excited to introduce the Creative Careers in Wisconsin poster and website! The poster makes creative careers accessible and visible in the places where students learn, explore, and make decisions. The companion website provides a bridge from awareness to action, offering resources to explore careers in greater depth. Explore it today!
Cultivating Youth CreativityA recent report commissioned by the Wallace Foundation connects many of the dots arts educators and teaching artists have already etched in - engaging in youth art programs can help young people build the confidence and the relationships they may need to thrive as adults, and can foster skills like creative thinking, self-awareness, and social influence, to guide them as technology, demography, and geopolitical upheaval transform the country's society and economy. This page contains resources for arts educators and teaching artists to help aid the great, grueling, valued work they do.
Emergency/Disaster Readiness & Recovery for Wisconsin's Arts IndustryNatural disasters, emergencies, and critical life events can affect anyone, and leave effects that can reverberate for days, weeks, months, or even years throughout affected lives and communities. Find resources for artists, cultural institutions, arts administrators, and arts organizations impacted by extreme events.
For Arts NonprofitsArts non-profits make Wisconsin (and the world) go 'round. But, especially in turbulent times, non-profit arts organizations often face unique problems (like lack of funding, operating with volunteer staff capacity, etc.) that for-profit arts organizations don’t face, or face at a lesser magnitude.
Immigrant Artist ResourcesAround 5.4% of people living in Wisconsin were born in a foreign country, and about 3% of Wisconsinites were born to at least one immigrant parent. This page contains a list of resources to aid creatives looking to immigrate to Wisconsin, or immigrant artists living in Wisconsin.
Indigenous Artist ResourcesThere are twelve tribal communities that share boundaries with the State of Wisconsin, eleven of which are federally recognized. With deep respect for the Indigenous people and cultures that strengthen Wisconsin, we've compiled a resource guide specifically for Indigenous Artists.
Mental HealthA digital space focused on mental health for artists and arts professionals - what mental health means, how artists and arts professionals can prioritize mental health, and what mental health resources are available in Wisconsin for artists and arts professionals.
National Arts in Education Week 2026National Arts in Education Week is celebrated each year from the second Sunday in September through the following Saturday. In 2026, National Arts in Education Week takes place from September 13 –19. Arts education benefits students in more ways than one. We know this not just through anecdotal experiences, but also from truths well proven by an ocean of quality research.
Social RxSocial Prescription (Social Rx) is an innovative and evidence-based practice in both the United States and across the globe where health providers prescribe arts, cultural, and nature activities free-of-cost for patients in community settings to holistically address an individual’s specific health issues and unmet needs such as poor mental health, substance misuse, chronic disease, and social isolation.
The Law and The ArtsThe legal landscape for artists is multifaceted, and artists need to pay careful attention to legal developments, rules, and regulations to protect their rights, income, and reputation. We've listed the most pertinent legal considerations artists should be aware of (credit to Musical Arts for pulling together a master list), along with relevant and Wisconsin specific legal resources.
