​Credit: Martin Jenich Photography

Autumn landed in Wisconsin, and while the leaves were falling, the Arts Board was jumping... but not into piles of leaves! We jumped into Arts and Humanities month, an Art Party for artists and arts administrators, an accessibility in the arts self-assessment training session, the Wisconsin Science Festival, site visits, collaborations with national partners, ​the 2025 Rural Arts and Culture Forum, and more!

Every October, we collaboratively celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) with our arts partners across the state, and the Office of the Governor, to recognize the positive impact of arts and culture in Wisconsin​. National Arts and Humanities month was established in 1993 by Americans for the Arts to raise awareness and emphasize the critical role of the arts and humanities in fostering community well being, education, and economic development.

Wisconsin's many arts groups work in different ways, at different levels of capacity, to serve their communities, the artists with whom they engage, and their artforms. They keep the threads brightly colored and well spun in the weaving of Wisconsin's arts and culture ecosystem. With that in mind, on October 15, 2025, the WI Arts Board partnered with Massachusetts-based Open Door Arts to do a webinar on their accessibility self-assessment tool, created with and for arts organizations. You can watch the recording of the webinar here, and view Open Door Arts' presentation here.​

Art Party​

Together with the Wisconsin Historical Society​ and Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development, Inc. (LOUD), we hosted an Art Party on October 21st, 2025 in Madison, a monthly networking event for creatives, artists, arts administrators, and o​ther community members. We were able to connect with those who came, share resources, and hear a lot of great questions and feedback. ​Art Party Tuesdays are free and open to all, and you can ​connect with the Art Party group on Facebook.​ Photo credit: Martin Jenich Photography

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The 2025 Rural Arts and Culture Forum

Together with Create Wisconsin and the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts​, we hosted the 2025 Rural Arts and Culture Forum on October 28th, 2025 in Menomonie. People from northwest Wisconsin, and every area in the state, were invited to attend the Forum. The Forum has a 30+ year history bringing together leaders involved in the arts, business, economic development, education, government, and politics, to share stories, issues, and ideas on how to grow the region creatively and help creative people, businesses and communities flourish. This year's takeaways confirm that arts-related collaboration, community, transformation and opportunities have become even more important to the health and well-being of Wisconsin, its people, and its communities. ​​Photo credit: Anne Katz

George Tzougros Awarded the WMEA Government Leadership Award

George Tzougros, our executive director, was the recipient of this year’s Wisconsin ​Music Educators Association (WMEA)​ Government Leadership Award at the annual Wisconsin State Music Conference on October 29th, 2025. This award recognizes an elected or appointed public official at the local, state or federal level who, in the course of completing their official duties, demonstrates strong advocacy for the importance of music in a well-rounded education.