Create Wisconsin Advocacy Briefing | week of April 17, 2023

Week of April 17, 2023

Create Wisconsin wants to make sure advocates throughout Wisconsin have the information needed to effectively advocate for increased funding for arts and culture as part of the 2023-25 State Budget process. So, beginning this week, we will provide you with a weekly ADVOCACY BRIEFING that includes timely updates and calls to action. By working together, we can better ensure that our voice is heard at the State Capitol as lawmakers deliberate on the three important 2023-25 state budget proposals outlined below.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Tuesday-Wednesday, April 12-13: Create Wisconsin Day took place in Madison, live and in person for the first time since 2019. Leaders from Appleton, Brookfield, Eau Claire, Elm Grove, Fort Atkinson, Green Bay, Green Lake, Janesville, Kenosha, Madison, Marion, Milwaukee, Mineral Point, Pewaukee, Prairie du Sac, Salem, Shell Lake, Stevens Point, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Superior, Verona, Waunakee, and Wausau took time to advocate for Create Wisconsin state budget priorities in meeting with their state legislators. We especially appreciated the many creative young people who were there - they brought great energy and enthusiasm to the conference. More about Create Wisconsin Day here.
Thursday, April 20: Launch of Wisconsin's Creative Economy Coalition website, www.wisconsincreates.com. The firm of Michael Best Strategies has been retained during the period of the 2023-25 state budget deliberations to advocate in support of the proposed $100 million investment in the Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Fund.
Wednesday, April 26: Joint Finance Committee Public Hearing on the 2023-25 State Budget, Minocqua. Advocates will testify about the importance of investment in the arts, culture, and creativity, at the Joint Finance Committee budget hearing at Lakeland Union High School in Minocqua. Advocates previously testified at the Waukesha and Eau Claire hearings earlier in April.
April 21-27: In-district Creative Economy meetings are scheduled with Joint Finance Committee (JFC) members, including Senators Mary Felzkowsk (R-Irma)i, Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) and Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay). A meeting with JFC committee member Senator Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) was previously held in Waupaca. Meetings are also happening at the State Capitol in Madison.

2023-25 STATE BUDGET PROPOSALS

1) ARTISTIC ENDOWMENT FUND

Governor Evers’ proposal recommends the transfer of $100 million GPR to the Artistic Endowment Fund (click here for talking points), established in Wisconsin Chapter 247 in 2001 as part of the Legislative Council Study of Arts Funding. The fund would be managed by a 14-member Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Foundation Board of Directors. Interest earnings generated from these funds will be used to support the arts across the state through both this foundation and the Wisconsin Arts Board. The foundation is organized as a nonprofit so that contributions to it are deductible from adjusted gross income. Revenues from contributions will be placed in an Artistic Endowment Fund to be invested by the State Investment Board. At least 50% of the unrestricted earnings of the fund will be used to provide funds for the Wisconsin Arts Board for programs that provide operating support to arts organizations and regranting programs.

2) WISCONSIN ARTS BOARD MATCHING NEA GRANT FUNDING

Increase National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) matching grant funding for the Wisconsin Arts Board by $552,500 GPR over the biennium to maximize the drawdown of available federal funds and continue supporting individuals and organizations engaged in the arts. This $552,500 from the state’s general purpose revenue (GPR) over the coming two years ($337,200 in FY 24, and $215,300 in FY 25) would allow the Arts Board to make its required state funding match for its National Endowment for the Arts grant in each year of the coming biennium without having to make a 13.10 request of the Joint Committee on Finance, making for a much cleaner, smoother and cost-efficient process.

3) RURAL CREATIVE ECONOMY GRANT PROGRAM

A 2023-25 State Budget Motion from Representative Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) would establish the Rural Creative Economy Development Grant Program. The proposed $1 million, to be administered by the Wisconsin Arts Board, will provide much needed state support to economic development and promotional organizations and local government agencies for the purpose of cultural planning and creative economic development programs.

CALL TO ACTION

Join and support Wisconsin’s Creative Economy Coalition!

Click here to join and support Wisconsin’s Creative Economy Coalition. The Coalition is composed of people, organizations, and businesses statewide, focused on advocating for important investment that serves as a catalyst for increased economic and civic success statewide. Investment in the creative sector will help grow and stabilize Wisconsin’s creative economy, workforce, and communities.

Wisconsin’s arts and cultural assets are more important than ever to revitalize the economy, develop a 21st century workforce and incubate, attract and retain talent, provide opportunities for all, and help our communities, large and small, thrive.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT OF CREATE WISCONSIN’S EFFORTS TO INCREASE STATE INVESTMENT IN WISCONSIN’S CREATIVE SECTOR!

Please contact Create Wisconsin Executive Director Anne Katz with questions or comments at akatz@createwisconsin.org | (608) 255-8316.