Arts Build SmART Communities

Wisconsin Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education seeks public input

Platteville – Thursday, August 28th
9 – 11 AM
Platteville Municipal Building City Council Chambers

Lieutenant Governor Lawton and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster created the Wisconsin Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education to address the essential role arts education and the development of all students’ creative capacities plays in the lives of students, in defining their future, the quality of life in Wisconsin’s communities and our state’s economy. Task Force members have been gathered from a broad cross-section of the business, arts, and education communities.

Currently, the task force is examining state-level policies and local practices to determine their impact on the scope and access to quality arts education opportunities in Wisconsin.

In advance of this Public Forum, the co-chairs invited five people to provide testimony. Each of these people will spend five minutes each addressing one of the four questions below. Task Force members in attendance will then ask any questions they may have of the speaker. When their testimony is complete, members of the public are invited to also provide input in response to one or more of these same questions:

Where do you most clearly see the value of creativity today?
How can development of children’s creative capacities be integrated across disciplines in the curriculum?
What kind of partnerships initiated by the private and non-profit sector interests will help meet a community’s need for expanded arts and creativity in education?
Can you describe a successful classroom or workplace program that teaches art and/or develops creative capacities? To allow as many people as possible the opportunity to speak, speakers will be limited to three minutes. Members of the public will not be required to register in advance, but will need to register upon arrival.

WHO: State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster
WHAT: Public forums on the arts and creativity in Wisconsin
WHEN: Thursday, August 28, 2008
WHERE: Platteville, 9 – 11 a.m.
Platteville Municipal Building
City Council Chambers
75 North Bonson Street, Platteville

An afternoon meeting will also be held in La Crosse, from 4 – 6 p.m. in the Viterbo University Ethics Institute Board Room at 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse.

Please note that the Task Force is also accepting written testimony that responds to the four questions. Please email such testimony to ltgov@wisconsin.gov.

The Wisconsin Arts Board encourages you to distribute this email widely and encourage parents, educators, artists and arts administrators, business and community leaders, and local government officials to attend.

For more information, contact the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: Patrick Gasper, Communications Officer, (608) 266-3559

ArtsBuild Arts Networking Retreats Opportunities

Recharge your creative batteries at an Arts Networking Retreat, presented by ArtsBuild, Arts Wisconsin and the WI Arts Board. Come on your own, or, even better, as a group from your community or organization. The Arts Networking Retreats are made possible through a community grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation.

Two Opportunities:

Thursday, May 1st in Prairie du Chien from 2-6 pm in the Crawford County Extension Conference Room, 225 N. Beaumont Rd. (Click here to register for the Prairie du Chien event.)
Thursday, May 8th in Monroe from 2-6 pm at the Monroe Arts Center, 1315 – 11th St. (Click here to register for the Monroe event.)

Space is limited for both retreats! The cost is only $10—a great price for what you get—which covers activities, hand-outs, snacks, and a copy of The Arts in the Small Community handbook, to give you inspiration after the retreat. For more information, see the schedule and the press release, or contact Heidi at dyasmc@uwplatt.edu or call (608)342-1314.

ArtsBuild receives $5,000 grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Platteville, WI USA

The University of Wisconsin Platteville Office of Continuing Education has received a $5,000 grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board in support of their ArtsBuild program. The UWP ArtsBuild program is an advocacy, technical assistance and networking program that has been connecting artists and others throughout the region since its inception in 2004. The program pays particular attention to assisting artists in strengthening entrepreneurial and professional development needs.

More Information...
http://www.uwplatt.edu/news/2008/02/artsbuild-receives-5000-grant-from.html

Invitation to the Wisconsin Arts Board's town meeting in Mineral Point
Mineral Point, WI USA

The Wisconsin Arts Board embarks on the ninth of its annual series of town meetings in Mineral Point, on Thursday, November 29th. You are sincerely invited to participate as we cover a range of topics, and focus primarily on the imminent changes to our grants programs.

Note: Feel free to bring a brown bag dinner
Date/Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Thursday, November 29, 2007
Location: Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, 18 Shakerag Street, Mineral Point, WI
Contact Information: Call Shake Rag Alley at (608)987-3292 or e-mail shakeragalley@verizon.net

Click here for more details!

Wisconsin's Nonprofit Arts Industry Generates 15,103 Full Time Jobs and $61,840,400 in State and Local Government Revenue
Wisconsin Arts Board - Madison, WI USA

The Wisconsin Arts Board announced last week the results of the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry ever documented in the state. The release of the Arts and Economic Prosperity III report shows that in 2005, Wisconsin's nonprofit arts industry generated over 15,000 full-time jobs and $61,840,000 in state and local government revenue. Cumulatively, the arts contributed $416,055,786 in total economic activity statewide.

This study makes it clear that the arts are a force for change in Wisconsin. Upon releasing the report last week, Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton stated, "The data in this study drives the arts and culture sector to a powerful seat at the economic development table."

Wisconsin Arts Board press release:
http://artsboard.wisconsin.gov/static/study/pr061207.htm

Summary of report:
http://artsboard.wisconsin.gov/static/study/StateOfWisconsin_OnePageSummary_2007.doc

Full report:
http://artsboard.wisconsin.gov/static/study/StateOfWisconsin_FinalReport.doc

Register for Arts Day on March 7, 2007

Join your arts and creative colleagues in Madison on Wednesday, March 7, to speak up and show support for greater visibility and increased investment in the arts, culture, creativity and innovation throughout Wisconsin. Come to Arts Day, Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at Monona Terrace Convention Center and the State Capitol in downtown Madison.

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, who is also chair of the Wisconsin Arts Board, will welcome guests at the Legislative Breakfast. The Breakfast also includes a reading by Wisconsin Poet Laureate Denise Sweet, new research from UW-Extension on Wisconsin's amazing creative economy and roundtable sessions on future leaders in the arts, grassroots advocacy, and community cultural development.

The cost of Arts Day is only $20 per participant (with discounts for more than one person from an organization), which includes the Arts Action Handbook and other advocacy materials, all workshop sessions, continental breakfast and a tasty lunch.

For more information or to register go to http://www.artswisconsin.org/events/artsday2007.cfm

ArtsBuild receives grant from Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc.

Platteville - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Office of Continuing Education announced that it has received a grant from the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. to support the ArtsBuild program.

"Culture, and its expression through art and its many forms, is a wonderful tool to build a community" said Sue Conley, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Southern WI.

Link to full press release http://www.uwplatt.edu/news/2007/01/artsbuild-receives-grant-from-community.html.

Led by Attorney Elizabeth Russell, a Madison-based, nationally known expert in the field of arts law, this full day workshop is designed for arts entrepreneurs who want to know the legal ramifications of the art and business related decisions that they make on a daily basis. The day's training will focus on topics of interest to performing and visual artists such as Internet Issues, Copyright, and Contracts, among others.

Location: River Valley Middle School Library, 660 West Daley Street, Spring Green
Date and Time: Saturday, January 27, 2007, 9 am - 5 pm
Cost: $75
To Register: Go to www.artswisconsin.org or contact Arts Wisconsin at 608-255-8316 / akatz@artswisconsin.org

For more complete details on schedule, as well as other dates and locations of this workshop go to http://www.artswisconsin.org/events/2006-2007workshops.cfm

Green County SmART Communities Update

MONROE - In June of 2006 ArtsBuild and Green County partners held a Smart Communities conversation in Monroe. This community dialogue aimed at identifying and increasing the visibility of artists and art organizations as community and regional assets, sparked passion among artists, educators, and business leaders in Green County. These partners agreed to keep the discussion alive through a Green County SmART Communities initiative . . . (more)

Vacant storefront display installed by the Monroe Theatre Guild
as part of a Green County SmART Communities project during the 2006 Green County Cheese Days.

Chancellor David Markee noted,

ArtsBuild is an excellent example of UWP's outreach to create meaningful partnerships that bring community and economic development to Southwest Wisconsin. The achievements of ArtsBuild have been recognized through numerous awards. Its overwhelming success is evident in the replications that are occurring in other regions of Wisconsin. UWP is proud to support this innovative endeavor designed to assist and support Wisconsin's creative community."

Link to press release:
http://www.uwplatt.edu/news/2006/09/donations-and-grant-money-permit-award.html

ArtsBuild SmART Communities receives the University of Wisconsin Extension's 2006 Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement - "for increasing the business capacity of arts entrepreneurs and helping communities realize the importance of arts to a vital economy".

Link to awards listing – http://www.uwex.uwc.edu/chancellor/events

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, "Capital for the Day", Ferryville, WI, July 25th, 2006

Link to press release:
http://www.uwplatt.edu/news/2006/08/lawton-meets-with-sw-wisconsin-arts.html

"The idea for one of Wisconsin's foremost rural economic development efforts germinated at UW-Platteville, engaged the surrounding area and now stands to inform regional development across the state. Their unique wisdom: building a solid economic base on the arts and culture industry – a growing sector and a magnet for the talented workforce and the businesses that follow it. The ArtsBuild model, developed in partnership with the UWP Continuing Education Office, drives communities to inventory and revalue their cultural assets, make entrepreneurs of artists and turn innovative collaborations into powerful forces to leverage new investment and economic activity in a region. It is a story I tell all across the state."
-Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton

Spring 2006 - ArtsBuild recognized by Wisconsin Rural Partners as the 2006 Top Rural Development Initiative in the state. The award was based on ArtsBuild's "spirit of partnership and collaboration in creating positive community impacts."

Link to press release -
http://www.wirural.org/pdf%20files/Top%20RDIs/2006%20Press%20Release.pdf

Link to initiative profiles -
http://www.wirural.org/pdf%20files/Top%20RDIs/2006%20Top%20RDIs%20Briefs.pdf

The following is an article published by Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

"ArtsBuild" takes Top Rural Development Initiative honors at Leadership Summit

APPLETON - Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. today awarded the Top Rural Development Initiatives for 2006 at a ceremony in the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton. The awards were presented by Wisconsin Rural Partners president Dennis Deery, followed by a reception held in conjunction with the 4th Annual Wisconsin Community Leadership Summit, which WRP is co-hosting with the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program and the University of Wisconsin-Extension on Wednesday and Thursday.

Three initiatives received Top Initiative rankings, while four additional nominees were awarded Honorable Mention. Award winners were able to network with community leaders from throughout the Midwest who are attending the summit.

This is the eighth year that Wisconsin Rural Partners has recognized Wisconsin’s Top Rural Development Initiatives. The program is designed to identify, highlight, and share innovative models, practices and programs that have a positive impact on rural Wisconsin communities. Wisconsin Rural Partners created the program to provide a mechanism for rural communities to learn from each other. On May 1, Wisconsin Rural Partners will debut an online database of all the past initiatives at www.wirural.org.

The Top Rural Development Initiatives for 2006 are:

ArtsBuild
Waupaca Healthy Communities; Youth on Boards Initiative
Shawano County Rural Health Initiative

Honorable mentions were given to Countryside Park Cooperative in Cumberland; Tri-County Regional Economic Development Corporation covering Waushara, Marquette and Green Lake counties; Gogebic Range Leadership Academy of Iron County; and Washington Island Brands of Door County.

The top-ranking ArtsBuild is an economic development program in southwest Wisconsin offering a wide range of assistance to local artists interested in beginning or expanding their arts-related businesses. Complete descriptions of the 2006 Top Rural Development Initiatives, and a list of contacts, are attached.

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