Announcing Create Wisconsin
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For immediate release
Contact: Anne Katz
akatz@createwisconsin.org | 608 255 8316
April 27, 2022
Arts Wisconsin is now Create Wisconsin
Arts Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s community cultural development organization, is now Create Wisconsin.
For nearly thirty years, the organization’s advocacy, services, and development work has advanced creativity, innovation, imagination and entrepreneurship throughout Wisconsin. The organization is all about growing and strengthening a thriving, equitable, creative environment, infrastructure, and opportunities in every corner of the state. Becoming Create Wisconsin is fundamental to our mission to stay in tune with and ahead of trends, issues and opportunities as the catalyst for creative growth, equity, and possibility, for everyone, everywhere in the state.
Why the evolution to Create Wisconsin? Create Wisconsin is the way forward at this opportune, historic moment in time. To build on past accomplishments and grow future promise, weaving the arts, community, and economy together into a comprehensive whole. Becoming Create Wisconsin extends the organization’s award-winning creative advocacy, service and development work. Create Wisconsin’s purpose is to help creativity, innovation, imagination, and entrepreneurship shape the post-pandemic world. Learn more, including why Create Wisconsin?
“We’re bringing our brand in line with the work we’ve been doing all over the state for the past twenty-five years, as the next steps for creative action and access,” says Tom Targos, Interim President of the organization. “We’re telling the story that the arts and culture are fundamental to the overall priorities of the state - economic vitality, education for the 21st century, vibrant communities, and civic engagement that benefits all. Creativity is essential to the well-being and future of Wisconsin, its people, and its communities.”
Create Wisconsin does its work through:
Creative advocacy and activism - engaging policy-makers and the public through information, research, ideas, and action for local, regional, and statewide investment in arts, cultural and creative assets and infrastructure
Creative economic, workforce, and community development
Creative placemaking and placekeeping – upholding and strengthening unique, authentic cultures and communities
Creative education - promoting arts and creativity in education as imperative for all Wisconsin students, providing 21st century creative thinking, imaginative, and problem-solving skills for successful futures
Creative networking - bringing Wisconsinites together to envision and act for the common good
Creative promotion and visibility - telling the stories of Wisconsin’s creativity, far and wide
Creative service, training and consulting - strategic planning and advising with creative workers, businesses, partners, and communities.
Create Wisconsin programs and services in 2022 include (with more initiatives ahead):
Celebrating the 30th year of statewide advocacy, service and development in 2022
Creative Wisconsin Month, a month long celebration of the arts and creativity, annually in April
Creative Economy Summit, presented in partnership with UW Madison, Division of Extension - April 2022
State of Wisconsin’s Creative Sector Report, with Wisconsin Arts Board and Wisconsin Policy Forum - to be released spring 2022
Create Wisconsin Regional Leaders Network - a statewide action network of creative activists
Create Wisconsin Statewide Tour - listening and information sessions with key arts, civic, and economic leaders and Create Wisconsin regional leaders network
News from Create Wisconsin - a monthly newsletter full of arts, cultural, and creative info resources, and ideas
Create Wisconsin Job Board - jobs in the arts and creative industries
Make Music Wisconsin – a statewide day of music on Tuesday, June 21
Creative Community Champion Awards, presented in partnership with League of Wisconsin Municipalities – October 2022
Ongoing and growing:
Statewide and regional creative and cultural collaborations, connections, partnerships
Creative strategy, policy, advocacy, and action for the 2022 elections and upcoming 2023-2025 state budget season
Strategic planning, consulting, technical assistance and training, and advising with creative businesses, workers, and partners.
Leaders, constituents and partners throughout the state are enthusiastic about this move:
"One can feel a new, focused, and driven statewide approach to community and economic development with the new Create Wisconsin brand rollout. With this comes a new sense of urgency: a strong, creative ecosystem, building culture and economic growth, here in Wisconsin. A constant advocate for inclusive and collaborative initiatives, Create Wisconsin and its regional network now have a much stronger bridge to serve all of Wisconsin." ~ Mal Montoya, President, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network
“ArtStart is excited for the launch of Create Wisconsin, which will connect the Northwoods' incredible creative energy and spirit with a host of opportunities for statewide connection, collaboration, and action. For those of us in rural areas, connection to the arts ecosystem across the state is vital.” ~ Meilnda Childs, Community Cultural Development Director, Artstart and Nicolet College, Rhinelander
"The League has long worked in partnership with Arts Wisconsin to champion investment in creative development as a fundamental component of a vibrant community. The organization's evolution to Create Wisconsin means more collaborative opportunities for Wisconsin's cities and villages to grow creatively. This is the right move at the right time for the state. We congratulate Create Wisconsin on this bold step forward." ~ Jerry Deschane, Director, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
“As a musician, artist, small business owner, and entrepreneur, I’m glad Create Wisconsin is out there speaking up and working for Wisconsin’s creative people and communities. There are so many arts and creative opportunities ahead for all Wisconsinites, with Create Wisconsin as a partner and advocate.” ~ Sam Luna, Director, The Heist, Ripon
“Create Wisconsin is a powerful catalyst for creating and supporting programs and projects that spur the growth and development of Wisconsin's Main Streets and downtowns as places filled with vibrant people, businesses, and opportunities for community engagement. This organization is an outstanding partner for those of us working from the ground up, in every corner of the state, to grow our creative economy and foster positive change in our communities.” ~ Chris Clemens, Director, Viroqua Main Street/Chamber
“The Wisconsin Arts Board is proud to have worked in partnership with Create Wisconsin since we helped bring the earliest iteration of the organization into being. Create Wisconsin has always been rooted in the Wisconsin Idea and will continue to hold firm the belief that the arts and creativity are transformational and should be available to all.” ~ George T. Tzougros, Director, Wisconsin Arts Board
“The creative industry is a major component of Wisconsin's tourism sector, one that packs a powerful punch in communities of all sizes, especially the communities we are lucky to represent at Visit Eau Claire. Create Wisconsin is advocating for investment in and support of cultural tourism and creative placemaking. We look forward to continuing a strong partnership that benefits our visitors and residents alike with the amazing people involved.” ~ Benny Anderson, Director, Visit Eau Claire
"Arts Wisconsin has been an advisor and supporter of Waunakee's creative economy vision and development since we started down this path over ten years ago. The transformation to Create Wisconsin brings exciting opportunities for the organization, for Create Waunakee, and for the entire state. We're looking forward to working together to continue creative planning and doing. The more "create" organizations in Wisconsin, the better, we say!" ~ Todd Schmidt, Waunakee Village Administrator and Create Waunakee Founder
Thanks to our inaugural Create Wisconsin Sponsors:
Create Wisconsin is supported with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act:
provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and granted through the Wisconsin Arts Board and Arts Midwest
provided through Dane County and granted through the Madison Community Foundation
Creative Partner: $10,000 +
Scott Gelzer, DeSoto, in support of the Art$upport Fund
Community Investor: $1,000 +
Guardian Fine Art Services, Milwaukee
Kohler Foundation, Kohler
RDK Foundation, Kohler
Networker: $500 +
Heid Music, Appleton, Green, Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, Stevens Point
Civic Champion: $250 +
Cannon and Dunphy SC, Milwaukee
Herb Kohl Philanthropies, Milwaukee
We Think Big LLC, Madison
SRO Artists, Middleton
Create Wisconsin is a Community Shares of Wisconsin member agency.
Special thanks for the support of an extended and growing network of community organizations and individuals throughout the state.
Join us in our work to grow Wisconsin creatively! Learn more about Wisconsin’s creative people, organizations, businesses, and communities at www.createwisconsin.org | 608 255 8316 | akatz@createwisconsin.org.
