Create Wisconsin Day, Wisconsin’s most important statewide creative sector conference, was presented by Create Wisconsin, the state’s community cultural development organization, on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison.  A pre-conference took place Tuesday, February 20, at the new Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras Center for Music.

Participants represented Appleton, Bristol, Cedarburg, Cudahy, Evansville, Franklin, Green Bay, Green Lake, Janesville, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Mineral Point, Neenah, Oregon, Prairie du Sac, Sheboygan, Spring Green, Stevens Point, Superior, Viroqua, Waterloo, Waupun, Wausau, and Whitewater, and a wide range of organizations, agencies, disciplines, creative endeavors, and interests.

These are Create Wisconsin’s legislative priorities for 2024:

  • Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Foundation:  Senate Bill (SB) 897 and Assembly Bill (AB) 896 have been introduced in the Legislature to update the Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Foundation, a major step in reigniting Wisconsin's investment in the creative economy. The Foundation will support the growth and development of Wisconsin's creative economies through direct investments in artistic and culturally-based businesses and creative entrepreneurs.  Lead sponsors are Representative Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and Senator Jesse James (R-Altoona).  Click here to ask your legislators to support SB 897 and AB 896.

  • Rural Creative Economy Development Program:  Senate Bill (SB) 448 and Assembly Bill (AB) 449 will establish legislation to 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. Eligible projects will serve the rural creative economy and creative industries through hob and business creation and capacity-building, workforce training and development, community and sector planning, development and engagement, and products or services with artistic, cultural, creative, or aesthetic qualities.  Rep. Todd Novak and Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake) are sponsors of the bill. Click here to ask your legislators to support SB448 and AB449.

  • Action Wisconsin is a coalition of people and businesses working to create and retain jobs, enhance the economy, and promote tourism state-wide through film and television production. Wisconsin is one of only five states lacking a film office and one of ten without any production incentives. Without these essential resources in place, the state is missing out on significant economic opportunities. Reps. David Armstrong & Calvin Callahan and Sen. Julian Bradley are co-sponsors for a bill to create film & television production incentives and a state film office, to grow jobs and investment through more film and television programs and projects produced throughout the state. Click here for information via Action!WI.

  • Senate Bill 970 and Assembly Bill 1033 would create a tax credit aimed at attracting video game companies to Wisconsin. Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menomonie, and Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, are co-sponsors. Under the legislation, an owner of a copyright in “digital interactive media or entertainment” — such as a video game development studio — could get a refundable income tax credit equal to 30% of the qualifying salary or wages and 30% of other related spending in Wisconsin. The video game industry dwarfs both movies and television, and is expected to grow 8.7% per year between 2024 and 2027.  Click here for more information.

Highlights of Create Wisconsin Day include:

  • Legislative Breakfast, 9-9:45 am, with speakers, including:

    — Create Wisconsin Board President Mal Montoya
    — Wisconsin Arts Board Director George Tzougros
    — WEDC Office of Rural Prosperity Rural Initiatives Manager Kietra Olson
    — Legislative leaders and advocates
    — Wisconsin Poet Laureate Nicholas Gulig of Whitewater

  • Performances and spoken word with the Verona High School Choir and Milwaukee Rep Teen Council

  • Constituent meetings with legislators at the State Capitol

  • Networking lunch for attendees, 1-2 pm

  • Roundtables, discussions, conversations, questions, ideas, connections, throughout the day

  • The pre-conference at the WYSO Center for Music: Full agenda here.

Why is advocacy so important right now?
Creativity is the way forward for Wisconsin.  The state’s creative sector overall is a $10.8 billion economic driver, encompassing over 87,000 jobs - more jobs than the state’s beer, biotech and papermaking industries, according to the US Department of Commerce, And, the recent Arts and Economic Prosperity study from Americans for the Arts and Wisconsin Arts Board reveals that Wisconsin's nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $933.3 million in economic activity in 2022. That economic activity - $437.1 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and $496.2 million in event-related spending by their audiences - supported 15,851 jobs and generated $190.1 million in local, state, and federal government revenue.

Despite these impressive impact numbers, Wisconsin ranks 49th out of 50 states in per-capita funding of the state’s arts agency, while many other states are investing in their creative resources and out-competing our state.

Wisconsin must do better and seize the opportunity to invest in the arts, culture, and creativity, so our state can thrive and compete regionally and globally.  Investment in the creative sector will help grow and stabilize Wisconsin’s economy, workforce, and communities.  Wisconsin’s arts and cultural assets are more important than ever as we seek to revitalize the economy, develop a 21st century workforce and incubate, attract and retain talent, provide opportunities and a good quality of life for all, and help our communities thrive. Many other states, including our neighbors Minnesota and Iowa, are heavily investing in this industry to promote a higher standard of living and attract residents to their state.  Read more in this case statement for creative sector investment.

At Create Wisconsin Day and the pre-conference, people involved in the arts, culture, and creativity throughout Wisconsin come together to learn, network and speak as one voice. This is a critical time for advocates to galvanize support towards real change with increased investment in Wisconsin’s creative resources.

Thanks to our advocacy partners:

Thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters:

Contact Create Wisconsin with questions, comments, and ideas.