FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anne Katz, Arts Wisconsin
608 255 8316 / akatz@artswisconsin.org / www.artswisconsin.org
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2006 › MADISON
Wisconsin’s arts, cultural and creative leaders will rally to show support for greater visibility and increased investment in the arts to benefit Wisconsin’s communities and the people of the state, on ARTS DAY 2006, Thursday, March 2, 2006, at the Monona Terrace Convention Center and the State Capitol in downtown Madison.
The Legislative Arts Breakfast, taking place 8:30-10 am at the Monona Terrace Convention Center, will feature a reception with keynote speaker Carlo M. Cuesta of the St. Paul, Minnesota firm Creation in Common. After the Breakfast, Arts Day participants will make their way to the Capitol to meet with legislators and staff.
Mr. Cuesta will speak on the changing and increasingly important role of the arts in large and small communities across the country and globally. He will include a discussion of the 2003 study conducted by Creation in Common for the McKnight Foundation, which explored the impact of the arts on rural cities and towns in Minnesota. The findings are documented in Bright Stars, published by the foundation in September 2005.
Wisconsin’s creative economy must be nurtured to drive, expand and sustain our state’s economic, educational and civic well-being. Arts advocates from throughout the state will convene at the State Capitol on Arts Day to show their strength in numbers, and demonstrate the importance of the state’s investment in the arts and creativity to Governor Doyle, Lt. Governor Lawton, and state legislators. These elected decision-makers will learn that public and private investment in the arts and arts education reaps tremendous benefits in human, economic, educational, and civic capital.
Americans for the Arts (AFTA)’ latest study of the nation’s “creative industries”, based on an analysis of data provided by Dun and Bradstreet, shows that Wisconsin boasts over 89,500 “creative industry” businesses, supporting over 44,500 full-time jobs. In addition, research from the National Governors Association proves that arts-based education helps build students’ skills, increase academic success, heighten standardized test scores, and lower the incidence of crime among general and at-risk populations.
“The priorities of the arts are Wisconsin’s priorities – well-paying jobs, quality education for all students, healthy communities,” says Peter Crawford, incoming President of Arts Wisconsin, the lead sponsoring organization for Arts Day. “Our Legislative Agenda is pro-active about the importance of the arts and creative communities in local and statewide economic development efforts. On Arts Day, we look forward to working with our elected officials and governmental leaders to find ways to grow Wisconsin creatively.”
Additional Arts Day sponsors currently include the Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin Music Educators Association, and Wisconsin Art Education Association.
Other Arts Day activities are:
constituent meetings with legislators
the latest information on the issues facing the arts in Wisconsin
new initiatives addressing the impact and importance of the creative economy
roundtables on current and future trends, policies, and issues for Wisconsin’s arts industry
activist training for arts activists
Terrace Town 2006, a participatory community design workshop for the Madison community, at Monona Terrace
Artwork by Wisconsin artists on display in Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton’s office, Room 19 East.
a concert in the Capitol Rotunda, noon – 1 p.m., featuring Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Lutheran High School Choir and Band. This free public concert is sponsored by the, will be displayed in the Capitol Rotunda
The cost of Arts Day is $20 per participant, which includes the Arts Action Handbook and other advocacy materials, all sessions, continental breakfast and a box lunch.
For more information, contact Arts Wisconsin, 608 255 8316 / info@artswisconsin.org. Updated information on Arts Day, the 2006 Legislative Arts Agenda, and registration is on Arts Wisconsin’s website, www.artswisconsin.org.
