Contact: Jason A. Smith, communications director
MADISON—Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Academy’s quarterly magazine of Wisconsin thought and culture, recently announced a new partnership with Shake Rag Alley Center for Arts and Crafts in Mineral Point. Beginning this year, Shake Rag Alley will host week-long residencies for the winners of the annual short story and poetry contests the magazine holds in conjunction with the Wisconsin Book Festival.
In the tradition established by Edenfred, the Terry Family Foundation’s artist residence in Madison, Shake Rag Alley will provide contest-winning writers and poets with a week of uninterrupted time to focus on a project of their choice. Artists will stay in a historic lodging facility in the nurturing environment of the historic Mineral Point artist community.
David Wells, former executive director of Edenfred, was instrumental in the creation of this new partnership. “We recognize the loss felt by the region and the state with the closing of Edenfred, and we are proud to honor its legacy by stepping up to provide artist residencies. We are excited to partner with Wisconsin People & Ideas, a magazine that has done so much to celebrate and promote the work of Wisconsin artists,” says Shake Rag Alley Board President Don Hay.
About Wisconsin People & Ideas
Wisconsin People & Ideas is the quarterly magazine of the Wisconsin Academy. The leading magazine of Wisconsin thought and culture, Wisconsin People & Ideas features articles by and about scientists, scholars, artists, writers, policymakers and others who serve as thought leaders in our state. The magazine also publishes works from contemporary and classic Wisconsin artists, writers, and poets, and holds in conjunction with the Wisconsin Book Festival an annual short story and poetry contest. Distributed free of charge to Wisconsin Academy members, Wisconsin People & Ideas can be found in bookstores and libraries across the state and is available online at wisconsinacademy.org/magazine.
About Shake Rag Alley Center for Arts and Crafts
Shake Rag Alley Center for Arts and Crafts provides traditional, visual, performing, and literary arts education programs for children and adults. Located in the heart of historic Mineral Point in rural SW Wisconsin, Shake Rag Alley’s campus features charming historic buildings and gardens, on and off-site lodging facilities and Alley Stage, a semi-professional outdoor theater. Guided by the belief that the arts and humanities are important aspects of personal and community life, Shake Rag Alley is proud to inspire creativity and build community across the region. More information can be found at shakeragalley.com
