Arts Wisconsin: Board of Directors congratulates Executive Director Anne Katz for twenty years of service

The Board of Directors of Arts Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s statewide arts service, advocacy and development organization, congratulates Executive Director Anne Katz for her twenty years as director of the organization.



Ms. Katz started her work with Arts Wisconsin (then known as the Wisconsin Assembly of Local Arts Agencies) on April 1, 1995, as the organization’s first (and so far, only) director. Over the past twenty years, she has worked with the Board of Directors and staff to establish Arts Wisconsin as the leading community cultural development organization in Wisconsin. As director, she has grown strong, collaborative relationships to benefit Wisconsin and its people, organizations, businesses, and communities, creating and advancing advocacy, research, planning, training, educational and informational programs and services which expand and enhance arts and cultural experiences for everyone, everywhere in the state.



Under her leadership, Arts Wisconsin received the 2004 Governor’s Award in Support of the Arts. Ms. Katz is recognized statewide and nationally working from the ground up in advocacy, asset-based community development and civic engagement in the arts, and received the 2010 Alene Valkanis Arts Advocacy Award from Americans for the Arts. She is a graduate of Celebrating Anne’s work on Arts Day 2015 Leadership Wisconsin, the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute, and Leadership Greater Madison, and is a current member of National Arts Strategies’ Chief Executive Program. She has served as President of Wisconsin Rural Partners and Chair of the State Arts Action Network, the national organization for statewide advocacy and service organizations, and on numerous peer review panels for local, state and national granting organizations including the Wisconsin Main Street Program and the National Guild of Community Schools in the Arts. Ms. Katz was honored by the Board of Directors and Wisconsin arts, business, education and civic leaders during Arts Day 2015 on March 11, 2015.


Ms. Katz’s previous work included senior staff positions with the Madison Civic Center, Madison Repertory Theatre, and Madison Arts Commission, cultural planning consulting, and administrative positions with arts organizations in New York City and at the Eugene O’Neill Center in Waterford, CT.



“We’re proud of Anne’s service to and advocacy for the arts, creativity and community throughout the state and nationally,” said Christopher Naumann, Director of Downtown Kenosha and President of Arts Wisconsin. “Her work has connected Arts Wisconsin in every corner of the state and in the halls of the Capitol, continuing Wisconsin’s distinguished heritage as a place where the arts flourish and benefit all. With Anne at the helm of Arts Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s creative sector has been in great hands. We’re glad to be working with her and glad she’s working for Wisconsin.”



For more information about the arts in Wisconsin and Arts Wisconsin, contact Arts Wisconsin, 608 255 8316 | info@artswisconsin.org | www.artswisconsin.org.