Wisconsin Arts Board Seeking Input for Strategic Plan

Arts Board Officials Met With Artists and Community Members in Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Wisconsin Arts Board is creating its strategic plan for the next three years.

The plan will outline where the board will invest in the state’s arts and creative sector.

Monday, Arts Board officials met with artists and community members in Superior. The board is asking them for input about where to direct their resources in Northern Wisconsin.

“You could sit in Madison and make things up, but that’s not going to get it done,” said George Tzougros, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board. “You need to get out and you need to hear from everybody because the different regions have different challenges and different opportunities so we want to hear directly from the people when we can.”

“It’s about creativity, culture, community and commerce,” added Tzougros. “And so it’s about economic development and creative economy, it’s about making sure our kids have the opportunity for a creative education.”

The Arts Board has funded the Superior Back Door projects and many arts groups in the area.

More organizations, like Raven in Solon Springs, want funding so they can expand their reach and programming.

“We get travelers in to Solon Springs pretty much from all over,” said Buzz Buczynski of Raven. “California, Florida, and they take a flyer with them every time they’re there so we get to know our artists are known hundreds of miles from here.”

“We’re planning a big art exhibition again in July in Solon Springs and looking forward to that,” added Buczynski. “We have the old village hall which is an inside area, it’s very nice and we host a one week long art show there.”

The Arts Board has a public meeting in Ashland tomorrow.

To look at the draft of their plan, click here.

You can offer input by emailing artsboard@wisconsin.gov.