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Arts Advocates Gather in Madison For Arts Day Conference

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Arts organizations from the Northwoods and around the state are headed to Madison Wednesday for a statewide arts conference. 

Arts Wisconsin Director Anne Katz says the advocacy group is gathering people in Madison for Arts Day.

‘We’ve been doing it for almost 20 years, and people come from all over the state. They’re going to learn from each other, talk to each other, get some ideas, talk to their elected officials.”

The group is pushing legislation that would fund a matching grant program for art enterprises that could boost economic development.  The bill for the Creative Economy Development Initiative didn’t pass last year, but Katz hopes it will be introduced again to the legislature in the coming weeks.   

It’s also opposing cuts to the public university system and public broadcasting in Governor Scott Walker’s proposed budget. 

“Since it is budget season, there are a lot of issues in the budget that we’re concerned about. The university system, k-12 education, public broadcasting, the historic tax credit. So there’s a lot of stuff to talk about, that’s for sure.”

Speakers at Arts Day include Wisconsin’s new poet laureate Kimberly Blaeser, and Randy Cohen from the national advocacy group Americans for the Arts. 

The advocacy group Arts Wisconsin hosts Arts Day every March.    

Director Anne Katz says it’s a chance for artists and arts administrators to share ideas and meet with lawmakers. 

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