Arts Wisconsin Legislative Candidate Survey 2006
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1. The programs of the Wisconsin Arts Board, the state agency dedicated to the arts, provide matching seed dollars to arts and community organizations and schools, making possible myriad opportunities for people in the state to have access and participate in the arts, and adding to Wisconsin's economic, educational and civic strength. While Arts Board grants represent only a small proportion of arts and cultural institutions’ budgets, this state investment in the arts across Wisconsin is both substantial and pervasive.
Wisconsin has historically been ranked at the bottom of the list in per-capita legislative funding for arts and cultural activities through the Wisconsin Arts Board. The state currently allocates only 44 cents per person to the Arts Board, a figure which is surpassed by Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Tennessee and Alabama, to name just a few states. Question: If elected, I would support:
66% (44 respondents): Increasing Wisconsin Arts Board funding to reflect
the growing importance of the arts to the people of Wisconsin, and to
Wisconsin's economic, educational and civic success.
16% (11 respondents): Keeping the level of funding the same.
2% (1 respondent): Decreasing funding.
21% (13 respondents): Other
82% would support increasing funding for community-based
arts performances, exhibits and programs.
2. State investment in cultural tourism and arts and cultural economic development projects and programs help diversify and strengthen Wisconsin's economy for the 21st century. Question: I also support identifying new and appropriate strategies to provide public funding for the arts, to increase Wisconsin’s competitive advantage in the global economy and contribute to a higher quality of life for the state’s residents.
56% (38 respondents): Strongly agree
31% (21 respondents): Agree
10% (7 respondents): Neutral
3% (2 respondents): Disagree
0% (0 respondents): Strongly Disagree
87% want to find new and creative ways to invest in the arts
3. Copious national and international research has shown that students who are highly involved in arts instruction earn better grades, perform better on standardized tests, voluntarily perform more community service, are less likely to drop out of school, and are better prepared for their participation in the 21st century workforce. Question: Do you agree with 95% of Wisconsinites (according to a recent Gallup poll) who say that the arts are "essential" or "important" to the education of our children?
76% (52 respondents): Strongly agree
22% (15 respondents): Agree
2% (1 respondent): Neutral
0% (0 respondents): Disagree
0% (0 respondents): Strongly Disagree
98% agree that the arts are critically important to our children's
education.
4. According to the Travel Industry of America, sixty-five percent of American adult travelers included a cultural event during a trip in 2001. Cultural travelers are ideal tourists—they spend more and stay longer. Question: Do you support state investment in tourism to encourage arts and cultural activities such as the Fall Art Tour in southwestern Wisconsin, and the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield (to name just two great Wisconsin arts opportunities) which annually attract thousands of in- and out-of-state participants to those parts of the state?
54% (37 respondents): Strongly agree
35% (24 respondents): Agree
6% (4 respondents): Neutral
3% (2 respondents): Disagree
0% (0 respondents): Strongly Disagree
89% support state investment in tourism to encourage arts
and cultural activities.
5. Arts and culture are a vibrant part of every corner of Wisconsin, with residents in every part of the state involved in the arts like no other time in our state’s history. Question: What arts activities have you attended, participated in or supported in the last year?
92% (60 respondents): Music
85% (55 respondents): Theater
51% (33 respondents): Visual Arts
32% (21 respondents): Literary Arts
52% (21 respondents): Dance
21% (13 respondents): Arts education
0% (0 respondents): None
Other
All candidates responding had some kind of personal involvement
with the arts!
6. Are you now serving or have you ever served on a board of directors of a nonprofit arts, cultural, heritage or historical organization? If yes, please list those organizations in the comment section below.
13% (8 respondents): Yes
87% (55 respondents): No
13% had served on the board of a nonprofit arts organization.
8. Our constituents would like to hear your thoughts about arts and
culture and arts education in Wisconsin. Comments are included in response
section.
53% offered comments about the arts.