Arts Wisconsin is calling for nominations for the first annual Arts in the Community Awards, highlighting and promoting community-based support of the arts in Wisconsin villages, towns and cities, and honor civic leaders who have encouraged and supported innovative approaches to using the arts to build and sustain vibrant, healthy, creative communities. The award showcases programs, and champions, that may be viewed as models or best practices for other communities.
Arts Wisconsin is particularly interested in honoring villages, towns and cities – and their elected and civic leaders – demonstrating an overall commitment to supporting the arts and partnering with the local arts community to positively impact the lives of all citizens. This is a great way for local arts leaders and institutions to recognize and celebrate supportive elected officials and civic leaders in their community.
The awards are presented by Arts Wisconsin in partnership with:
The awards will be presented to honorees at their affiliated statewide service or advocacy association conferences, all taking place in fall 2009. At least two awards can be made each year, to a village, town and city with over 20,000 population and under 20,000 population.
Award recognition:
- A plaque suitable for display in your community city hall, Chamber office, or other location.
- Recognition during the annual conference of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Alliance of Cities, and Wisconsin Towns Association (depending on honored community’s affiliation)
- Recognition at Arts Wisconsin’s annual Arts Day, held each spring
- Featured in print and email publications and websites of Arts Wisconsin and affiliated statewide organization
Award assessment criteria:
- Demonstrable, ongoing commitment to the arts by business and government leaders, agencies and organizations.
- Heavy commitment of volunteer resources
- Meets a clearly defined community need
- Tangible results
- Broad and diverse community support
- Innovative and creative in its approach to integrating the arts with civic strategies
Specific examples of community support are appreciated!
Applications procedure:
Organizations and government agencies may self-nominate or individuals, nonprofit organizations, agencies or businesses may nominate a community and elected official/civic leader. Each application must be no more than three typed pages and contain the following information:
Organizations and government agencies may self-nominate or individuals, nonprofit organizations, agencies or businesses may nominate a community and elected official/civic leader. Each application must be no more than three typed pages and contain the following information:
- Contact information for nominee and nominator (name, title, address, telephone number, fax number and email)
- A description of the program or project, including a discussion of its objectives, goals, outcomes, and supporters.
- An explanation of how the community, program or project addresses each of the six criteria for selection that are outlined above.
- A letter of support from a top elected official and/or community leader of the nominated community (this letter can be from the nominee).
Optional support materials:
- Promotional brochures
- Press clippings
- Other program-related materials
- Up to three additional letters of support.
Selection Process:
Arts Wisconsin staff will screen for eligibility based on the application information outlined above. A committee convened by the board of directors of Arts Wisconsin, with input from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Alliance of Cities, and Wisconsin Towns Association, will be responsible for the final selection. Communities are eligible for only one award in a ten-year time period.
Application deadline: received by August 15, 2009. Winners will be notified by September 15, 2009. Award presentations will take place in fall 2009:
- League of Wisconsin Municipalities: Award to be presented at Opening General Session of 111th Annual Conference, Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 1:30 p.m., at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton.
- Wisconsin Alliance of Cities: presentation TBA
- Wisconsin Towns Association: Award to be presented Tuesday evening, October 13, 2009 at association awards banquet, Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Stevens Point
Please contact Anne Katz at Arts Wisconsin (akatz@artswisconsin.org | 608 255 8316) to discuss your nomination.
Send applications by mail or email to:
Arts Wisconsin
Box 1054
Madison, WI 53701-1054
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