Wisconsin Ranks Last in Funding for the Arts
It is a known fact that Wisconsin is at the back of the pack when it comes to funding the arts, but in 2023, Wisconsin fell all the way to dead last.
According to The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Wisconsin spends about 18 cents per capita on arts funding, compared to our neighboring states Minnesota ($9.67), Illinois ($5.11), and Michigan ($1.18).
“The economic impact of arts and culture in Wisconsin is phenomenal. It’s $10.8 billion a year. That is a worthy cause. The other driving factor has been tourism dollars. The museums, the arts and cultural activities are major centers of tourism dollars, bringing people into the state, providing positive cultural experiences,” stated Laurie Winters, Executive director and CEO of the Museum of Wisconsin Art.
In addition to the $10.8 billion a year, the creative sector accounts for more than 87,000 jobs in Wisconsin. That’s more than the state’s beer, biotech and papermaking industries, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts.
“Arts and culture are so critical to Door County’s tourism economy and to the quality of life here because they contribute to the holistic development of the community, fostering creativity, cultural understanding, social connections and individual well-being. They are not just a form of entertainment; they have the power to bring people together to drive change and improve quality of life for all of us,” said Julie Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Door County in a recent Door County Pulse Interview.
^^We couldn’t agree more with Julie about the importance of the arts in our community!
At Photo Opp, we know that a strong and vibrant creative community is important to our local economy, improving quality of life, boosting the image of our community, and incubating, attracting and retaining talent – especially young, working-age adults.
Check out this awesome graphic, Auntie Luke’s Guide to Wisconsin’s Art Economy: Misconceptions and Reality Checks, for a visual story of the impact of the arts in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin, we can (and need) to do better. The arts are vital to a healthy economy, improved individual well-being, and unifying communities. Not convinced yet that we need to fund the arts? Check out ten more solid reasons put together by Wisconsin Creative!
Photo Opp’s mission is to develop a welcoming community and inspire lifelong learning through the lens of a camera. Our programs and offerings work toward our vision to elevate the appreciation of visual expression and nurture passion for life beyond the camera.
Collaboration is at the core of everything we do as we partner with school districts, other non-profits, local businesses, and others in the community to offer educational services in the art of photography and videography, while also helping to support the content needs of our community. Through collaboration, we aim to strengthen our local community by supporting the storytellers all around us.