About
Create Wisconsin
We are Wisconsin’s community cultural development organization, bringing people together through creative experiences and activating and strengthening Wisconsin’s creative economy, workforce and communities.
VISION
A thriving state where creativity is essential to the economy, workforce, and community life.
MISSION
Strengthen and expand Wisconsin's creative environment by:
Championing public policy and advocacy to invest in Wisconsin’s creative businesses, workers, and opportunities
Telling the vibrant stories of the power and impact of the arts, culture and creativity from the ground up
Speaking up for arts and creativity-centered learning and the development of a creative workforce
Connecting a learning community of leaders statewide, for access, research, ideas, best practices, and actions
Researching and developing the power of creativity for Wisconsin’s growth and sustainability
Consulting, training, advising on leadership, placemaking/placekeeping, engagement, mission/vision, and planning
Growing strategic alliances, partnerships, and coalitions, to broaden and strengthen Wisconsin's creative resources
Fostering inclusivity, equity, access to and participation in arts and culture
Acting as a resource for the arts and creativity in every corner of the state
Advancing creative opportunities for everyone, everywhere in Wisconsin.
VALUES
The instinct to create is universal
Creativity embraces and celebrates diverse perspectives & cultures
Creativity must be accessible to the lives of all Wisconsin residents
Creativity is essential to Wisconsin’s economic, educational and civic growth
The arts, culture, and creativity are at the core of the quality of life in Wisconsin and all of its communities
HISTORY
The organization now known as Create Wisconsin was founded as the Wisconsin Assembly of Local Arts Agencies in 1992 when the Wisconsin Arts Board called together local leaders from across the state to envision and establish a strong statewide network of people, organizations, businesses, and communities involved in creative endeavors. The organization has continually evolved, becoming the Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts in 1999, Arts Wisconsin in 2004, and Create Wisconsin in 2022. The purpose of the organization has always been to activate Wisconsin’s creativity for the benefit of everyone, everywhere in the state.
RECOGNITION
In Wisconsin, we live and work on traditional Native homelands. Wisconsin is home to the largest number of Native American tribes east of the Mississippi River. We honor those who have lived and do live, now, at the intersections of identity and experience. Native Wisconsin is made up of 11 sovereign Tribal nations that abide by their own constitutions: Bad River Ojibwe, Forest County Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Menominee Nation, Mole Lake Sokaogan Chippewa, Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe, St. Croix Band of Ojibwe, Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans.
WHY CREATE WISCONSIN
Why has this organization changed its name four times?
We keep moving our brand forward to stay ahead of the changing times and the work that needs to be done. As Create Wisconsin, we are actively activating and leading conversation about the essential benefits and impact of the arts, culture, and creativity for Wisconsin, its people, and its communities.
Now is the time to invest in Wisconsin’s creative economy, workforce, and communities. Creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship are key resources for 21st century development. Wisconsin needs leadership to develop and grow the sector statewide, from the ground up. As Create Wisconsin, we are deepening our understanding of and service to people, organizations, businesses and communities to make a better future for Wisconsin and help move Wisconsin forward as a more creative state.
This is the fourth evolution of the organization…starting as the Wisconsin Assembly of Local Arts Agencies in 1992, moving to Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts in 1999, and Arts Wisconsin in 2005. Becoming Create Wisconsin in 2022 was the next evolution to stay ahead of issues and trends to best serve the state, its people, its industries, and its communities.
Are you still all about the arts? Yes! As Create Wisconsin, we weave together the arts, community, and economy into a comprehensive whole. This new directions allows us to grow the award-winning advocacy, service, and development we do for the arts, culture, and creativity, to benefit everyone, everywhere in the state.
Who We Are
Board of Directors
Mal Montoya, Milwaukee - President
President, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network
Christopher Naumann, Green Bay - Vice President
Architect
Jennifer Stephany, Appleton - Treasurer
Director, Appleton Downtown, Inc.
Carolyn Nelson-Kavajecz, Superior - Secretary
Director, Sterling Silver Studios and Board Member, Superior Council for the Arts
Chris Clemens, Viroqua
Director, Viroqua Chamber/Main Street
Dr. Nicole Foster, Ashland
Assistant Professor of Sustainable Community Development, Northland College
Dr. Chiwei (Jerry) Hui, Eau Claire
Director of Choral Activities, UW-Stout
Sam Luna, Ripon
Musician, Artist, Entrepreneur, and Director, The Heist
Dana Sonnenberg, Stevens Point
Project Manager, CREATE Portage County
Tom Targos, Kenosha
State of Wisconsin W-2 Refugee Programs Coordinator and Project Manager, Kenosha Community Foundation
Zach Vruwink, Rhinelander
Deputy Director, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Staff
Anne Katz, Executive Director
Stephen Goodhart - Intern, 2023-2024
Melinda Childs - Project Manager, Regional Leaders Network
Kelly McDowell - Legislative Consultant
About Anne Katz: Anne Katz is the executive director of Create Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s community cultural development organization, whose mission is to grow Wisconsin creatively and ensure investment in the arts and creativity as a force for economic, workforce, and community success.
Before she joined the organization as director in 1995, Katz was the director of development and outreach for the Madison Civic Center. She has worked in administrative roles with a number of other arts organizations in Madison and around the country, including the City of Madison Arts Commission, Madison Festival of the Lakes, and Madison Repertory Theatre; Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in
Waterford, CT; The Big Apple Circus; New Dramatists, Inc.; and The Feld Ballet in New York City.
Katz was an arts administration fellow in the Locals Program of the National Endowment for the Arts in 1988; was selected as a member of the first class of Leadership Greater Madison in 1993–1994; and was chosen as a member of Group X of the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, James P. Shannon Leadership Institute, and the Chief Executive Program of National Arts Strategies.
Among her other accomplishments, she has participated in and spoken at numerous conferences and summits on the arts, arts advocacy, the creative economy, and economic development; was a member of
the Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee Steering Committee; served as a member of the State of Wisconsin’s Special Legislative Study Committee on Arts Funding and as chair of the City of
Madison Cultural Plan; and has been a peer review panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, Wisconsin Arts Board, State of Maine Arts Commission, South Dakota Council on the Arts, Iowa
Arts Council, Wisconsin Main Street Program, UW-Madison Division of the Arts, City of Milwaukee Arts Board, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Sauk County UW Extension Arts Committee,
Wisconsin Technology Council, Americans for the Arts, and National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.
She loves exploring Wisconsin for work and play, is an avid recreational biker and swimmer, and, she and her husband spend a lot of their spare time presenting house concerts with Wisconsin, national, and international performers in their 100-year-old bungalow on Madison's near east side.
What We Do
Creative Economy
Position creative entrepreneurship, downtown development, quality of life initiatives, and cultural tourism as strategic state economic development assets and priorities.
Creative Education
Promote arts education combined with core subjects to increase graduation rates and prepare our children for the future. Prepare our youth with the creative thinking, imaginative, and problem-solving skills that will help fuel innovation and revitalize Wisconsin’s economy.
Creative Placemaking and Placekeeping
Honor and shape vibrant communities through the arts, culture, and creativity, thereby attracting talent, spurring economic development, revitalizing neighborhoods, increasing civic engagement, honoring culture and heritage, strengthening community connectedness, and reframing community narratives.
Talent Incubator
Cultivate a culture of creativity in Wisconsin that nurtures, attracts, and retains creative and design talent, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and businesses, who spur the housing market, increase tax revenues, and encourage investment.
Creative Investment
Grow and strengthen Wisconsin’s investment in arts, cultural, and creative assets and identify avenues for growth and inclusion.
Accomplishments
Transforming 30+-year-old arts service organization into community cultural development organization
Connecting and activating statewide network of regional leaders and initiatives.
Recognized by local, state and global arts, business, education, government and political sectors as the only multi-disciplinary service, advocacy and development organization acting for the arts statewide, speaking up for Wisconsin’s creative sector and creativity for all.
Recognized as the independent statewide community cultural development partner organization by the Wisconsin Arts Board
Creative economic, workforce and community development partner of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Downtown Action Council, Wisconsin Main Street Program, Leadership Wisconsin, and UW Extension.
Testimonials
"One can feel a new, focused, and driven statewide approach to community and economic development with the new Create Wisconsin brand rollout. With this comes a new sense of urgency: a strong, creative ecosystem, building culture and economic growth, here in Wisconsin. A constant advocate for inclusive and collaborative initiatives, Create Wisconsin and its regional network now have a much stronger bridge to serve all of Wisconsin." ~ Mal Montoya, President, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network
“ArtStart is excited for the launch of Create Wisconsin, which will connect the Northwoods' incredible creative energy and spirit with a host of opportunities for statewide connection, collaboration, and action. For those of us in rural areas, connection to the arts ecosystem across the state is vital.” ~ Meilnda Childs, Community Cultural Development Director, Artstart and Nicolet College, Rhinelander
"The League has long worked in partnership with Arts Wisconsin to champion investment in creative development as a fundamental component of a vibrant community. The organization's evolution to Create Wisconsin means more collaborative opportunities for Wisconsin's cities and villages to grow creatively. This is the right move at the right time for the state. We congratulate Create Wisconsin on this bold step forward." ~ Jerry Deschane, Director, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
“As a musician, artist, small business owner, and entrepreneur, I’m glad Create Wisconsin is out there speaking up and working for Wisconsin’s creative people and communities. There are so many arts and creative opportunities ahead for all Wisconsinites, with Create Wisconsin as a partner and advocate.” ~ Sam Luna, Director, The Heist, Ripon
“Create Wisconsin is a powerful catalyst for creating and supporting programs and projects that spur the growth and development of Wisconsin's Main Streets and downtowns as places filled with vibrant people, businesses, and opportunities for community engagement. This organization is an outstanding partner for those of us working from the ground up, in every corner of the state, to grow our creative economy and foster positive change in our communities.” ~ Chris Clemens, Director, Viroqua Main Street/Chamber
“The Wisconsin Arts Board is proud to have worked in partnership with Create Wisconsin since we helped bring the earliest iteration of the organization into being. Create Wisconsin has always been rooted in the Wisconsin Idea and will continue to hold firm the belief that the arts and creativity are transformational and should be available to all.” ~ George T. Tzougros, Director, Wisconsin Arts Board
“The creative industry is a major component of Wisconsin's tourism sector, one that packs a powerful punch in communities of all sizes, especially the communities we are lucky to represent at Visit Eau Claire. Create Wisconsin is advocating for investment in and support of cultural tourism and creative placemaking. We look forward to continuing a strong partnership that benefits our visitors and residents alike with the amazing people involved.” ~ Benny Anderson, Director, Visit Eau Claire
"Arts Wisconsin has been an advisor and supporter of Waunakee's creative economy vision and development since we started down this path over ten years ago. The transformation to Create Wisconsin brings exciting opportunities for the organization, for Create Waunakee, and for the entire state. We're looking forward to working together to continue creative planning and doing. The more "create" organizations in Wisconsin, the better, we say!" ~ Todd Schmidt, Waunakee Village Administrator and Create Waunakee Founder