Create Wisconsin Applauds Governor’s Commitment to the Creative Economy
MADISON, February 19, 2025 – Create Wisconsin applauds Gov. Tony Evers for proposing investments in the state’s creative economy in his 2025-27 biennial budget. The Governor’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of creative enterprise will benefit the state and local economies.
“Wisconsin’s creative sector contributed $11.9 billion to the state’s economy in 2022 and employed more than 89,000 workers,” said Create Wisconsin Executive Director Anne Katz. “The creative sector includes core arts and cultural industries such as performing arts, museums, and independent writers and performers,” said Katz.
The governor’s budget increases funding to the Wisconsin Arts Board by $2.95 million annually, providing a total $0.68 per capita state support for nonprofit arts organizations. The Arts Board would also receive the funds needed to draw down all available federal funds that require a state match. Nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated $933.3 million in economic activity in Wisconsin in 2022 - $437.1 million in spending by the organizations, which leveraged an additional $496.2 million in event-related spending by their audiences, according to Katz.
The governor’s budget also includes $1 million over the biennium for a new Rural Wisconsin Creative Economy Grant Program, which is similar to a Create-Wisconsin backed proposal from Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron) and Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville). The budget also provides expenditure and position authority to establish the Office of Film and Creative Industries, which will offer centralized support to, and enhance economic development in, Wisconsin's film and creative sectors.
Create Wisconsin Board President Carolyn Nelson-Kavajecz applauds these critically-needed investments: “We look forward to working with the Legislature to make the case for increased investments in the 2025-27 state budget to support the growth and development of Wisconsin’s creative economy. “A vibrant creative economy is essential to a thriving visitor economy and to state efforts to attract and retain talent.”
Create Wisconsin’s partners also voiced their support:
Imagine MKE applauds Governor Evers for including this investment in our state’s arts, culture, and creative sector in the proposed 2025-2027 budget. “It’s an important first step,” said Imagine MKE Executive Director Christine Hojnacki. “We will actively work with advocates statewide and with our partners in the Legislature so that this investment becomes a reality in Wisconsin.”
Dick Hartmann, Director of the Burnett County Economic Development Corporation, said, “I think the Rural Creative Economy Program is a great idea. We’d definitely be interested in this program as a way to boost our growing talent attraction and tourism development efforts.”
Next steps (continually updated):
Thank Gov. Evers for making the arts and creativity economy a priority in the budget.
Send a message to your legislators encouraging them to make the creative economy a priority in the 2025-2027 budget. Make sure you know who your legislators are.
Stay informed through Create Wisconsin’s website and social media about meetings, hearings, and actions coming up in the next few months. The budget season is a fluid process and it’s important to be involved.
Dates to note:
Tuesday, March 25: Register today for Create Wisconsin Day in Madison. Join hundreds of your colleagues to speak up for the arts, culture, and creativity.
April: Joint Finance Committee hearings on the budget
April-May: Legislature reviews and votes on the budget
By June 30: Gov. Evers signs the budget into law.
For more information about Creative Wisconsin and advocacy efforts, including the upcoming advocacy conference, Create Wisconsin Day, happening March 25 in Madison, visit https://createwisconsin.org/.
