The Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts, founded in 1957, serves as an independent citizen advocacy body for support of the arts in Wisconsin. Since 1980 when the Governor’s Awards in Support of the Arts was established, the WFA has shared with the Executive Office the pleasure of honoring more than 135 individuals, businesses, and organizations whose extraordinary contributions to the vitality of the arts in local communities or statewide deserves recognition. The WFA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt public organization supported solely by membership dues and contributions.

What We Do
The focus of the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts is private philanthropy in the arts. Our message, stated often and eloquently by the Foundation’s first chair, the late Jerry Bartell, is “The arts are for everyone. Support. Enjoy!”

As an organization, we are most visible working in cooperation with the state’s chief executive to recognize outstanding arts supporters with the Governor’s Awards in Support of the Arts. Annually, on behalf of all Wisconsin citizens, we honor individuals, businesses and organizations whose extraordinary contributions to the vitality of the arts in local communities or statewide are deserving of recognition.

We commission a Wisconsin artist each year to create a gift of original art for Governor’s Award recipients. An additional piece of art is placed in the Foundation’s permanent collection. Currently the 2006 commissioned art by Sue Gilgen and 2007 commissioned art by Kristine Martineau Gellerman are on display at the Executive Residence in Madison..

With the cooperation of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and numerous commercial and public television stations throughout the state, an annual television program featuring the Governor’s Awards ceremony and its recipients is viewed by thousands of Wisconsin residents. It provides an elegant illustration of recipients’ exceptional contributions to the arts, along with a tribute to the commissioned artist and artwork.

The Arts Letter, our semi-annual publication, includes information and professional photos from the annual Governor’s Award in Support of the Arts ceremony, a profile of each recipient and the commissioned artist, notes on arts activities and construction around the state, updates on funding for the arts, and commentary by WFA Chair Jeffrey Bartell. The Arts Letter is one of the benefits of membership in the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts. Join us — and help support the arts in Wisconsin.