The Wisconsin Arts Board announced it is preparing to lobby against the governor’s new proposed biennium budget, which would severely cut backs the board’s funding and responsibility.
The budget bill, proposed by Walker on March 1, would cut WAB funding by 73 percent to $1.5 million. The budget would also effectively end the board and transfer its duties to within the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, resulting in the loss of six of the 10 full-time positions.
The Wisconsin Arts Board voted to actively fight this proposal by lobbying against the legislation and petitioning the Joint Finance Committee.
WAB leaders said they are worried not just about their agency, but for the people who receive artistic grants through WAB.
“We will be operating the program with four people,” WAB Executive Director George Tzougros said. “We will have very little money so the making of grants and ability to encourage projects in the cities is going to be very diminished from what it is right now. The effect is not on the WAB but is on the people who receive our support.”
Many believe that the decrease in art funding would have a negative impact on Wisconsin’s cultural reputation. Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Director Stephen Fleischman said people could be deterred from moving to the state.
He also said the cultural character of the state also influenced citizen well-being.
“I have concerns that if Wisconsin doesn’t maintain expected cultural standards, the economic health of the state, the education of young people and Wisconsin’s status as a first tier state will be affected,” Fleischman said.
Tzougros said that he expected some budget cuts and in this time of financial crisis, the board is willing to do their part to find a solution. However, a 73-percent decrease is not acceptable, he said, and would not save the state a significant amount of money anyways.
“When looking at our .005 percent of Wisconsin’s $50 billion budget, we’re not talking about a lot of money,” Tzougros said. “We are, however, talking about significant impact. The WAB’s citizen board members believe it is important to advocate that the WAB agency remains a standalone agency.”
