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Dane Arts

Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission

 

Poster for Dane Arts’ 2027 “Call for Art.” On a cream background with orange side borders and red bars at the top and bottom, colorful circular icons are arranged in a grid. The top left circle contains the Dane Arts logo; other circles show stylized symbols including a sunburst, ornate frame, coin, diamond, heart, stack of books, and teapot. Large red text on the right reads “CALL FOR ART,” with smaller text below: “Submit artwork to be featured in the Dane Arts 2027 Calendar & Poster.” At the bottom, large orange text reads “THE TREASURES OF DANE COUNTY,” followed by: “Find more information and apply at danearts.com. Applications due June 8, 2026 by 11:59 p.m.

2027 Calendar and Poster Call for Art

Dane Arts is now accepting submissions for the twenty-seventh edition of our annual arts calendar and poster, highlighting the wonderful and talented artists of Dane County.
Submissions due MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2026, by 11:59 PM.

The theme of the 2027 Calendar is: “The Treasures of Dane County” and will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission (Dane Arts)!

Learn more about calendar and poster specifications here:
Dane Arts Calendar | Dane Arts Poster

Artists selected for the calendar and poster will also be invited to exhibit their work in a group exhibition titled "The Treasures of Dane County" at Aubergine Gallery (1226 Williamson St, Madison) October - December 2026.

2027 Call for Art Poster design by Kiki Marckel.

 

Painting of a natural landscape featuring a field of wildflowers under a clear blue sky. The foreground is filled with clusters of white flowers, Queen Anne’s lace, interspersed with small blue blossoms. Behind them, the scene transitions from dense vegetation in dark green and blue tones to a sunlit open field with yellow-green grass, creating a sense of depth and changing light. The composition uses vibrant color and texture to convey a serene, picturesque outdoor setting.

2026 Art Poster

Each year for over four decades, the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission's annual art poster has showcased a different, talented local artist. This tradition lives on in 2026. Poster donations help support the Commission's mission and programs: fostering public participation, increasing access, and forging alliances in support of local arts, culture, and history.

Featured Art: Around the Corner by Wendy Crone

 

Webpage gallery displaying thumbnail images, names, and media types of diverse Dane County artists, featuring a wide range of styles and materials including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and digital art.

Dane County Artist Directory

The Dane County Artist Directory is an online platform designed to connect visual artists, arts administrators, and audiences across Dane County.

Launched in June 2023, the directory aims to foster equitable collaboration, increase visibility for local artists, and streamline access to artistic talent for organizations and individuals. The directory provides a one-stop resource for commissioning, purchasing, or showcasing local art.

All artists who are regularly active in Dane County are encouraged to submit an artist profile via the online form below.

 

A logo with the words “ARTS & ECONOMIC PROSPERITY 6.” The word “ARTS” appears in large red capital letters, the ampersand is yellow, and the phrase “ECONOMIC PROSPERITY 6” appears below in smaller red capital letters.

Arts & Economic Prosperity VI

In October 2023, in partnership with Americans for the Arts and Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane Arts released the findings of a comprehensive arts and economic impact study (AEP VI).  

Industry expenditures for FY22 (organizations and audiences) show that nearly $350m goes right back into the local economy through arts and culture

Those are 350 million reasons there must be greater support for artists and arts organizations - the arts keep the spiritual vitality of our community strong…and generate an enormous return on that investment.  Money that stays in Dane County, benefits Dane County.

Dane Arts collected 939 Arts and Economic Prosperity surveys from May 2022 to May 2023! Learn more about AEP VI.

 

 

Community Resource

Dane Arts staff, along with Commission members, offer technical assistance, support, and advocacy countywide. Community service includes: initiating artistic projects, serving as an arts & culture resource hub, and inspiring meaningful connections between artists, presenters, and the community.

Impact

  • Honoring and celebrating the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission's community service spanning nearly five (5) decades, 2027.
  • Brilliant artwork created by over 100 local individual artists showcased in annual art posters and calendars, of which, hundreds of thousands are distributed near and far.
  • Over 80 community murals and 50 storm drain designs created by Dane Arts Mural Arts (DAMA), a community arts effort which was started in 2014 out of this office and is now its own non- profit in partnership with Dane Arts.
  • Since 2015, Dane Arts Buy Local Art Market (DABL) has been exhibiting and selling the work of local visual artists in a festive atmosphere with over $250,000 in art sold to date.
  • Artists in Residence program started in 2020
  • Distributed $1.25 million in support to 400 artists in 2020 and 2021
  • Initiated Forward Madison Game Day Posters in 2019 with nearly 75 artists paid for their creations
  • Over 100 local citizens provided service as Commission members and Grant Advisory Panel Members.
  • Arts, Culture & Local History Grants (2007-2024): over 2400 awards totaling over $10.2 million (public & private sources) leveraging nearly $68.2 million from other community sources.

Support Our Community

Learn more about our mission and support

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