Imagine. Create. Execute.
Every great society leaves a meaningful cultural legacy. The people of Dane County, Wisconsin have remarkable gifts to share with the world. Arts, culture, and local history express our common humanity. The Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission within Dane County Government supports these beliefs through its Dane Arts projects and programs.
Dane Arts Director, Mark Fraire, discusses supporting the arts with The Layered Onion.
2025 Cycle 1 Grant Application Review Dates
Grant applications received during 2025 Cycle 1 were reviewed by six panels during the month of March.
The Dane Arts Commission will meet on Monday, April 7th at 4:30 p.m. to discuss/approve 2025 Cycle 1 Awards.The Commission meeting is open to the public. Click "Learn More" for the meeting agenda and information about attending online or in person.
Dane Arts Business of Art Conference IV
ARTISTS AT WORK: Minding Your Own Business
Save the Dates: April 24 - 26, 2025
LEARN. NETWORK. COLLABORATE
For creative entrepreneurs of all disciplines, Dane Arts presents the Business of Art Conference IV (BOAC), a professional development opportunity. BOAC offers essential business tools for artists to successfully manage and promote their work and offerings. This year’s programming highlights wellness and self-care for artists as well as the arts in education.
Learn more: dablmarket.com
Click HERE to register
Call for Art! Dane Arts 2026 Calendar & Poster
Dane Arts is now accepting submissions for the twenty-sixth edition of our annual arts calendar and poster, highlighting the wonderful and talented artists of Dane County.
The theme of the 2026 Calendar is: “Wild and Precious,” inspired by the poem "The Summer Day," by Mary Oliver.
Submissions due SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025, by midnight.
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.
Dane Arts Newsletter
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.