C. Report from Commissioner McKinney
- Commissioner McKinney provided a report of Community Feedback on Future
of Grant Allocation
- This community initiative was developed in response to limited available grant
funds and increasing requests for funding. McKinney sought to determine if the
current funding model continues to meet community needs, and whether other
funding models should be considered.
- 193 participants were engaged, including 147 survey respondents and 46
focus group attendees. 75% of participants were based in Madison with
remaining representation from Verona, Stoughton, Waunakee, Oregon, Sun
Prairie, Mazomanie, Monona, and DeForest.
- The majority of participants believe Dane Arts fulfills its mission, but
participants expressed confusion when asked to define the mission and
purpose of Dane Arts.
- Areas for improvement include clarifying Dane Arts’ purpose as a funding
versus programming entity, strengthening connections outside of Madison, and
continuing to serve as a connector, advocate, and collective voice
- 90% of recipients reported satisfaction upon news of receiving a grant award,
but satisfaction dropped to 65% upon receiving news of the amount awarded
- Respondents noted that Dane Arts awards provide impact beyond dollars,
including providing a “seal of approval,” and serving as foundation for additional
fundraising.
- Participants expressed support for segmenting grant applications into
separate pools based on large and small organizations, with equity and access
as primary concerns. Larger awards for fewer applicants, grants did not
resonate with participants.
- Participants expressed interest in clear expectations around award amounts,
and the potential for implementing a legacy funding model similar to
opportunities provided by the Madison Arts Commission and Wisconsin Arts
Board.
D. Staff Recommendations on Alternative Grant Allocation Models
Any decisions regarding updates to the grant process will be made based on
community feedback with discussions starting in February 2026.
E. Introduction of New Commissioner
- Doug Fath is a lifelong artist who recently retired from the Madison Museum of
Contemporary Art after 30 years of service.
- Fath continues to volunteer with local arts organizations such as the Textile
Arts Center and Center for Black Excellence.
