Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission Executive Committee  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Friday, March 15, 2024  
8:30 AM  
Hybrid Meeting: Attend in person at the City County  
Building in Room 209; attend virtually via Zoom.  
A. Call To Order  
Present: Chair Ritcherson, Vice Chair Klehr, Commissioner Puleo Moyer, Commissioner  
Miquelon  
Staff: Mark Fraire, Augusta Brulla, Moises Garcia  
Call to order at 8:31 AM  
4 -  
Present  
Chair RODERICK RITCHERSON, MARY KLEHR, MARCIA MIQUELON, and FRAN  
PULEO MOYER  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
[MINUTES FROM THE 01/12/2024 ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS  
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING]  
1. 2023  
MIN-502  
Attachments: 2023 MIN-502  
A motion was made by Vice Chair Klehr to approve the January 12, 2024  
Executive Committee minutes, seconded by Commissioner Puleo Moyer.  
The motion was carried unanimously by a voice vote.  
2. Approve February 21, 2024, commission minutes for recommendation to full commission.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Puleo Moyer to recommend the February  
21, 2024 commission minutes for approval by the full commission, seconded by  
Commissioner Miquelon.  
The motion was carried unanimously by a voice vote.  
C. Action Items  
1. Review/Approve 2024 Overall Grants Pool Budget  
- The yearly amount that may be allocated to both grant cycles in 2024 is $218,150  
($178,150 allocated from the county budget and an additional $40,000 for projects that  
provide equitable opportunities for youth to participate).  
- A discussion about allocating more funds during the first cycle took place. Based on  
past trends indicating that more applications are typically received in the first cycle of the  
year, the Executive Committee recommends allocating approximately 10% more funds in  
the first cycle of the year than the second cycle.  
- The Executive Committee and Director Fraire recommend the allocation of $115,000 to  
the 2024 Cycle 1 grant pool. This would leave $100,000 for 2024 Cycle 2 with a $3,150  
buffer which will carry over into the 2025 grant budget if not used in 2024.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Puelo Moyer to recommend a 2024 grant  
budget maximum allocation of $218,150, and the allocation of $115,000 during  
2024 Cycle 1, seconded by Vice Chair Klehr.  
The motion was carried unanimously by a voice vote.  
D. Cycle 1 Grants Preparation  
1. Discuss number of applicants/compare with 2023  
- 77 eligible grant applications were received in 2024 cycle 1 including 66 project, 6 short  
order, and 4 capital.  
- In 2023 cycle 1, 52 project, 5 short order, and 2 capital grants were awarded.  
- In 2023 Cycle 2, 49 project, 2 short order, and 4 capital grants were awarded.  
2. Review categories, by disciplines/compare with 2023  
2024 Cycle 1 applications by discipline closely reflect past cycles and are as follows:  
- Local History: 1 application / 1% ($ 2,800.00)  
- Theater: 2 applications / 3% ($ 6,840.00)  
- Dance: 7 applications / 11% ($ 35,561.00)  
- Visual Art: 7 applications / 11% ($ 32,357.00)  
- Arts in Education: 10 applications / 15% ($ 37,460.00)  
- Multidisciplinary: 13 applications / 20% ($ 57,069.00)  
- Music: 26 applications / 39% ($ 102,042.00)  
3. Review repeat vs new applicants/compare with 2023  
- New applicants in 2023 include 4 project, 4 short order, and 1 capital grant request.  
- 98% of grant applicants in 2024 are repeat applicants.  
- Dane Arts staff would like to simplify the grant application process so that the labor  
involved in applying aligns proportionately to available funds awarded.  
4. Panel chairs needed, dates, virtual or in person  
Grant Review dates and chairs are as follows:  
- March 18 (Multidisc): Vice Chair Klehr  
- March 19 (AIE/Local Hist): Chair Ritcherson  
- March 25 (Music): Commissioner Puleo Moyer  
- March 27 (Music/Theater): Commissioner Curet  
- April 5 (Dance/Visual Arts): Commissioner Handy  
- Commissioner Curet will be asked to attend the April Executive Committee meeting to  
discuss recommended grant awards in preparation for the full commission meeting on  
April 17th.  
5. Discuss budget allocation for cycle one  
- See item C. 1. for 2024 Cycle 1 grant budget allocation discussion.  
E. Review Business of Art Conference  
- The Business of Art conference hosted approximately 250 registrants including  
attendees and speakers.  
- New relationships were solidified with collaborating businesses such as Indigo Hotel,  
Old Sugar Distillery and many other sponsors highlighted on dablmarket.com.  
- County Executive Joe Parisi was impressed with the number and demographic make-up  
of attendees.  
- Opportunities for improvement in 2025 include clarity around software usage and  
workshop sign-up process.  
- Chair Ritcherson received positive feedback from attendees while attending the second  
day of the conference.  
- Dane Arts intern and marketing specialist, Moises Garcia, will present key Business of  
Art 2024 marketing highlights during the March commission meeting.  
- Themes discussed for the 2025 conference include health, wellness, trauma informed  
pedagogy, and youth programming.  
- Potential venues for 2025 include MyARTS and the new Wisconsin Youth Symphony  
Orchestra building.  
- Dates for the 2025 Business of Art conference are still to be determined.  
F. Friends of Dane Arts  
1. Legal advice  
2. 501 c3 vs foundation  
3. Potential board members  
- Chair Ritcherson is currently soliciting board member recommendations from prominent  
community leaders.  
- The drafted Dane Arts Friends Group bylaws require 5 board members. Chair  
Ritcherson posed the following questions for consideration:  
- Do all 5 board members need to be secured before filing the application for 501 (c)(3)  
status?  
- May Dane Arts Commissioners serve on the Friends Group board in the interim until all  
board members are secured?  
4. Status of consultant contracts and work to date  
- Director Fraire will meet with consultants, focusing on the Change for Art fundraising  
initiative.  
- Incoming funds from the Change for Art program would be unrestricted within the Dane  
Arts budget, and available for use beginning in 2025.  
- Any incoming funds to Dane Arts in 2024 will be allocated to the 2025 budget unless an  
amendment to the 2024 budget is made and approved by the county board.  
5. Seed money  
G. New Commissioner Prospect  
- Chair Ritcherson, Director Fraire, and Vice Chair Klehr will schedule an interview with  
one of the prospective commissioners.  
H. Reports to Committee  
- Commissioner Puleo Moyer and the Community Engagement/Publicity area of focus  
prepared a letter highlighting the arts and culture of Dane County. This letter may be sent  
to the County Board of Supervisors.  
- Media distribution lists have been finalized and Commissioner hopes to send out the  
letter to media outlets in the next few days.  
- When sending the letter to local media and the County Board of Supervisors, Chair  
Ritcherson suggested signing the letter from “Chair Roderick Ritcherson, on behalf of the  
Dane Arts Commission.”  
- Distribution of the letter will be discussed during the full commission meeting.  
- Inspired by the Wisconsin Arts Board 50th Anniversary Town Hall celebration, Chair  
Ritcherson suggested considering educational town hall meetings in various cities around  
the county in which commissioners reside.  
- Dane Arts staff are planning an April event celebrating the 2024 poster, highlighting  
Dane Arts commissioners, and recognizing 2024 Cycle 1 grant recipients.  
I. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
1. -roll call, establish quorum  
-approve February 21, 2024, meeting minutes (action item)  
-presentation group: Overview of WebGrants for Commissioners, Business of Art Marketing Presentation  
-approve 2024 over all grants pool budget (action item)  
-chair/executive committee report  
-individual Areas of Focus update reports  
-Executive Director’s report  
J. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
None.  
K. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
None.  
L. Adjourn  
A motion was made by Commissioner Miquelon to adjourn.  
Meeting Adjourned at 9:31 a.m.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Augusta Brulla pending commission approval.