All Dane County citizens and residents leading expressive lives in connection with one another.
Engaging participation, connecting people, and inspiring expressive living in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Every great society leaves a meaningful cultural legacy. The people of Dane County, Wisconsin have a remarkable gift to share with the world. Arts, culture, and local history express our common humanity. The Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission within Dane County Government supports these beliefs through its Dane Arts projects and programs.
The Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, with its programs also known as Dane Arts, is composed of 11 individuals (10 citizens + 1 County Board Supervisor) appointed by the Dane County Executive. It directs a small agency within Dane County government (located in the Madison region of south-central Wisconsin) focused upon supporting arts, culture, and local history.
Through Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs - Dane Arts- the Commission is committed to making Dane County stronger by supporting citizens, groups, and organizations that preserve our shared heritage, and create arts and cultural opportunities for residents and visitors. Current projects and programs include: a successful grant program, the Dane Arts Mural Arts project, the Dane Arts Buy Local Night Market, Dane Arts Dance Arts, the new Dane Arts Gallery located in the City-County building, and the annual art posters and art calendars that showcase Dane County's cultural and historical life, supporting the dynamic local creative sector, and nurturing community collaborations. Dane Arts is leading the effort in showing the economic impact and community power of the arts; in education, community engagement, and cultural inclusion. Dane Arts continuously strives to support artists and arts organizations county-wide.
1976 was a time of reflection in the United States. As communities around the country considered how to celebrate their local stories in observance of the nation’s bicentennial, the Dane County Board of Supervisors created the Cultural Affairs Commission, now doing business as Dane Arts. Its mission was to foster and celebrate creative expression among the citizens of Dane County, Wisconsin, validating the significant role art, culture, and history play in contributing to the quality of life in Dane County. Since the beginning, the Commission has been stalwartly dedicated to fostering participation, increasing access, and forging alliances in support of arts, culture, and local history. Lynne Watrous Eich was its first director and served the Commission for thirty years until her retirement in 2007.
At that time, similar local arts agencies were being created all over the country. The core principles used by many of them included:
As an expression of our values, Dane County is one of only three counties in Wisconsin with a public agency dedicated to supporting arts, culture, and local history.
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.
