Pictured on front cover: “Pivoting...”. Photo Illustration by Alex André. Pictured above: A garment from the 2021 Threads event. Photo provided by the Design Studies Department.
Studio: Creative Arts Community Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Programs International Visiting Artist Program Supporting Creative Research ............................................. 15 Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) 2020 ArtsCreativeConferenceArtsAwardsBusinessCompetition Illuminating the Arts on Campus ......................................... 20 Arts on Campus Communications RecruitmentThreads Support Appendix .............................................................................. 23 2020–21StaffCommitteesContributors TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................ 4 A Year of Transition Diversity Statement & Engagement By the Numbers Engaging Students ................................................................. 8
The
The Division of the Arts is pleased to present our annual report for the academic year 2020-2021—a unique year, marked internally by the restructuring of the Division of the Arts’ leadership and programming, and globally by the COVID-19 pandemic. All over the world, communities responded to safety guidelines. We followed quarantine and physical distancing rules outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the COVID response team at UW–Madison. All over the world, we saw a significant shift toward virtual programming as a means of staying connected. Across the arts, we started to experience the beginning of a renaissance—major shifts in how we make art, curate art, and experience art were beginning to take place. On campus, we pivoted to virtual programming and began to discover our own limitations as well as new knowledge and the prospects of art in the metaverse.
Coming to Terms with Race and Equity in Dane County
The 2020-21 year was one of transition during which time the Division restructured its leadership and staffing as well as shifted programming to refine our scope to more powerfully support arts research and teaching at the university, centering the Division’s role as catalyst and resource for the arts on campus. We developed administrative partnerships to transition both the Wisconsin Film Festival to the Department of Communication Arts and the Madison Early Music Festival to the Mead Witter School of Music. The Division of the Arts expresses gratitude to Susan Zaeske, who served as interim director during the 2019-2021 transition period. Chris Walker, professor in the Dance Department and founding artistic director for the First Wave Program in the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives, was named director of the Division of the Arts to advance the vision “The Arts for Everyone, Everywhere.” We embrace this vision with excitement and move forward in solidarity.
A YEAR OF TRANSITION
Hybrid Programming for Spring 2021
With some public health order restrictions lifted, the spring semester allowed for hybrid programming. The course with spring 2021 Interdisciplinary Arts Residency with Litza Bixler met virtually in the first half of the semester and in-person the second half, with twenty-one students enrolled. International guest artists visited the course via Zoom, and students developed a virtual alternative to visiting the final exhibition on campus, which had limited capacity restrictions in place. While it was challenging navigating these complexities, this report is testament to the creativity that flourishes with technological savvy.
The Division also made significant progress in the area of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA). The newly formed IDEA Committee worked to strategically take action towards greater diversity, equity, and inclusion at UW–Madison. Out of the committee, the Artivism Student Action Program (ASAP) was realized. ASAP supports student-led
Transitioning for the Future
Remote Programming for Fall 2020
For the first time, the fall 2020 Interdisciplinary Arts Residency was entirely remote. Michele ByrdMcPhee taught and hosted events with guest artists from her home in New York. This virtual residency opened the door of possibilities on how we can similarly engage with other artists and experts – to reach a wider audience and build community while
endeavors demonstrating strong intersections of art and activism, which we look forward to launching in fall 2021. These foundational values impact the work the Division does from the top, down, thanks to the IDEA Committee.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–214 | INTRODUCTION
maintaining a sense of safety for participants.
INTRODUCTION
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University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 5
Pictured: Bascom Hill is pictured in a fisheye-lens aerial view of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus during an autumn sunset. Photo by Jeff Miller/UW–Madison.
• Established new Graduate Student Creative Arts Award that provides six awards of $2,000 for the spring and the Artivism Student Action Plan (ASAP) Fund for the fall 2021 semester with support from the Anonymous Fund.
Pictured: Keynote speakers from the a2ru 2020 National Conference, Land & Equity: The Art and Politics of Place.
The IDEA Committee concentrated on five areas to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the Division: communications, outreach, workplace, programming, and student support. Some highlights of our activities during the 2020-21 academic year
•include:Invited BIPOC students to take over our social media channels and prioritized messaging in celebration of Black History Month and Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–216 | INTRODUCTION
• Implemented new professional development training requirements in IDEA for all staff to engage in self-education opportunities of their choice, including participation in trainings led by Justified Anger, niNA Collective, and Urban Triage, and attendance at the White Privilege Conference and the UW–Madison Diversity Forum. Staff have also engaged extensively with anti-racism resources in the form of books, films, podcasts, webinars, and presentations.
• Engaged three BIPOC keynote speakers (Michele Byrd-McPhee, Dr. Adrienne Keene, and Emmanuel Pratt) for the a2ru 2020 National Conference, Land & Equity: The Art and Politics of Place.
The work is just a start in the lifelong process of dismantling racism, both for individual staff members and the organization. Artists have used the power of their work to advocate for substantial change. It is also through art that we can better connect and understand one another. The Division pledges to continue our pursuit of a truly inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible world.
The Division of the Arts IDEA Committee continues to build and strengthen relationships with campus and community partners embodying IDEA values.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT & ENGAGEMENT
In the past year, as we continued navigating a global pandemic, our outreach efforts largely centered around supporting student programming through sponsorship, social media coverage, and other advertising initiatives.
In June 2020, the Division formed the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee to turn our commitment to embrace and serve all members of our diverse arts community into meaningful action. We commit to continue embracing and serving all members of our community while building on our existing efforts through new initiatives.
• Sponsored student organization events, including a virtual concert by Grammynominated musician Givēon for Black History Month and a virtual Q&A with rapper and organizer Noname for Lit Fest.
Virtual and hybrid events 77 requestsCross-promotionalfulfilled E-news Subscribers Social YouTubeFollowersMediaViews6,954 27,135 9,230
20+
Guest artists staff NUMBERS
64 Faculty &
affiliates BY THE
Amount distributed to 17 students, faculty, and staff as part of the Creative Arts Awards
As we look to the future, we are excited to continue expanding the efforts of this past year in order to build strong, strategic, and supportive relationships with student organizations and community members. In the next year, we will continue the work by reviewing internal policies and procedures, overhauling our hiring process, and attending more in-depth trainings to deepen our understanding and continue along our path of personal growth.
We would like to thank Interim Director Sue Zaeske for her support of and commitment to IDEA efforts and we welcome incoming Director Chris Walker and his ideas and leadership in this Forspace.amore
detailed list of our efforts in the areas of communications, outreach, workplace, programming, and student support, artsdivision.wisc.edu/committees/idea/visit:
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 7INTRODUCTION | 50+ $126,500
The UW–Madison Division of the Arts provides a number of resources to its community and campus partners. The following facts and figures highlight achievements during the 2020–21 academic year.
The last part of the seminar offered opportunities on artistic collaboration. The course was offered in hybrid format, with some sessions meeting online and some sessions meeting in person. In the spring, students participating in “The Studio Presents…,” another seminar course taught by Associate Professor Abdu’Allah, collaborated on a collective artistic project. The final artistic product of the 2021 Spring seminar project, Untitled, was a short arthouse movie exploring the theme of escapism in isolation from multiple student perspectives and experiences. The Division of the Arts also sponsored two Creative Arts Awards for arts research and service to current residents.
The Studio is a residential learning community located in Ogg Hall that hosts academic and cocurricular programming for 64 first-year students with an expressed interest in the arts. It is co-sponsored by the Division of University Housing; the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement; and the Division of the Arts.
Madison community through projects, performances, collaborations, and exhibitions. In the fall, students enrolled in the interdisciplinary, hands-on “Mapping Your Creative Practice” course worked with The Studio’s Faculty Director, Professor Faisal Abdu’Allah, to explore a wide range of studio spaces, tools, and resources for making and viewing art on campus.
The Studio Creative Arts Awards
Research Award
The Studio offers residents access to art and performance spaces and provides numerous opportunities for them to attend cultural events. Residents participate in seminar courses and use their artistic skills and talents to serve the greater UW–
Pictured top and bottom: Students participated in Project Thrift, which involved gathering materials from a second-hand store and creating new articles of clothing out of that raw material, followed by a fashion show in the Studio Black Box, 2020. Images by Mats Rudel.
THE STUDIO: CREATIVE ARTS COMMUNITY
Asher Bernick-Roehr, Undeclared, and Malcolm McCanles, Theatre and Drama, in support of creating a theater production
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–218 | ENGAGING STUDENTS
Siena Laws, Education Studies, in support of creating wearable sculpture Service Award
f Collective artistic project, Untitled
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 9
f 1 campus-wide event co-organized with the Multicultural Learning Community, OpenHouse Learning Community, International Learning Community, the Center for Cultural Enrichment, and Housing Marketing
Pictured: Students showing off their handmade costumes as part of Project Thrift, 2020. Photo by Mats Rudels.
f 3 guest artists through IARP
f 5 guest artists/speakers through collaborations with other campus units
f 7 guest artists through Studio workshops
ENGAGING STUDENTS
Key Highlights
f Themed Welcome Week events
f 10 student and alumni-led workshops and events
f 4 Showcase multi-media events
f Over 300 Instagram followers, up from 100 in 2019
Videos2020thestudiouw.arts.wisc.eduPhotos|2021Photos
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f 30 co-curricular events
f 4 community dinners
f 12 artistic workshops
f 21 guest artists and speakers
f 6 guest artists in seminar
She also spent many years in TV and arts production, working as a production coordinator at Brooklyn Academy of Music and then as a Senior Music Coordinator at Late Night with Seth Meyers. She currently serves as a Bessie Award Committee Member along with her ongoing commitment as Executive Director for Ladies of Hip-Hop.
INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS RESIDENCY PROGRAM MICHELE BYRD-MCPHEE FALL 2020
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–2110 | ENGAGING STUDENTS
go.wisc.edu/artsresidency
Funded through the Office of the Provost, the Division of the Arts’ Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program (IARP) brings innovative, world-class artists to campus for semester-long residencies. Artists teach an interdisciplinary course, present public events, and participate in community outreach. The program gives students exposure to working artists, provides course credit, and strengthens programmatic ties across disciplines.
Michele Byrd-McPhee is the founder and Executive Director of Ladies of Hip-Hop and is a dancer, choreographer, and educator. Byrd-McPhee has been working for many years to re-contextualize spaces and conversation of Hip-Hop culture along gender, sex, cultural, socio-historical, and racial lines for decades. Byrd-McPhee earned her BS from Temple University and an MS in Nonprofit Arts Management from Drexel University.
Pictured top to bottom: Michele Byrd-McPhee headshot; Screenshot from a Michele Byrd-McPhee’s course.
Michele Byrd-McPhee’s residency was presented by the UW–Madison Division of the Arts and hosted by the Dance Department with Assistant Professor Duane Lee Holland, Jr. as lead faculty. Co-sponsors included the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) and First Wave Learning Community, The Studio Creative Arts Community, Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE), Art Department, and Drum Power. Other campus and community supporters included Department of AfroAmerican Studies and Barrio Dance.
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f Stacey “Flygirrl” Wilson
Pictured: Promotional images from Madison Mondays, and Real Talk for Real Change.
In the fall of 2020, Byrd-McPhee taught “Hip-Hop Culture, Women & the World” with both a 1-credit and 3-credit option. Students examined the roots of Hip-Hop culture and its current place as a global phenomenon with a specific focus on the history, contributions, and experiences of women in Hip-Hop.
go.wisc.edu/ byrdmcphee Video
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 11
During her residency, Byrd-McPhee curated a series of 8 public conversations called Madison Mondays
f Ursula Rucker
f Lady C (via the International Visiting Artist Program)
ENGAGING STUDENTS
f YNOT
Guest Artists
Residency Highlights
At the end of the semester, the students presented their short interdisciplinary videos to their classmates. Centered in the historical and contemporary context, Michele Byrd-McPhee, Duane Lee Holland, Jr., and guest artists taught multiple dance styles. The fall residency, including the course and events along with any planning, was all held remotely due to COVID.
f LaTasha Barnes
f Maori Karmael Holmes
both on Facebook and Instagram during the summer and fall with her guest artists. Each of the guest artists artists led workshops and/or gave presentations to the students in the course. Stacey Wilson also presented to the Arts Entrepreneurship Class and the Just Bust! workshop. LaTasha Barnes led an online dance workshop and presented about Jazz dance.
Byrd-McPhee was a keynote speaker at the a2ru virtual conference—“Creating Racial Justice & Change Through the Arts and Why It’s Important.” She also participated in The Harvest conversation with lead faculty Duane Lee Holland, Jr. ByrdMcPhee joined the panel discussion “Advancing Hip-Hop as a Path Toward Equity” with Holland, Sofía Snow, Rob Dz, and Michael Ford as part of School of Education and PLACE’s Real Talk for Real Change series. As part of the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI)’s Passing the Mic festival, Byrd-McPhee also curated a conversation with Ursula Rucker and Marc Bamuthi Joseph (IARP Spring 2008) along with Sofía Snow, Director of OMAI, and Duane Lee Holland, Jr. There were a total of 16 public virtual events during the summer and fall.
Litza Bixler is a choreographer, filmmaker, movement director, visual artist, and writer. She has produced work on stage, screen, galleries, and mountains. Bixler works across the spheres of art, performance, and film, and has been a working artist and educator since 1995. Bixler has created movement and action for some of the most iconic scenes in film including Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and The World’s End. She has
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–2112 | ENGAGING STUDENTS
INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS RESIDENCY PROGRAM
The Spring 2021 Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program was presented by the UW–Madison Division of the Arts and hosted by the Dance Department with Professor Li Chiao-Ping as lead faculty. The Art Department and Department of Communication Arts were also co-sponsors of the residency.
collaborated on a movie musical, a musical series for Disney, and a salsa dance comedy and worked with a variety of award-winning performers. She has created live-pieces, screenplays, and paintings and worked on numerous award-winning advertisements. She has also produced live-art and physical theater pieces with her company Litza Bixler Performance.
Pictured top to bottom: Litza Bixler headshot; Students working on a film portion of the residency final installation, Bodies, Borders & Belonging. Photo by Gracie Wallner.
LITZA BIXLER SPRING 2021
Bodies, Borders & Belonging was presented over a weekend to members of the UW-Madison community in May at the Arts Lofts. The final exhibition was divided into three sections. The first section included dance films projected on fabric with layered soundscapes. The second section showcased three vintage suitcases and referenced personal families’ histories and life journeys. The third section featured ‘pocket-sized’ objects built from paper, ancestral photos, and letters. The exhibit also included a series of the students’ self-portraits. A video of the exhibition will be made later in 2021.
During the hybrid spring 2021 residency, Litza Bixler taught “Creativity, Collaboration and the Creation of Self.” The first part examined creativity in context and the second part explored creative collaboration. There were 1-credit and 3-credit options for students.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 13
All of Litza Bixler’s guest artists joined in via video call to meet with the students and provide artistic guidance. Since Sean de Sparengo was not able to travel to Madison, UW artists Aaron Granat and Tim Russell provided additional cinematography and soundscapes guidance. Faisal Abdu’Allah also presented to the class.
go.wisc.edu/
bixler
Guest Artists
VideoPhotos
Pictured top to bottom: Promotional image from Bodies, Borders & Belonging created by Cathy Sheets. Photo box collection from Bodies, Borders & Belonging. Photo by Mats Rudels.
Residency Highlights
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Litza Bixler was also a guest on Cinematalk, the UW Cinematheque’s podcast, to discuss her collaborations with Edgar Wright and the influence of Metropolis on her work. Cinematheque offered free at-home viewings of Metropolis and The World’s End in early March.
f Rejma Gajjar
f Simon Aeppli
The students collaborated on the culminating multimedia collaborative exhibition Bodies, Borders & Belonging. The final collaborative piece examined the movement of people across borders and boundaries. Students explored diaspora, geography, and immigration as essential and positive sources of identity and ask what it means to be “from” a particular place or country. Students explored how we move literally, metaphorically, and culturally, and examined the subtext of the question, “where are you from?”
ENGAGING STUDENTS
f Paul Machliss
f Sean de Sparengo
As part of her virtual residency, Lady C joined Michele Byrd-McPhee for a continuation of Madison Mondays on Facebook Live, presented to Duane Lee Holland Jr.’s dance class, and also led a virtual Popping dance workshop.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–2114 | ENGAGING STUDENTS
Due to COVID-19 and multiple logistics, we were able to present one international artist in online programming during the week of March 8, 2021.
Madison Monday’s conversation ladyc.ca
INTERNATIONAL VISITING ARTIST PROGRAM LADY C
Pictured: Lady C headshot.
resides in Toronto where she continues her personal development within Hip-Hop culture, performing with Holla Jazz Dance Company and expanding on a professional career in music and vocal recording.
The International Visiting Artist Program is a collaboration between the Division of the Arts and the International Division. This partnership supports short-term residencies for international artists. Through this program, we are able to bring visiting artists and their expertise to expand students’ horizons and facilitate opportunities for future collaborations. Funding is provided by the International Division.
Caroline Fraser aka “Lady C” is internationally known for her unique versatility and original style in both dance and music. She studied under many of the pioneers and legends of Street Dance and developed an ability to move between Popping, Locking, House, Hip-Hop, and Breaking while maintaining the integrity and essence of each style. Lady C
The 2020 theme “Land & Equity: The Art & Politics of Place” considered how our work as artistic, scientific, and humanist researchers and educators is defined by the land on which we find ourselves, and asked who has access to that land and its resources?
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 15SUPPORTING CREATIVE RESEARCH
Pictured: 2020 a2ru conference branding. Image courtesy of UW–Madison. Design by Cathy Sheets.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison was the ‘host’ for the virtual conference with direction provided by the Division of the Arts and the other members of the a2ru conference committee. The eighth
a2ru.org/event/2020-a2ru-national-conference/
ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS IN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES (a2ru) 2020 CONFERENCE
annual conference “Land & Equity: The Art and Politics of Place” was all held virtually from October 15-30, 2020. The a2ru National Conference is an opportunity for practitioners and researchers from across the higher education spectrum to share innovations and perspectives in the arts. There were 25 panel discussions, workshops, and presentations. With the virtual format, 335 people registered and represented 110 organizations.
In turn, we examined how our art, research, and teaching impacts the places and spaces in which we live and work, and discussed ways that we can use that work to advance more equitable access.
The Division of the Arts continues to support the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru), a partnership of 35 institutions committed to ensuring institutional support for the full spectrum of arts and arts-integrative research, curricula, programs, and creative practice for the benefit of all students, staff, and faculty at research universities and the communities they serve.
The keynote speakers were Michele Byrd-McPhee, Dr. Fleming Crim, Dr. Adrienne Keene, and Emmanuel Pratt. In addition, former interdisciplinary artists and some of their guest artists presented on a curated panel about environmental art. They included Laura Anderson Barbata (spring 2015) and Bently Spang, Carrie Hanson (fall 2019) and Faheem Majeed, and Ben Barson and Gizelxanath Rodriguez (spring 2020).
this year’s committee: Susan Zaeske (chair), Division of the Arts; Jennifer Angus, Design Studies; Anna Campbell, Gender and Women’s Studies; Anthony DiSanza, Mead Witter School of Music; David Furumoto, Theatre and Drama; Florence Hsia, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education (OVCRGE); and Leslie Smith III, Art.
go.wisc.edu/artsawards
Each year the Division of the Arts recognizes the achievements and service of students, faculty, and staff and provides support for future creative endeavors and research. With the assistance of the Creative Arts Awards Selection Committee, 17 outstanding students, faculty, and staff were recognized for awards totaling $126,500. In addition, three residents of the Studio were also recognized. The event was held virtually, and included a virtual reception.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 Creative Arts ThankAwards!youto
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–2116 | SUPPORTING CREATIVE RESEARCH
Pictured: Creative Arts Award invitation featuring artwork courtesy of Roberto Torres Mata, recipient of a Graduate Student Creative Arts Award. Design by Cathy Sheets.
CREATIVE ARTS AWARDS
Lawren Brianna Ware, DMA student, Mead Witter School of Music
Joyce J. and Gerald A. Bartell Award in the Arts
Sarah Brailey, DMA student, Mead Witter School of Music
Graduate Student Creative Arts Awards
Daniel Grabois, Associate Professor, Mead Witter School of Music
Anders Nienstaedt, MFA student, Art Department
Jen Plants, Faculty Associate, English Department
Creative Arts Award
Timothy Yip, DMA student, Mead Witter School of Music
Midori Samson, DMA student, Mead Witter School of Music
Roberto Torres Mata, MFA student, Art Department
Edna Wiechers Arts in Wisconsin Award
Quanda Johnson, PhD candidate, Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies
Michael Peterson, Professor, Art Department & Graduate Program Director, Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies
Mark Hetzler, Professor, Mead Witter School of Music
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 17
Pictured: Various screenshots from our virtual 2021 Creative Arts Awards.
Emily Mead Baldwin Award in the Creative Arts
Aaron Granat, Associate Lecturer, Department of Communication Arts
SUPPORTING CREATIVE RESEARCH
David and Edith Sinaiko Frank Graduate Fellowship for a Woman in the Arts
Lyman S.V. Judson and Ellen Mackechnie Judson Student Award in the Creative Arts
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Nick Moran, MM student, Mead Witter School of Music
Chris Rottmayer, DMA student, Mead Witter School of Music
Darcy Padilla, Associate Professor, Art Department
Ben Reiser, Wisconsin Film Festival Director of Operations, Department of Communication Arts
Ava Shadmani, DMA student, Mead Witter School of Music
COMPETITIONTheArtsBusinessCompetitionispresentedbytheDivisionoftheArtsinpartnershipwiththeWisconsinSchoolofBusinessBolzCenterforArtsAdministration.FundingfortheArtsBusinessCompetitionwasgenerouslyprovidedbytheUW–MadisonAnonymousFund.
University of Wisconsin–Madison COMPETITION
go.wisc.edu/artsbusiness
Finalists
(Hi)Storytellers Breaking Borders is a space for the reflective art of five African refugees who discuss the concerns and beauty of the worlds they make in diaspora. Their stories include photography, voice recordings and creative writing and will be curated in a virtual gallery.
Gioconda Coello, PhD student, Curriculum and Instruction
James Harrington, DMA student, Music: Performance
Midori Samson, DMA student, Music: Performance
2nd place: Atelier Unlimited
ARTS$500.
1st place prize & Audience Choice Award: Trade Winds Ensemble
Judges for the 2021 competition were Amber Porter, Senior VC Associate at American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact; Sam Rikkers, Chief Operating Officer at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; and Dr. Iva Ugrcic, flute performer, educator, founder, and CEO/Artistic Director of LunART Festival (former awardee) and Artistic Director of Rural Musicians Forum and Board Liaison and Strategic Initiatives at Overture Center for the Arts.
BUSINESS
Grace Pimentel Simbulan, MA student, Southeast Asian Studies
Trade Winds Ensemble is a group of teaching artists who offer music composition workshops for children in partnership with social impact organizations worldwide. They create innovative curricula, which integrates music and social work principles.
Kassim Hussein Rajab, Congolese leader of Madison Refugee Union
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–2118 | SUPPORTING CREATIVE RESEARCH
Three student proposals participated in the final round, presented online on Friday, April 23. Finalists were judged on both a written plan and an oral presentation. The top three proposals received funding of $2,000, $1,000, and $500 in support of their projects. For the 2021 competition, attendees voted on the Audience Choice Award of an additional
3rd place: (Hi)Storytellers Breaking Borders
Atelier Unlimited is a creative agency dedicated to equipping artists with the information and skills required to evolve their artistry, expand their influence and create unique productions in live and virtual spaces.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Arts Business Competition was created in 2009 to encourage entrepreneurial skills and support student innovation. UW–Madison students develop and present a thorough proposal for an arts event, exhibition, series, commercial venture or other artistic project. A group of judges review proposals for creativity, innovation, success potential, and added value to the arts.
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SUPPORTING CREATIVE RESEARCH
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 19
Pictured: Arts Business Competition finalists, judges, and staff at the 2021 virtual presentation. Photo courtesy of Heather Owens.
Arts on Campus
The Division also worked closely with University Communications to increase coverage and awareness of arts events and opportunities across campus and beyond. Another ongoing focus for communications was prospective and incoming students to the arts. This year the Division supported the Office of Admissions and Recruitment’s events and outreach with online materials, social media, and email campaigns.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–2120 | ILLUMINATING THE ARTS ON CAMPUS
ARTS ON CAMPUS COMMUNICATIONS
E-communications: 9,227 subscribers
: 6,954 followers
Pictured: Arts on Campus Instagram ad, created by Cathy Sheets.
Arts on Campus is a multiplatform ongoing promotional campaign for the arts at UW–Madison designed to promote the wealth of campus arts programming and opportunities to students, faculty, staff, and community members. During the 2020-21 academic year, the Division of the Arts collaborated with and promoted numerous campus units via communication channels on campus and throughout the state including advertising, marketing, outreach, and resource fairs.
: 27,135 views arts.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 21
Pictured: 2021 Threads fashion show promotional graphic and photos from the event. Courtesy of the Threads team.
Threads 2021: Reality?
ILLUMINATING THE ARTS ON CAMPUS
Threads is an annual celebration showcasing student work from the Textiles and Fashion Design Program in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The show is produced with the collaborative participation of students across the UW-Madison campus.
The Division’s Integrated Marketing & Communications (IMC) team provided support to School of Human Ecology students enrolled in the Threads fashion show practicum course. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 student fashion show went online for the first time. IMC advised students on branding, marketing, and outreach efforts. IMC also collaborated on a 26-minute video that premiered on the Threads Facebook Page in early May.
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The Arts Recruitment Initiative was launched in 2017 with the goal of boosting enrollments in academic arts programs. During the past year, in consultation with arts departments, the Division extended a multiplatform campaign to promote academic arts programs and our vibrant community of excellence in the arts.
Arts Recruitment
Pictured: Students perform within their designated 10-feet by 12-feet rehearsal sections. Photo by Bryce Richter/UW–Madison.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–2122 | ILLUMINATING THE ARTS ON CAMPUS
Through online and printed materials, social media, promotional items, and email campaigns, the Division connected with students at all points of their decision-making process. The Division of the Arts participated in three virtual panels over the course of the year, alerting prospective student to creative opportunities for both arts and non-arts majors.
Leaders of major arts entities on campus gather to discuss shared matters of importance.
Pictured: As the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic continues, a banner message encouraging the wearing of face masks is displayed on a lamp post on snow-covered Bascom Hill at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison
The Academic Affairs Committee members oversaw the Integrated Arts course subject listing, reviewed proposals for the Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program, and consulted on shared academic concerns affecting the arts across colleges.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 23APPENDIX |
The Division of the Arts recognizes students, faculty, and staff achievements and professional service along with providing support for future creative endeavors and research through the Creative Arts Awards. The Selection Committee members juried the applications and nominations for the Creative Arts Awards.
Creative Arts Awards Selection Committee
The Division of the Arts supports and develops its community by sponsoring cross-campus committees, which encourage connections within the arts community and create broader engagement with the Division. artsdivision.wisc.edu/committees/
In anticipation of in-person recruitment activities resuming in fall 2021, the Division relaunched the Arts Recruitment Working Group virtually in spring 2021. Representatives from all nine academic arts departments work together to attract and retain prospective students.
COMMITTEES
Academic CommitteeAffairs
Arts Chairs’ and Directors’ Council
Arts WorkingRecruitmentGroup
Kate Hewson, Interim Associate Director
Kate Lochner, Integrated Marketing & Communications Strategist
* denotes part-time staff
Emilie Schada, Sponsorship, Grant and Development Manager
Duncan DiFazio, Arts Programs Assistant
Faisal Abdu’Allah, The Studio Faculty Director*
Administration
Angela Richardson, Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program Interim Director*
Chris Walker, Incoming Director*
For a current list of staff, visit: artsdivision.wisc.edu/people/staff
Lisa Spierer, Interim Director of Operations
Heather Owens, Interdisciplinary Arts Programs Manager
Programs
Cathy Sheets, Creative Director*
Amanda Sweno, Digital Marketing Specialist*
Aaron Granat, Videographer*
STAFF (AS OF JUNE 30, 2021)
Pictured: The University Avenue entrance to Lathrop Hall in the early summer while the lilacs are in bloom. Photo by Alex André
Dominique Haller, The Studio Program Coordinator*
Integrated Marketing & Communications
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–2124 | APPENDIX
Rachel Niles, Administrative and HR Specialist
Dawry Ruiz, Integrated Marketing Communications Student
Susan Zaeske, Outgoing Interim Director*
Thompson & Jane Bartell David &
The
is
Thank you to all financial and in-kind partners. The Division of the Arts appreciates the support of the financial and in-kind contributions that make our programs and initiatives possible. To help support excellence in arts teaching, research, and public service contact: development@arts.wisc.edu APPENDIX |
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to the
for
Frank Glenn & Edna Wiechers International Division $250–$499
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts | Annual Report | 2020–21 25
CONTRIBUTORS (July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021) $100,000+ Office of the Provost - Cluster Hire Funding $25,000+ Anonymous Fund Emily Mead Baldwin $5,000–$9,999 The Joyce J. & Gerald A. Bartell Family $1,000–$4,999
John Edith Sinaiko
J. Michael & Diann Allsen Duesterhoeft Michael Phillips
Art at the
Museum
2020–21
Diane
of the
Pictured: lobby Chazen of University of Wisconsin–Madison. painting was a gift museum from Jerome and Simona Chazen, whom the museum named by Jeff Miller/UW–Madison.
Danse Élance, a nearly 15-foot wide acrylic painting made in 1971 by artist Jean Dubuffet, hangs in the main
Pictured: ‘Shift’ is a public art installation designed by artist Julia Schilling comprised of two 70-foot metal light sculptures located in the underpass beneath University Avenue at Highland Avenue at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Photo by Bryce Richter/UW–Madison.
artsdivision.wisc.edu | arts.wisc.edu | : @uwmadisonarts
