WAB Creation and Presentation Grant

WAB Creation and Presentation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Wisconsin Arts Board
Amount: More than US $2,000
Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Summary

The WAB Creation and Presentation Grant provides vital support to established nonprofit arts organizations in Wisconsin that create or present significant arts programming. This grant emphasizes community impact and artistic quality, requiring applicants to demonstrate a history of consistent artistic activities and community engagement. Eligible organizations must be incorporated in Wisconsin, hold 501(c)(3) status, and provide a dollar-for-dollar match of funding. This multi-year grant program facilitates ongoing artistic development while ensuring accountability.

Overview

NOTE: Organizations that have never applied to the Creation and Presentation Grant Program previously must notify the Arts Board staff of their intent to apply (See letter of inquiry deadline above). Notification should be in the form of an email to artsboard@wisconsin.gov. Creation and Presentation Grants ​​​​​​Creation and Presentation Program (CPP) grants provide artistic program and operational support to established nonprofit arts organizations whose primary mission is to create or present ongoing art​s​ programming that makes a significant local, regional, or statewide impact on the cultural life of Wisconsin, and that furthers the Arts Board's community development and arts education goals (see the Arts Board's strategic plan​). The program supports 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organizations with strong operations - including stable management, ongoing assessment and evaluation, high artistic quality, and programming appropriate to the communities they serve. These grants also fund overall operating support for eligible arts programs of tribal governments and universities. In these cases, the organizations will use either government or university nonprofit status.​This is a multi-year grant program wherein applicants will submit a Full Year application in their designated year and submit Interim Year applications in the other three years of the cycle. This allows us to collect information needed for accountability, but in a way that reduces the amount of work required of the applicant, and spreads that work over a four-year period. The Full Year application takes organizational size and capacity into account, even while it continues to be a rigorous tool upon which applicants can draw for applications to other funders. The Interim Year application provides an artistic and organizational health “check-in." In both Full and Interim Years, the application form and narrative continue to be based on past performance rather than future projection.​

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must fulfill all of the following conditions to be eligible for this program:have a record of consistent artistic activities for at least the three consecutive years prior to applicationhave as a primary purpose the creation/production or presentation of artistic programming (performances, exhibits, events) that benefits the general interested public;demonstrate community participation in the program planning;match each dollar of Arts Board support with at least one dollar of public (non-state) or private funds;be incorporated in and conduct business in Wisconsin in order to apply for support (Organizations are required to provide proof of incorporation and activity in Wisconsin before applications are reviewed or funds awarded.);hold tax-exempt status from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and must qualify as a charitable organization under Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended; have a Federal Identification Number, assigned by the Internal Revenue Service;have a federally required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) which replaces the previously required DUNS number (to obtain a UEI, follow the instructions at SAM.gov). If a Creation and Presentation grant applicant can show that it has applied for a UEI prior to submitting its application—even if that UEI has not yet been received—then the application will be accepted for review. For Colleges, Universities, and Units of Tribal or Local Government including Public Schools:The Arts Board does support programs that fall under the auspices of these organizations, provided those programs involve the local community in planning, execution, and participation. These applicants must demonstrate that their programming reaches the general public in addition to an academic audience. (This can be shown through financial support from sources beyond the school such as local corporations, businesses, individuals, and foundations; through its audience and participant evaluation statistics; and through board, advisory or steering committee composition that includes community members.) Performing Arts Series, Galleries/Museums and Art Film Series that are ongoing and a part of colleges, universities, or public schools are eligible. Grants are based on the arts program’s budget, not the overall university/college/school budget. Indirect costs may be shown as in-kind, but not as part of the cash budget/match. No administrative fee for this grant may be charged to the grant or to the program’s budget by the university/college/school.    For “Presenting Organization” applicants only:(Note: A presenting organization is defined as an organization that serves its community primarily by brokering relationships between touring performing artists and the presenter’s community. It does so by acting as the catalyst to bring those artists from outside of the presenter’s community into that community, to perform in concerts and/or residencies.) The applicant must present four or more performances annually by professional touring artists who reside outside of the presenting organization’s community in a series that is locally planned. ​​

Ineligibility

Who May Not ApplyHistorical societies; General, non-arts humanities organizations; General, non-arts museums; Public or private college or university programs that do not directly serve the community beyond the campus;Public or private schools that do not have a community-run performing arts series; Public radio or television stations; Libraries; Arts organizations that have delinquent final reports due to the Arts Board; or Organizations that received an Arts Board Creative Communities grant in this fiscal year. In general, the Arts Board does not fund the following nor can the direct dollar for dollar match for Arts Board funds be used for these expenses:Capital equipment (items costing more than $5,000 with a useful life of more than one year) or capital expenditures, e.g., renovation of existing facilities;Food or beverage;Building/space rental for administrative purposes;Benefit/fundraiser activities;Cash prizes or awards;Competitions;Deficits incurred from past activities;Individual tuition;Activities for which academic credit is given;Curriculum expansion;Out-of-state travel;Hospitality expenses, i.e. entertainment, refreshments or food at receptions, parties, gallery openings;Activities that have already been completed by the beginning of the grant period;Activities that have a religious purpose;Lobbyists’ payments;Activities not open to the general public.