Talk to anyone in the local arts world and they’ll tell you: Wisconsin is among the worst states when it comes to funding the arts.

The Badger State spends about $0.18 per capita on arts funding, placing it at 49th in the country, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. It’s a big contrast from neighboring states Minnesota and Illinois, which spend $10.07 and $2.71 respectively.

RELATED READS: HOW DIRE IS THE FUNDING PUZZLE FACING THE ARTS IN MILWAUKEE?

“This is not a new conversation,” says Christine Hojnacki , executive director of Imagine MKE, a nonprofit advocating for arts and culture in Milwaukee. Going back to the turn of the last century, Milwaukee arts groups have relied more on private contributions and earned revenue rather than public money to stay

See Full Page