made possible with support from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts
SUBMISSION GUIDE
Create Wisconsin works to grow and expand a vibrant, inclusive creative sector in Wisconsin, where creative people, organizations, businesses, and communities are integral to the state’s economic, civic, and social vitality. We celebrate the Ruth Foundation for the Arts’ artist-driven approach and transformational support in establishing this statewide grant program. It represents an investment in individual artistic growth and development, Wisconsin’s creative infrastructure, and local and statewide quality of life.
Submit online here.
Deadline for submissions: Monday, February 16th, 2026, at 11:59 pm (CT)
Program description:
With the generous support of the Ruth Foundation for the Arts, the Create Wisconsin Statewide Artist Grant Program supports the work of creative individuals throughout the state.
The goals of the program over each year of its three-year life-cycle are to:
- Provide significant support to creative individuals in a variety of visual and performing disciplines.
- Offer the opportunity for support to creative individuals in all 72 Wisconsin counties.
- Reflect the regional, representative, and artistic diversity of Wisconsin.
- Celebrate the artistry and creativity of creative people throughout Wisconsin.
- Invest in Wisconsin’s creative individual and community infrastructure.
- Emphasize artistry and creativity, individual creative enrichment and community engagement at the local level.
- Support work in the form of grants targeted for individual enrichment projects and community-based initiatives.
- Provide a rigorous and thoughtful juried process for awarding the grants.
- Provide a clear plan for program outreach and the application process to activate and grow a comprehensive statewide program.
- Continually evaluate the effectiveness of the program’s activities and actions for ongoing improvement.
Submission Guide (PDF).