What is the Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB)?
The Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency responsible for the support and development of the arts throughout Wisconsin. Since 1973, WAB has supported artists and arts organizations with funds from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
What is a WAB Panelist?
Each year, the Wisconsin Arts Board relies on the services of many volunteer panelists, who review grant applications and make recommendations to the Board. Panels bring together artists, arts professionals, educators, community members, and others actively involved in the arts. Their participation is solicited by WAB staff on a panel-by-panel basis. WAB rules allow reappointment to the same panel for two consecutive panels. Panelists receive a modest honorarium after completing their service on a WAB panel. WAB actively solicits and accepts nominations for panelists from constituents and private citizens in an open nominations process. All panel meetings are virtual and open to the public.
How Much Time Does Panel Service Take?
Panelists' time committment will vary depending on the grant program, the number of applications, the length of those applications, and other factors. While there is not concrete amount of time each panelist contributes, most WAB panels span one or two working days and involve many hours of reading grant applications prior to the panel meeting. Panelists are given access to all applications for review at least three weeks prior to the panel meeting. While panelists are required to thoroughly review all applications, they will only be assigned as primary reader to present 1/5 of the applications, and as secondary reader to another 1/5th. Panelists receive a modest honorarium for their preparation and service on a WAB panel.
Creation and Presentation Grants
- Two separate panels; average 30~40 applications/panel
- Applications usually take an hour/application for first time panelists to review
- Panelists meet virtually in November
Creative Communities Grants
- Three separate panels; average 30 applications/panel
- Phase 1 applications are similar to a detailed letter of intent, and take first time panelists around 15 ~ 30 minutes to review
- Phase 2 applications are invitation only, full grant proposals, and usually take first time panelists an hour/application to review
- Panelists meet virtually in April
Panelist Profile
Prospective panelists should be at least 18 years of age and possess experience in one or more of the following areas:
- An artistic discipline (music, theater, visual arts, dance, literature, folk/traditional arts, and multi-/interdisciplinary-arts)
- Arts education
- Financial or organizational management for nonprofit organizations
- Public art aesthetics and processes
- Community-based arts projects
Our Panelists Reflect Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Arts Board seeks panelists with some degree of familiarity with Wisconsin’s arts communities and the ability to work well in a group. In addition, WAB looks for panelists who are willing to commit time and energy to the review process and who will exhibit sensitivity in making constructive critical comments on grant applications. To help reflect the diversity of the state on all panels, WAB considers gender and sexual orientation, geography, racial and cultural diversity, and artistic discipline diversity in selecting panelists. WAB also seeks balance among the professional groups encompassed by the arts, such as practitioners, administrators and educators.
What About Conflicts of Interest?
WAB members, staff and panelists are required to withdraw from consideration of a proposal affecting an organization where a conflict of interest has been indicated. Declaring a conflict does not mean that you cannot serve on a panel; it merely means that you may not discuss or vote on applications with which a conflict of interest exists.
If you serve on a panel, you must notify the Wisconsin Arts Board of any direct financial or employment interest relating to any grant proposal under review. Affiliations may include employment, board memberships, consultant relationships, familial relationships with individual applicants or staff or board members of applicant organizations. You will be asked to complete an Associations with Cultural Organizations form kept on file at WAB.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, email us at artsboard@wisconsin.gov, or call us at 608-266-0190.