Somethin' For The Art Fans: WAB's Final Four

For a particular set of sensitive souls who call these United States home, it can be a tad disheartening to live in a country that indisputably values something called "sports" more than something called "art." And while a large percentage of the population will be focused this weekend on what has become the yearly exhibition of collective lunacy known as the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, the Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB) has decided to step up to the line--yeah, you heard me--for those who self-identify as hardcore art fans by presenting its 2014 Final Four Town Meetings. And the crowd goes wild! Whoo-hoo! Yeah! WAB! WAB! WAB! Okay, that's enough.

Just in case you're attention has recently been pinpointed on trying to mentally encourage spring to hurry the hell up and get here, WAB has been holding these Town Meetings all over the state, talkin' to art fans of all disciplines and gettin' their ideas for what they'd like to see included in the Arts Board's 2015-2017 Strategic Plan. Ooh, pinch me, right? Yeah, go ahead 'cause this is for real, kids.

The bulk of these gatherings have already taken place, however--and here's what's really exciting--the first two of the Final Four Town Meetings have been organized to, as WAB Executive Director George T. Tzougros put it, "ensure that we hear the voices of Milwaukee’s communities of color and those who are younger than thirty." Well, all right and thank you, WAB!

WAB's Final Four Town Meetings Schedule:
Thursday, April 3
12:30-2:30PM
The Martin Luther King Center
1531 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee

Thursday, April 3
5-6:30PM
Art Bar
722 East Burleigh St, Milwaukee

Monday, April 7
12-1:30PM
Oneida Community Education Center
2632 South Packerland, Green Bay

Monday, April 7
4:30-6PM
The Art Garage, hosted by Mosaic Arts
1400 Cedar St, Green Bay

Everyone--and I mean everyone--is invited to show up, stand up and speak up as Tzougros and Karen Goeschko, Assistant Director for Programs & Services, lead the discussion and open the floor to your input in preparation for the final plan presentation to the full Arts Board in May. Added reason to participate: Not only can your insights influence WAB's work over the next three years, it can also impact the success of the Arts Board's partnership grant with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), so that's a big deal, folks.

Okay then, grab your favorite hardcore art fan foam finger and get ready to share ideas in a respectful manner at one or more of WAB's Final Four Town Meetings!

(Thanks, George!)