Arts Business Competition Finals

media release:  Please RSVP to join us on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 starting at 3 p.m. CT in the Plenary Room inside Grainger Hall (975 University Avenue).

Immediately following the finals, please join us for an Arts Together reception. The reception offers time to interact with finalists, guests judges, faculty, students and staff, and learn more about the Bolz Center for Arts Administration and the interdisciplinary practice of arts business.

We hope you will join us to celebrate entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration. Presentations by:

Cornhusk Collective was founded by Giselle Oliva with guidance and support from Amber Cornelius. Together we bring years of artist support, administrative and managerial experience, and an unwavering passion to build community through art. Discussions with community artists started in October 2023 and are ongoing to ensure that we are aware of local needs and values. Partnership and collaboration with other nonprofits and community leaders have been important and will continue to be in this grassroots beginning of the organization. We are planning the launch of the organization on January 13, 2024 through a celebration of art open to the public.

The Madison Gamer Symphony Orchestra (MGSO) is an innovative initiative to rejuvenate symphonic music and bridge generational gaps through the transformative beauty of video game soundtracks performed by a professional symphony orchestra. Founded as a doctoral project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by Ben Carlee, MGSO aims to captivate diverse audiences with exceptional orchestral renditions of beloved gaming compositions.

Tufting with Tony: Tufting refers to a textile process in which a threaded needle pierces through a fabric to create loops or piles. This process is commonly used in the production of various textile products such as carpets, rugs, and upholstery. Tufting has recently gained popularity on social media platforms. However, in the past decade, tufting has been a practicing art form in Asia, and in the last few years, it has gained popularity in Europe. Through social media platforms, artists showcase their tufted creations, share their processes, and connect with a global audience, thus allowing for significant growth in awareness and appreciation in the United States. My goal with this enterprise proposal is to bring the art of tufting to the Madison community. I have partnered with Wheelhouse Studios in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Union, who intends to host and promote the classes to their clients in hopes of running several workshops in the spring of 2024.