Business of Art

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Wendy Schneider

Dane Arts hosts an annual Business of Arts conference.

Dane Arts hosts an annual Business of Arts conference.

media release: Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission (Dane Arts), a primary arts funding arm for Dane County, Wisconsin, invites all artists, educators, and entrepreneurs alike to participate in the fifth annual Business of Art Conference. This year’s theme is, “The Arts in Community, Education, and Business,” celebrating all of the incredible creatives who work so hard to make Dane County a thriving creative community. The conference will take place on April 23-24, 2026

Attendees will learn about artist-led projects and programs that build community, education programs with an arts focus, and essential business tools to successfully manage and promote their own work and offerings.

This year’s conference features three areas of focus: arts in community, arts in education, and the business of art.

Workshops include implementing the arts in community programs, the arts in life-long learning education, and business strategies on marketing, budgeting, portfolio development, contracts and much more! Hear from working artists and other creative professionals on how they have successfully sustained a small business and generate revenue through their craft. Also offered are workshops by artists with experience in educational settings, and how the arts are used to educate through community development programs for lifelong learning.

“This conference is for working creatives in the arts across disciplines, and with those who work on community engagement, education, and business strategies,” says Mark Fraire, Dane Arts director. “This conference highlights the immense value that artists bring to our community—not just through their creativity but also their contributions to our local economy and well-being,”

“This conference highlights the immense value that artists bring to our community—not just through their creativity but also their contributions to our local economy and well-being,” said Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. “By equipping artists with tools to grow their businesses and nurture their talents, we’re fostering a more connected, and thriving Dane County for all.”

The two-day conference will take place in Madison at the Arts & Literature Lab, 111 S. Livingston Street, and across the street at StartingBlock Madison, 821 E. Washington, 2nd floor. The fee is $200, early bird special is $125 due March 16. Registration will open in early 2026. Work-volunteer scholarships available and registration is limited. Sponsorship opportunities to support the conference are also available.

Dane Arts continues to prove the economic, cultural, creative and community impact the arts generate across all arenas. Research shows in Dane County that nearly $350 million dollars goes back into the local economy through arts and culture (from Americans for the Arts Economic Impact Study in partnership with Dane Arts, 2023)For more information, email fraire.mark@danecounty.gov.