Madison Reporter

The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of commitment to public art and community engagement. The commission invites the community to join the celebration at a free event on December 5 from 4-8 p.m. at the Madison Children’s Museum. Attendees can enjoy performances by Madison Circus Space performers and participate in art-making activities with artists TetraPAKMAN, Lesley Anne Numbers, Angelica Contreras, and Djam Vivie.

The event will also feature music from Madison-based band V05, playing disco hits reminiscent of MAC's founding year in 1974. Refreshments will be available for guests.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway highlighted the importance of the arts in building community: "For half a century, Madison Arts Commission has been weaving creativity into the fabric of our city...we're reminded that the arts are not just about beautifying spaces—they are about building community and ensuring everyone has a voice in our cultural landscape."

The Friends of the Madison Arts Commission (FoMAC), established in 2020 as a non-profit organization supporting MAC's efforts, announced it exceeded its fundraising goal for 2024. Contributions from both the Evjue Foundation and the Hoke Family Foundation amounted to $50,000 each.

Co-chairs Cedric Johnson and Sarah Werner expressed their gratitude: “As a part of our volunteer board’s strategic planning goals at the end of last year, we set out to make $50,000 in honor of MAC’s 50th anniversary, and we doubled it.”

These funds will support projects like Parks Alive, Utility Box coverings, and public artwork for the upcoming Madison Public Market. Nick Pjevach, chair of MAC, emphasized reliance on community contributions: “As we continue to look towards what the future looks like for public art in Madison...we rely and appreciate the contributions from our community members."