Madison Reporter

The Madison Arts Commission (MAC) is marking its 50th anniversary with a community celebration in early December. The event will take place at the Madison Children’s Museum on Thursday, December 5, from 4-8 p.m. It will feature performances by Madison Circus Space and art-making activities with artists TetraPAKMAN, Lesley Anne Numbers, Angelica Contreras, and Djam Vivie. The celebration is sponsored by Friends of the Madison Art Commission founding member and former MAC chair Barbara "Bobbi" Schrank.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their dancing shoes as the local band V05 will perform disco hits reminiscent of MAC's founding year in 1974. Refreshments will be available for guests.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway remarked on the significance of the occasion: “For half a century, Madison Arts Commission has been weaving creativity into the fabric of our city. As we celebrate this milestone at the Madison Children’s Museum, 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.” She added that they remain committed to fostering a vibrant arts scene for future generations.

The Friends of the Madison Arts Commission (FoMAC), established in 2020 as a non-profit organization to support MAC's initiatives, announced it had exceeded its fundraising goal for 2024. Both the Evjue Foundation and the Hoke Family Foundation contributed $50,000 each.

Co-chairs Cedric Johnson and Sarah Warner stated: “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 such as Parks Alive, Utility Box coverings, and public artwork for the upcoming Madison Public Market. Nick Pjevach, chair of MAC, expressed gratitude for 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, passionate supporters and foundations who are prioritizing access to public art.”

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