August 6, 2008

Contact Michael Ranscht at 608-796-3737 or maranscht@viterbo.edu

VITERBO UNIVERSITY RECEIVES TWO-YEAR MATCHING GRANT FROM THE WISCONSIN ARTS BOARD

 LA CROSSE, Wis. – Viterbo University has received a matching grant of $17,408 for each of the next two years from the Wisconsin Arts Board in support of the university’s Bright Star Season, NexStar Season, and the Ronald McDonald Arts for Young America Series.

“This funding match provides statewide recognition of the work we are doing in the arts,” Ranscht said. “This grant supports our connection to the community and allows us to continue to develop local support for our programs.”

Wisconsin Arts Board grants are awarded through a competitive process, and this grant recognizes that Viterbo’s Fine Arts Center provides the highest level of quality in its programs, community outreach, and administration, said Michael Ranscht, director of the Fine Arts Center.

This grant was awarded through the state Creation and Presentation program, a first-year initiative of the Wisconsin Arts Board. With this type of investment, the Wisconsin Arts Board helps the state non-profit arts and culture sector to generate an economic impact of $418 million annually.

The Wisconsin Arts Board has a budget of $3,262,000 for the 2009 fiscal year, and grants are awarded on a basis, meaning that recipients are required to match these grants with other public and private funds. The Wisconsin Arts Board is a state agency that nurtures creativity, cultivates expression, promotes the arts, supports the arts in education, stimulates community and economic development and serves as a resource for people of every culture and heritage in Wisconsin’s communities.