Center for 21st Century Studies plans accessible community engagement project in Milwaukee

The Wisconsin Arts Board held a Q&A session on April 7, 2025, focusing on the FY26 Creative Communities Phase 2 grant application process. The meeting primarily addressed questions regarding accessibility requirements for projects, particularly in relation to accommodating individuals with disabilities.

One significant discussion point involved the need for applicants to detail how their projects would be accessible to people with various disabilities. Participants were encouraged to think broadly about accessibility, including physical access for wheelchair users and communication support for individuals with hearing impairments. The board emphasized the importance of providing specific plans to address these needs in grant applications.

A representative from the Center for 21st Century Studies shared insights about their project, which aims to facilitate community conversations through an oral history collection initiative. They raised questions about how to effectively accommodate diverse disabilities within their project framework. The board responded by suggesting that applicants outline potential accessibility challenges and their strategies for addressing them, such as providing American Sign Language interpreters or ensuring physical access to project spaces.

Additionally, the conversation touched on the importance of including demographic information about the community served, particularly regarding the number of individuals with disabilities. This data is intended to help grant reviewers understand the context of the projects better.

Another participant raised the issue of language access, specifically for Spanish speakers, highlighting the need for future applications to consider linguistic diversity as part of accessibility. The board acknowledged this concern and indicated that they are open to expanding the application criteria to include language access in future iterations.

The session concluded with a reminder of the importance of making arts projects inclusive and accessible to all community members, reinforcing the board's commitment to supporting diverse and equitable cultural initiatives across Wisconsin.