October 2026 Newsletter
Reminisce With Us
Please join us in reflecting on all we accomplished in 2024-25. Through these pages you will see the life-changing impact of our mission. In 2025, we made the decision to change our fiscal year to match the calendar year. For this reason, our latest annual report reflects the time period July 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025. Experience the annual report today.
Dance Party Recap
Photo Caption: Dancers took to the floor to show off their moves for an exciting party.
Friday Night Dance Party brought costumes out of the woodwork, from deviled eggs to superheroes. Over fifty people joined our party to socialize, dance, and show off their costumes. We're grateful for the donors and volunteers who made this event possible!
Your tax-deductible gift supports Friday Night Dance Party refreshments, studio rental, and AFA Teaching Artists on the dance floor leading the fun.
Photo Caption: Students from UW-Madison joined us in helping make this dance party possible and joined in on the costume fun!
Call for Art Opportunities
We extended our deadline for our Independence 250: Call for Creativity to Monday, October 26 to provide more time for everyone to submit their work! This call for creativity is for a variety of art including 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, music, dance, and poetry. The theme for this call for art is "Independence" to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's independence, though the theme of independence can be interpreted in many ways.
The Independence 250 collection will be on display at the Wisconsin State Capitol from Monday, November 16, through Friday, December 11, with an opening reception on Friday, November 20, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. This is your chance to have your art displayed in the Capitol!
Our annual Creative Power Call for Art opens on Saturday, October 31. This call for art is for any Wisconsin resident who is five or older and identifies as having a disability. Full details for this year's call for art will be available on our website.
AFA Opportunities
Arts Programming: Join our choirs or art, music, and 2D/3D arts classes! • Appleton, Madison, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Rapids, and Virtual Options
SPARK!: Attend our free monthly arts and culture program for people with memory loss and their care partners to attend together. • First Friday of each month • Madison, WI
Independence Call for Creativity: Submit any style of art with the theme of independence • Deadline extended to October 26, 2026 • Statewide
Friday Night Dance Party: Join us for an evening of dancing, refreshments, and fun • October 2, 2026 • Madison, WI
Creative Power Call for Art This call for art is for all Wisconsin residents, five and older, who identify as having a disability • Opens October 31, 2026 • Madison, WI
Fall Gallery Night: Support AFA and people with disabilities by joining us at the Madison Youth Arts Center (MYArts) to experience and purchase art • November 6, 2026 • Madison, WI
SPARK! Creative Engagement Conference: Arts for All Wisconsin will be hosting this year's SPARK! Alliance conference to provide opportunities for SPARK! programming training and learn more about brain health, creative engagement, and best practices for interacting with people with dementias • November 9 and 10, 2026 • Madison, WI
Community Opportunities
Dane County Aging and Disability Resource Center: Attend the Caregiver Appreciation Event at Olbrich Gardens • October 28, 2026 • Madison, WI
Camp Createability: Get creative with paper, texture, and found materials at Junk Journal Labs • Second Monday of Each Month • Madison, WI
Minds in Motion: Presented by the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Dane County, a program for anyone experiencing changes in memory and thinking • Fourth Tuesday of Every Month • Madison, WI
Adoption Choice: This Call for Art for for anyone who has been impacted by adoption to have their art featured in a traveling exhibit across Wisconsin • Ongoing through 2026 • All of Wisconsin
Artist Co-Op Studio Space: Artists can apply for a new co-op studio space • Ongoing • Madison, WI
Bloom 360: A creative next step after high school where neurodivergent adults build confidence, friendships, and real-world skills by running microbusinesses. • East Troy, WI
UW-Madison People & Robots Laboratory: Participate in a research study for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to provide feedback about a robot being developed to help people with disabilities at work • Ongoing • Madison, WI
Your Financial Support Is Essential
Help us sustain our arts programs for children and adults with disabilities by donating today.
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