Arts Business Competition
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Arts Business Competition (ABC) invites current students from across campus to develop and submit a proposal for an arts event, exhibition, performance series, or other artistic project.
Three finalists will be selected to present their ideas in person at the 2027 Arts Business Competition Pitch Event and each will receive award money for their projects.
The application window is open now through December 15, 2026.
2027 Arts Business Competition Awards
1st Prize
$2,000
2nd Prize
$1,000
3rd Prize
$500
Arts Business Competition applications are accepted as part of the Creative Arts Awards annual call. Applicants to the Arts Business Competition can also be considered for the Creative Arts Awards.
Application Timeline
Applications Open
Application window is open
Now – December 15
Review
Applications are reviewed by committee
January through February
Notification
Applicants are notified
Mid-March
Finalist Presentations
Finalists will pitch their presentations in person
March 10, 2027 from 3:00–5:30pm
at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID)
Award Ceremony
All finalists will be recognized at the Creative Arts Awards ceremony on
April 19, 2027
Fund Distribution
The award funds are distributed during
Spring Semester
Application Instructions
Start the process here to review eligibility and instructions.
The application needs to be completed in one sitting, so we recommend preparing all your materials first, using this guide.
Examples of successful applications are also available -by request- for reference.
Please send application questions to bolz@wsb.wisc.edu.
2026 Awardees
1st Prize
‘I wasn’t asked’
Fatemeh Fani
I wasn’t asked is a long-term research project dedicated to raising awareness about the realities of compulsory hijab; not merely a matter of clothing, but a symbol of broader control that restricts, holds back, and denies Iranian women freedom in every aspect of life. This MFA solo thesis exhibition by Fatemeh Fani is a multi-layered memorial installation where the personal becomes political, and where trauma is not narrated, but felt.
2nd Prize
The Crafty Critters
Maja Hastings
The Crafty Critters is a free after-school program for second graders at Aldo Leopold Elementary School. Meeting weekly, the club blends environmental stewardship with creative expression. Each session includes a lesson on recycling or sustainability, an art activity using repurposed materials, and time outdoors collecting litter from the school grounds and surrounding areas. The Crafty Critters encourages responsibility, creativity, and resilience by teaching students that waste can be transformed and shared spaces deserve care. At the end of the year, students will host a community art exhibition to showcase their work and celebrate their efforts.
3rd Prize
Then and Now
Peter Goitom
Then and Now is an immersive experience that allows guests to witness what it would be like if artistic minds from different eras were brought together in the same place at the same time. Generational greats including Frida Kahlo, Tupac Shakur, and David Bowie will share their works by displaying art pieces, reading poetry, or offering musical performances. Throughout the experience, these icons will be engaging with one another as well, sharing their perspectives on their work, life, and the evening as it progresses.