Under the influence of the arts incubator, the Garver Feed Mill would literally bring the neighboring community to life. Madison residents could stroll through the flower-lined paths of the Olbrich Gardens to the incubator, where they could find a seat under the shade of Madison flora and have a drink at the incubator’s indoor-outdoor café. A chef’s garden would supply garnishes, seasonings and produce as a testament to the symbiotic relationship between the incubator and the community around it.

The proposed arts incubator would also connect with lesser-known segments of Madison’s arts community. Hole plans to establish a relationship with ArtWorking, a program that, according to its founder, provides an opportunity for adults with cognitive disabilities to pursue a career in visual arts. Lance Owens, founder and coordinator of ArtWorking, explains that the program provides mentoring from experienced art professionals, while also offering access to business resources.

“I had access to an art education, but if you have a cognitive disability, career paths are very limited,” explained Owens. “There is not a lot of vocational training available for individuals with cognitive disabilities besides in the food services industry, and the ArtWorking program parallels an undergrad or graduate degree in art, taking into account necessary adaptations.”

Owen hopes that ArtWorking’s relationship with the Madison Arts Incubator will be mutually beneficial. ArtWorking is interested in occupying some space in the incubator, using the building and the incubator’s other services for the people they support. One idea is to open a silk screen facility within the incubator, allowing other artists in the incubator to use the facility in exchange for their mentorship of ArtWorking artists.

Coming To Life
While the Garver Feed Mill currently lies lifeless, eventually, Hole explained, the Madison Arts Incubator would be as self-sustaining as the wildflowers outside its walls. Initially, though, the Common Wealth Development would require a mixture of funding for the project, including historic tax credits, new market tax credits, national, state and local grants and Wisconsin Focus on Energy grants. The group’s leaders also anticipate deferring the development fee and planning a private fundraising campaign.

Erin Zwaska/Curb
A detail view of the arched windows and ivy crawling on the brick exterior of the Garver Feed Mill.

Located just an hour south of Madison, the Beloit Fine Arts Incubator is much smaller than the proposed Madison incubator, but nevertheless demonstrates that an arts incubator business model can be successful in Wisconsin. In addition to housing five artists, the Beloit Fine Arts Incubator offers community classes in everything from portraiture to photography and hosts First Fridays, which feature a show opening every first Friday of the month.

Dean Folt, graphic artist and president of the board of directors of the Beloit Fine Arts Incubator, believes that the arts incubator has been a powerful tool in marketing the Beloit community as an arts community.

An arts incubator in Madison would likely have a similar effect. “I think an art incubator will create a fiscal focal point for Madison’s working artists,” Hole said. “And it will help Madison retain local artistic talent.”

For now, the arts incubator is in the early stages of development. But with proper guidance from its leaders and support from the community, the incubator could become a reality, adding an exciting blend of art and business to a now tired, but formidable structure. And while the Madison arts community has a strong foundation, support is needed to help pull all the pieces together—to turn the Madison Arts Incubator into the successful venture everyone hopes it will become.