Madison, WI (April 29,2015) – Ted Hamm, Director, Principal and Founder of the The Étude Group has been selected to be a member of the Creative Industries Committee. The Creative Industries Committee is a board of experts comprised by The Wisconsin Arts Board to guide the Arts Board’s work to serve and promote the creative industries in Wisconsin.  

“Being a part of the Creative Industries Committee allows me to contribute to the ongoing dialogue in Wisconsin about how arts and creativity can help to make Wisconsin communities richer places to live and work. As a member of the State Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education, I was able to be a part of the development of a structure to place creativity at the heart of education in Wisconsin. The Creative Communities Committee will allow me to broaden that perspective to the communities that schools serve,” said Hamm.

The Arts Board defines creative industries as those organizations, individuals and companies whose products and services have their origin in artistic, cultural, creative, and/or aesthetic content, as a critical sector in community and regional economic development.  The creative industries include advertising, architecture, arts and antique markets, culinary arts, crafts, design, designer fashion, film, video and photography, software, computer games and electronic publishing, music and the visual and performing arts, publishing, television and radio.

“As a school principal, I have always tried to stay connected to the ongoing discussion about the Creative Economy and the Knowledge Economy. This has kept me focused on the types of skills and dispositions our young people will need in the future. Additionally, it is through this work that I am able to make connections for our students to people throughout Wisconsin,” Hamm said.

Committee members will provide insight for the Arts Board’s strategic goal of assisting Wisconsin communities to engage the creative industries in sustainable community and economic development.   This may result in the creation of programs and services and the research and development of necessary resources.  

The Wisconsin Arts Board is the state agency which 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.  Since 1973, the Arts Board has supported artists and arts organizations with funds from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.  For more information on the Wisconsin Arts Board, please visit www.artsboard.wisconsin.gov. For information on Wisconsin arts and cultural events, please visit www.portalwisconsin.org.