2017
ANNUAL REPORT
IN 2017 DAMA artists along with youth and community members painted 11 new mural projects. Many DAMA mural projects are painted on Polytab fabric and later installed using gloss gel medium. This process allows for off site and off season mural work. Mural painting engagement can be one community session or paint days spread over multiple weeks.
Youth
This year DAMA reached 15 communities. We created murals in urban and rural neighborhoods and worked with youth, families and community members in diverse populations across Dane county. Our ongoing goal is to continue expansion while enriching and developing ongoing relationships with each community we partner with.
South Madison Police Station Mural Design by Sonya Sankaran dde
882 individual young people were involved in the creation of DAMA murals in 2017. 25% of youth participated in 5 or more mural making sessions. One important goal is to further develop programming to facilitate sustained relationships with young painters. More than 60 volunteers and community members also helped with mural making activities.
Message from the executive director
15 Communities
Communities
Dane Arts Mural Arts (DAMA) is a community mural program that empowers artists, neighborhoods and youth to become change agents, collaborating on projects that physically and socially improve communities. DAMA community artists use mural making to beautify neighborhoods while making a difference in the lives of people, especially youth.. We believe that art has the power to transform both individuals and communities. This is how DAMA began: During the fall of 2014, I approached my friend Mark Fraire about collaborating in realizing my dream of starting a county-wide community mural program. I had been working as a solo community muralist for 15 years or so and Mark had just begun as director of Dane Arts. He said “sure” (not knowing how much work would be required). Dane County sent me & fellow artist Kelty Carew to visit mural programs in Philly, Baltimore & Brooklyn – and DAMA was born. Later in 2014, artists Alicia Rheal & Emida Roller came on board and completed all the projects I had previously agreed to. I attended to the administrative needs of a brand new start-up organization and we began to move into more and more communities throughout Dane County. Madison Community Foundation, the Evjue Foundation & the Wisconsin Arts Board were financial sponsors from the beginning – as were Dane County & Dane Arts. By the end of 2015, we completed our first dozen murals and Dane County provided us with a fabulous web site, assistance with community conversations, connections, support and legitimacy we would never have achieved on our own. By 2016, though, it became clear that DAMA needed the guidance of a board of directors and the fund-raising capacity that would only come by forming our own 501c3 non-profit. Therefore, I drew up the papers, sent them off to the feds – and WALLAH – here we are in 2017, DAMA as its own non-profit! 2017 was a watershed year for DAMA in other ways, as well: Veronica Figueroa, Jenie Gao, Sonya Sankaran & Amy Zaremba all came on board as community artists who bring a wealth of talent in a myriad of areas - in addition to their abilities to inspire people to come together to make beautiful art. Dane County provided us with mural production space! Dane County is renting the old Blooming Grove fire station to us for $1 per year – and continues to help make the space watertight. Patrice Abby, a non-profit expert, helped us form a board of directors who are focusing their amazing powerhouse talents to see that DAMA thrives and makes a difference in the Dane County community for many years to come. As we reflect on the amazing accomplishments of 2017, I am immensely grateful to you for helping make the dream of DAMA come true, as together, we change lives and beautify communities. Thank you! Sharon Kilfoy / DAMA Executive Director
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The mission of DAMA is to utilize the transformative nature of art, particularly mural making, to create a sense of belonging, especially for youth, by beautifying communities and humanizing neighborhoods. The vision of DAMA is a countywide network of communities whose members, especially youth, are happy, healthy and engaged, and who reap the rewards of living and working in neighborhoods and communities filled with art that they have helped to create.
882 Youth Painters
Murals
11 Murals
Deerfield Elementary School Mural (detail) Design by Amy Zaremba
The 120 foot long Monona mural entitled "Water, Land and Sky" was designed by local artist Rhea Ewing. Students from MG21 Alternative High School and Winnequah Elementry painted with volunteers from the Senior Center, family members of renowned Ho Chunk artist Harry Whitehorse, and DAMA community artists.
"I know that in the end the community effort will come through and the mural will be more than just the part I make." WI Heights Student
"You can have a bad day and then when you paint it can relax you. And then, when you get back to school work, then you are like - uh, okay - you feel like you just wiped that off your chest and you can go back to work now. " West High School SAIL Program Student
Students at Lussier Community center paint in background colors for part of the Olson Elementary mural designed by Emida Roller.
DAMA empowers artists, youth and community members to become agents of change through collaborative mural projects that beautify neighborhoods and strengthen the social fabric of communities.
Community Murals
"It made me feel relaxed - the more I painted the less I had on my shoulders" West High School SAIL program student
DAMA artists install one of 12 panels on the Madison-Kipp building. Students from SAIL East, Goodman center and Seed To Table programs along with Kipp employees and volunteers all helped paint this mural which represents the history of manufacturing at the site. (design - Dave Danforth)
This community paint event at the South Madison Police station brought kids and families from the neighborhood out to paint with DAMA artists and police officers. (design - Sonya Sankaran)
Top Photo - Detail of the Waunakee mural painted with Waunakee H.S. students and designed by Alicia Rheal. Middle Photo - Black Earth Elementary School students help paint the Black Earth Children's Museum mural designed by Alicia Rheal. Bottom Photo - Detail of "Water, Land and Sky" a Monona mural designed by Rhea Ewing .
Board of Directors
Associates
Letter from The Board President
Vision, passion and drive describe creators of successful entrepreneurial start-ups. They also describe the traits of DAMA founder Sharon Kilfoy and our amazing community artists Alicia Rheal, Emida Roller, Sonya Sankaran, Jenie Gao, Veronica Figueroa and Amy Zaremba. In the spirit of the best Dane County entrepreneurial firms, DAMA is a social entrepreneurship endeavor dedicated to transforming individuals and beatifying communities through mural making. DAMA murals beautify Dane County buildings and neighborhoods. Outside at Fireman’s Angel Park in Sun Prairie and Neighborhood House in Madison; and inside at the Taft Street Boys and Girls Club in Madison and Mount Horeb High School. The murals transform the lives of the students and community members who work together with DAMA to create them. Outside by learning new art and project skills; and inside by building confidence, teamwork, camaraderie and accomplishment through the creation of beautiful art. DAMA’s community artists and board of directors thank our sponsors and contributors for their foresight and appreciation of our work by making DAMA’s community mural making possible. We encourage you to learn more about the wonderful mural and community projects on our DAMA website . We hope you will be excited to help create the future of DAMA with us and consider contributing to our future. Sincerely, Neil Lerner
Sharon Kilfoy - Executive Director & Founder
Alicia Rheal - Production Manager & Lead Artist
Emida Roller - Facilities Manager & Lead Artist
Amy Zaremba - Lead Artist
Sonya Sankaran - Lead Artist, Education Outreach
Veronica Figueroa - Financial Manager
Jenie Gao - Lead Artist, Metrics Specialist
Neil Lerner
Mary Sollinger
Roderick Ritcherson
Eugenia Podesta
Sara Cotton
Leah Schmid
April Little
Tracy Williams-Maclin
Jessie Nunez
Gavin Logan
Patrice Abbe
Sarah Ansell
00,000,000
www.Daneartsmuralarts.com
2017 Budget Revenue Net Assets 01/01/2017 $46,000 Local Public Support $35,790 Mural Program Services $57,696 TOTAL REVENUE $139,486 Expenses Artist Services $99,543 Insurance $4,657 Project Supplies $3,654 Misc. $398 Rent $1 TOTAL EXPENSES $108, 253 Fund Balance $31,233
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5004 Allis Ave. Madison, WI 53716
Financial Statement
Gail Simpson
Peter Lundberg
William Reedy
Judy & Ben Sidran
JJ Findorff Co.
John Martens
Brian & Jeannene Mosley
Patsy Brooks
Luis Rivera
Dorla Mayer
The Jatczak Davis Family
Shawn Steen
Gretchen & Clete Hansen
for the individuals and businesses whose generosity make our work possible.
Net Assets - During DAMA’s first 2 years under the county, the 3 lead artists worked partially on a volunteer basis so a fund balance could be established that would enable DAMA to grow & become a non-profit. Local Public Support - From 2015 – 2017 start-up support was provided by Dane Arts, Madison Community Foundation, the Evjue Foundation, the Endres Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board and other generous donors. Supplies - DAMA has been able to keep the cost of project supplies low, thanks to the generous support of Hallman Lindsay paints in Sun Prairie who has donated paint for all mural projects to date. Rent - Dane County, through Dane Arts, is providing DAMA with mural production space at the old Blooming Grove fire station at 5004 Allis Avenue, along the Stoughton Road frontage road, in Madison. Fund Balance - DAMA anticipated the need to use funds from the accrued fund balance in 2017 & 2018 as we build our organizational capacity and as a generous community learns of & supports our work.
We Are Grateful
