Photo provided courtesy of the University of Wisconin-Madison Archives.
Our Mission:
The Robert E. Gard Foundation is committed to fostering healthy communities through arts-based development.
Our Vision:
We envision communities in which all people discover and engage their individual and collective creativity, altering the face and the heart of America for the common good.
Our Values:
The Robert E. Gard-Wisconsin Idea Foundation celebrates and perpetuates the life, work and values of Robert E. Gard as a symbol of leadership in making creative communities a reality.
- The arts spring from the commonplace and celebrate our essential humanity.
- Everyone should have the opportunity to participate in arts and cultural experiences.
- Each of us has the capacity to “alter the face and the heart of America.”
- The arts have the power to ignite change.
- The arts are an essential part of building healthy communities and meaningful lives.
- The arts play a vital role in placemaking.
Strategies:
- Ensure Robert E. Gard’s work is accessible.
- Serve as catalyst, inquisitor and a convener.
- Facilitate collaborations and partnerships.
- Identify and promote best practices for arts-based community development.
The Foundation was formed in 1980 as an outgrowth of Robert Gard’s University of Wisconsin projects stemming from the 1940s. The Foundation is a 501(c)3 private, nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the arts. Unlike most foundations, the Robert E. Gard Foundation does not grant funds.