2024 Year-in-Review
“We’re excited about COPA’s continued progress in 2024. As we gain momentum into the new year, we reflect on the many achievements from this past year including expanded use of our facility in Fitchburg and hosting several new events featuring local artists. As well, as we continue our outreach, we appreciate the support we’ve received from community members and leaders.
We are thankful for all our incredible volunteers, ambassadors and board members for giving of their time and talents to support the missions of COPA and Friends of COPA. We are also truly grateful to the many donors for their financial support which ensures that we will continue to deliver on our mission and make the arts accessible to all!
Joe Koss – President, COPA Board of Directors
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Events
◆ Weekly Wednesday Events (Soul Sessions, Christian Cafe, Indi Tuneup, Cinema Showcase, Madison Jazz Jam, and COPA Coalition)
Special thanks to Greg Doby (Soul Sessions & Christian Cafe), Dale Sticha (Indie Tuneup), Laurie Lang (Madison Jazz Jam), and Michael E. Keeney (Cinema Showcase) for leading the charge on these events!
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◆ Three successful COPA Coalition gatherings (organizational updates each month with a 5th Wednesday)
The slide for COPA Co1 can be found here.
The slide for COPA Co2 can be found here.
The slide for COPA Co3 can be found here.
COPA Coalition will be January 29, 2025. Info for this event can be found here. This is an opportunity for the community to come and learn about COPA, where it is in terms of its development, and what you can do to get involved.
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◆ COPA Music Industry Night (local featured artists and jam sessions with house band)
You can find a recurring event on Facebook here.
You can join the Facebook group for updates here.
COPA Music Industry Night will be January 13, 2025. Bring your own food, drink and/or instruments, and come jam with your community! Drums, guitar, bass, and keyboard provided, but guests are welcome to bring their own instruments. They community is also welcome to just come and enjoy the music.
Special thanks to Bob Lafollette for leading the charge on this event!
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◆ 48 Hour Film Festival
Photos from award ceremony for Spring event can be found here.
The kickoff event for the Fall installment was held at COPA.
Some of the films were shot and produced at COPA.
The 48 Hour Film Festival takes place twice a year where indie film makers create a film in 48 hours. COPA was a part of both Wisconsin installments this year. If you have an interest in indie film, or want to connect with a cool community, check this out! You can find their Facebook here.
Special thanks to Michael E. Keeney and Katherine Thompson for leading the charge on this event!
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◆ M+DEV Wrap Event
The wrap event was in celebration of the MDEV Conference, a game industry conference that takes place in Madison, WI.
Special thanks to Naomi Rothblatt-Shumway for leading the charge on this event!
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◆ Facility upgrades (new roof, new floors, fast internet, numerous murals, signage and more)
Special thanks to DAMA, Syd the Muralist, and Chad Caso for the amazing contributions they’ve made to COPA through their murals. As well as Cab and Abbi for helping with configuring our new internet.
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◆ Letter of support from Julia Arata-Fratta (City of Fitchburg Mayor)
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◆ Expanded COPA Ambassadors
A list of all the current COPA Ambassadors can be found on our website here.
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◆ Initiated The Vortex visual arts space
First previewed during COPA Fest 2024, this collaborative art installation has brought 17 artists to-date to create an immersive art experience for the community to enjoy. It’s a demonstration of the serendipitous possibilities when we afford artists the space to create, and what is possible on a greater scale with the all ages arts campus COPA aims to achieve. While there will be a more formal explanation of what was achieved through The Vortex soon, COPA would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the following artists for the time and effort they put into making this ~1,500 square foot immersive experience possible: AZ (with the help of Abbi Westerdale), Syd the Muralist, RLo, Rodrigo Carapia, Paola Mayorga, Chad Caso, Oren Griggas, Mason Rupnow, Jamyn Rukavina, Daryna Ou, Rick Markley, Jon Brouchoud, Colette Girard (with the help of her husband, Bill), Issis Macias, Joseph Taylor, Mira Goodman, Brent Gerlach (with the help of Joe Taylor). Big ups to Paulius Musteikis and Gabe Oviawe for helping to get things underway, and to Dale Sticha/COPA for offering up the space to create such a cool project.
We hope to bring The Vortex to a greater sense of completion in 2025, engaging more artists and providing the necessary—and much needed—space for artists to do their thing!
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◆ Provided rehearsal space for bands. Please contact info@copamadison.org if you or your band is looking for space to practice.
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◆ Successful COPA Fest (September 7, 2024)
We saw 400+ attendees from the community throughout the day, with 20+ wide ranging music and dance performances, art activities, food carts, and the preview of a collaborative art installation, The Vortex. The Facebook event link with posts about who was involved can be found here.
Special thanks to allllll the volunteers, performers, and sponsors that helped to make it all possible! The list is long (and can be found clicking the link above), but we greatly appreciate everyone’s time, talent, and treasure that made it possible! An extra special thanks to the presenting sponsor, Dane Arts. You’re an invaluable resource to the county, and we’re lucky to have you in our corner!
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◆ Beautiful architectural renderings were graciously created and donated by Smith Group to help COPA envision the possibilities of what an all ages arts campus can be. These images can be found here.
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◆ Established new partnerships and business support
Friends of COPA—Leckrone Arts Fund
◆ Leckrone Arts Fund promotional video, graciously donated by Patrick Wall Group, Ltd
◆ Engaged with UW Marching Band Alumni
◆ LAF Happy hour at CG Schmidt
For more information about The Leckrone Arts Fund and how you can support the programming of COPA’s all ages arts campus, please visit the dedicated page on our website here.
Look for More to Come in 2025
◆ Expand current COPA events
◆ Continue Quarterly COPA Coalition Nights
◆ COPA Fest – Planned for Fall
◆ Leckrone Arts Fund “Forward March” Fundraising Event – Planned for Fall
◆ Engage with Additional COPA Ambassadors
◆ Add new events (public and private)
◆ Attract new COPA tenants and artists
Get Involved
If you are an artist looking for space to create, connect or perform or if you would like to volunteer, join the Board of Directors, or become an ambassador please send us an email at info@copamadison.org. We’d love to hear from you.
Give Today
If you’d like to support COPA’s quest to create an all ages arts campus, please consider making a donation on our website here.
