WINS IN WESTERN WISCONSIN. Five regional organizations have been awarded significant government financial support including two Chippewa Valley orgs: The Pablo Center, pictured, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

The Pablo Center at the Confluence is one of five organizations to receive significant funding through a bipartisan government package – spearheaded by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin – in support of continued access to arts and education across western Wisconsin.

The Eau Claire arts nonprofit has been awarded $900,000 toward four programs – VetTix, STEAM education, the LMI (Open Door) Access Fund and its artist residency program – as well as general operational stability.

Pablo Center Executive Director, Monica Frederick, said the organization applied for funding just over a year ago. The award has yet to be dispersed, though the Pablo Center's intent is to allocate roughly $450,000 of it toward operational stability and intentional program expansion.

In the Pablo Center’s original application outline, it sought about $100,000 toward its VetTix program; $125,000 toward the LMI Access Fund; roughly $150,000 toward STEAM education; and roughly $77,000 for the artist residency program.

The Pablo Center has been host to two musician residences – Eau Claire's S. Carey and, most recently, Humbird (pictured) – and recently transformed its Manz Green Room into a flexible events space. (Photo by Evelyn Nelson)

One of the Pablo Center's educational STEAM programs, Girls Who Code, pictured.

The award follows a year-and-a-half period of significant change for the Pablo Center, including the exit of Jason Jon Anderson, who had overseen the arts center since its 2018 opening, and a rental fee restructuring – implemented in an effort to help combat the Pablo Center's multi-year revenue deficit – which resulted in significant increases for the local Constituent Art Groups.

After tightening its belt in 2025, the Pablo Center is becoming more financially stable, Frederick said – and the $900,000 funding award is another big step in the right direction.

“We need to stay funded (in order to) appropriately facilitate our programs,” Frederick said. “There is always a waiting list (for those four programs), so it’s clear there is a greater need in the community.”

The recently passed funding package will support five projects:

• University of Wisconsin-Stout: $202,000 to expand entrepreneurial support
• Gunderson La Crosse Medical Center Campus: $750,000 for renovations to a facility serving those coping with addiction
• Pablo Center at the Confluence: $900,000 for arts and education programming, operational stability
• Family and Children's Center of Wisconsin: $1 million for construction of a mental health diagnostic center
• Vernon Memorial Healthcare Foundation Inc.: $2.2 million for construction of a new clinic

View the full press release about the funding package awards spearheaded by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin online.