Grant to fund new mural at Madison Senior Center
Visitors will notice a vibrant new addition to the Madison Senior Center in 2026 thanks in part to support from the State of Wisconsin and the Madison Senior Center Foundation.
The West Mifflin Community Mural project is a direct result of feedback from the community and users of the Madison Senior Center, who said they wanted to see a brighter and more engaging environment for dining and programming. This mural project will not only bring that request to life, but it will give Madison’s older adults the opportunity to get involved in planning and painting a piece of art that celebrates them and their contributions to the community.
As part of the planning process, partner organization Developing Artists, Murals, and Alliances (DAMA) is organizing a survey of Madison’s older adults that will help determine the themes the community would like to see in the mural. While the survey opened in November, there is still time for community members to share their thoughts through Friday, January 2, 2026.
Once the survey is complete, DAMA and Madison Senior Center staff will use the survey results to develop a theme and artistic style for the project. An artist will then be selected to come up with a design that captures the selected theme and style.
After a design is created, the Madison Senior Center will hold two public painting events, allowing users of the center and other volunteers to have a direct hand in creating the new mural. The artist selected by DAMA and Madison Senior Center staff will be on hand to help guide volunteers during the painting process. More details about the painting events will be made available at a later date.
The City of Madison and the Madison Senior Center are tentatively planning to hold a mural unveiling event in June 2026 once the piece is completed. When finished, the mural will be visible from the entrance of the Madison Senior Center, helping create a more welcoming atmosphere as guests enter the building.
Tentative Project Timeline
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Community feedback survey Active
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Design created Upcoming
DAMA creates designs based on survey feedback; selected design to be presented at Arts Council meeting
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Public painting programs Upcoming
Two public painting programs to be hosted at the Madison Senior Center; more details to be provided as they become available
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Finishing touches Upcoming
DAMA-selected artist puts finishing touches on mural
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Mural mounted Upcoming
Mural will be mounted at the Madison Senior Center dining site
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Mural unveiled Upcoming
Event will celebrate the unveiling of the new mural
Project Funding
This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Remaining funding is provided by the Madison Senior Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports programming at the Madison Senior Center.
About the Wisconsin Arts Board
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. For more information on the Wisconsin Arts Board, please visit artsboard.wisconsin.gov.
