The collection's coverage is quite thorough in the administrative, historical, financial, and programming aspects of the council's operation, with the chief failing being the absence of narrative reports and evaluations concerning the numerous innovative projects which the council undertook. The collection is composed of minutes, correspondence, reports, grant files, financial files, and publications arranged into five series: organizational records, governing board and staff records, programs and publications, financial records, and state and local arts organizations.
ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS include articles of incorporation, bylaws, corporate documents concerning tax exempt status, historical and planning information, and miscellaneous information. The files in this series generally contain correspondence, notes, and draft versions of some documents.
The arrangement of the GOVERNING BOARD AND STAFF RECORDS series reflects the hierarchical administrative structure of DCAC: the board of directors, executive director, general staff, administrative assistant, artists, and volunteers. These files variously include minutes, correspondence, lists of names, grant files, and reports.
PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS includes information on art projects and programs sponsored by DCAC. Best documented are the Mainstream Arts Project, the Theatre Bus Project, and the New Outreach Arts and Handicrafts (NOAH) and clerical programs. These files, which are arranged alphabetically by project title, generally include correspondence, committee minutes, reports, publicity, and financial statements about the particular art program. Unfortunately, final narrative reports concerning many of their innovative programs are not included.
Publications include a monthly arts events calendar, press releases and a newsletter, Arts Yellow Pages, and Housing for the Arts in Dane County. Also included are reports and reference materials on the public relations case study project.
The FINANCIAL RECORDS series consists of three subgroups: fundraising, grant applications, and financial statements. The fundraising materials include lists of contacts, information about the campaigns of 1977-1980, receipts registers, and schedules. The files in the grant applications subgroup generally contain proposals, correspondence, agreements, award notifications, reports, and notes about specific grants. The files in this category are arranged alphabetically by granting agency. The financial statements consist of balance sheets, income statements, general ledgers, cash receipts and disbursement journals, payroll ledgers, and other general accounting records.
The STATE AND LOCAL ART ORGANIZATIONS series consists of publications such as newsletters, brochures, publicity, and newspaper clippings collected about many arts organizations and a small quantity of correspondence. The files are divided into state and local categories and then arranged alphabetically thereunder.
