Conney Project on Jewish Arts

Founded in 2004, the Conney Project on Jewish Arts is an initiative of the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that is made possible by the generosity of Marv and Mildred Conney. The Conney Project aims to speak to people across communities, and celebrate what’s special about Jewish arts and culture, while creating visionary programming—events, exhibits, readings, and performances—that gathers people together around Jewish culture to meet our current moment with empathy, nuance, and the potential for change. All of our current programming is housed under the thematic umbrella “Big Tent: Inclusive Jewish Futures & Foundations.”

For the 2026-2027 academic year, we’ll be welcoming artists across multiple artistic disciplines, and we hope you’ll join us for our events!

On October 16^th at 7:30pm at the Madison Central Library, Conney Project director Erika Meitner will be welcoming award-winning New Yorker cartoonists Roz Chast and Jason Adam Katzenstein, in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival. Roz and Jason will be in conversation around their new book The Two Saddest Kitchens: A Comics Conversation, where they combine their hilarious cartoon sensibilities to take stock of everything from tragic pantries to the secret double life of Mr. Clean, taking readers on a comedic tour of “malevolent microwaves and ominous ovens” and “demonic dishwashers and deadly drains” to “painful pantries, cruddy cabinets, and dysfunctional drawers” and much, much more! All attendees will receive a free copy of the book courtesy of the Conney Project.

From October 22nd through October 25th, via the Mead Witter School of Music, the Conney Project will be co-sponsoring Klez Fest Midwest 2026, with performances by local band Tsuzamen, Chicago’s Fugu Dugu, and a Showcase Concert with the Klezmatics on October 24th. For more information, please see the Klez Fest website.

On March 14, 2027, in conjunction with the Chazen Museum of Art, the Conney Project will be hosting a showing of the documentary film “Maintenance Artist” with filmmaker Toby Perl, about Mierle Laderman Ukeles, who became the first artist-in-residence at New York City’s Department of Sanitation in 1977, breaking boundaries between art and action by collaborating with municipal workers.

This selection of Jewish arts and cultural initiatives reflects the Conney Project’s mission—to have Jewish arts integrated into wider arts communities, draw in robust and diverse audiences, and bring people together while celebrating Jewish culture. All Conney Project events are free and open to the public. You can find additional information on our Events page.