A Campaign for the
Waupaca Arts Hub
Welcome
Since the Arts Hub began 4 years ago, our mission has been to provide a space where creativity grows and all individuals can discover, nurture, and grow their artistic talents, regardless of their ability to pay. We have up to 200 weekly students taking lessons and classes in music, art, improv, cooking, and more.
You will learn about the positive impact The Arts Hub is having on people and on our community, how we strive to make our programming available to all, and why we need more room to grow. You'll catch a glimpse of our vision and learn how you can make it a reality. We invite you to join us as we embark on a $1.5 million dollar comprehensive campaign to purchase, build-out, equip, and operate a larger place where creativity will come to grow in our community for generations to come.
The Arts Hub Helps People Flourish
We are all creative. We all desire to express ourselves in ways that give flight to our creative spirit. Some do it with music, some with pencils or paint, some with clay, some by building things in the physical or digital world. When we learn and practice creative talents, it benefits us in ways that are deeply-personal and far-reaching. Consider:
Personal Growth: Engaging in the arts fosters self-confidence, critical thinking, and creativity. For young people, arts education is linked to improved academic performance.
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) Programming: Engaging participants in these areas develops transferable skills for a new economy.
Community Connection: The Arts Hub is a gathering space that bridges divides, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests.
We are also social. Even the most introverted among us yearns to belong and to feel a part of a community.
Visit The Arts Hub and you will discover that it is a place where art and community meet. It is a place where people find belonging, connect across generations and social strata, and form friendships. The Arts Hub helps people thrive because while each person is expressing their individual selves creatively, they’re also connecting with others.
The Arts Hub Helps Communities Thrive
The economic impact of the arts on communities is well-documented. Particularly in Waupaca we have seen how our reputation as an arts community has made Waupaca more attractive for residents, visitors, and businesses.
Jobs: We’ve seen how the arts have contributed directly to our economy by creating jobs for artists and performers, as well as those working in related industries like event planning, construction, restaurants, and hospitality.
Tourism: Our many arts and cultural events attract visitors who spend on accommodations, dining, transportation, and retail, significantly boosting local revenue.
Vibe and Vibrancy: The arts have enhanced Waupaca's appeal by fostering a vibrant, creative atmosphere that attracts young professionals, entrepreneurs, and families looking for a high quality of life. Our robust arts scene has been a factor in the revitalization and success of business “from the chain to main”, increasing property values and encouraging investment in a dynamic cultural ecosystem.
The Arts Hub for ALL
We live in an economically diverse community that features thriving businesses and expensive lake homes as well as 50% of students whose families qualify for free and reduced price lunches in our schools. Thankfully, we also live in a generous community, and because of that The Arts Hub has been able to fulfill its promise to provide access to programming regardless of a person’s ability to pay.
To make music instruction and art classes accessible, we offer:
Tuition Assistance: Up to a 50% reduction. In 2024, 48 students were able to access programs, thanks to contributions of $8,931.50 from our community.
Outreach Programs: We collaborate with partners to bring programming to people in the community. In 2024, 1,337 participants were reached through free outreach programs for children and adults, sparking creativity and promoting community.
Needed: Room to Grow
We have out-grown our location at the First United Methodist Church (FUMC). We are deeply grateful to FUMC for giving The Arts Hub its start and enabling us to outgrow the space they have so generously provided. Our new space will make growth possible by:
Making programs accessible to people with physical disabilities.
Serving more people with the programs we’re already offering, including music lessons for which we have a waiting list.
Enabling us to offer new programs.
As we grow, so too will the benefits The Arts Hub generates for individuals, families, and our community.
The Arts Hub is launching a $1.5 million comprehensive campaign to purchase, equip, and operate a new 10,000 square foot facility.
Our Campaign, “Room to Grow,” will cover the costs of:
Building Purchase
Renovations needed
Build-out needed for new income-generating programs
Maintenance fund
Funds to cover expenses while our new programs begin and our existing programs grow
A Dream Coming True
We set out to provide “A Place Where Creativity Comes to Grow” confident that we were not only meeting a need, but also nurturing an impulse and desire we all have to create – to find ways to express our intellect, emotions, and imagination through creative pursuits.
Now our dream is coming true in a new home that will feature:
A Performing Arts Space for student recitals, singer/songwriter debuts, small-venue concerts, and a pop-up art gallery for emerging and established artists. This space will also be available for community use.
Music Studios which will enable us to meet the ever-increasing demand for individual and group music classes, while providing space to develop new programs for people of all ages.
Pottery Studio, equipped with wheels, rollers, and kilns, creating a whole new medium for creative expression for people of all ages and ability levels.
Create & Grow Hub that will provide a selection of engaging STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activities that children can experience, fueling their curiosity and sparking their imaginations while they have fun.
Digital Makerspace/STEAM Programming that will provide a collaborative, community-driven workspace equipped with tools, technology, and resources that allow individuals to create, learn, and innovate across various disciplines, including: laser cutting, electronics, 3D printing, and art. This space will foster creativity, skill-sharing, and entrepreneurship by providing access to equipment and expertise that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Financial Sustainability made possible by the fact that each of these new spaces will provide new opportunities for revenue generation.
Renderings
Floor Plan
“After retiring from a 30-year career at Target, I discovered how the arts unlock creative problem-solving—not just for personal growth, but as a powerful tool for innovation in the workplace and a crucial skill for thriving in a technology-driven future.”
Testimonials
“The Woodpile Foundation recognized early on that the Arts Hub needed a new home, and we committed to supporting this vision even before a location was chosen—driven by the incredible dedication of the WCAB Board and the Arts Hub Co-Founders, and inspired by the limitless possibilities for STEAM education and community impact.”