Waupaca celebration features birthday party
The Waupaca Community Arts Hub, a program of the Waupaca Community Arts Board, is celebrating its third birthday in April.
Birthday month activities include an open house at the Arts Hub 3-5 p.m. Thursday, April 4. Event highlights include a tour of the facility, cupcakes and an art project.
On Saturday, April 20, the second annual Hub Fun-Raiser will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, April, at the Waupaca Country Club.
Attendees can enjoymusic and dancing with MoJoe amd Flipside, food and good friends. For more details and tickets go to www.waupacaartshub.org/artshub-3rd-birthday.
Marci and Laura Reynolds, Arts Hub co-directors, said they are excited at the growth they have seen in the past three years.
The Hub’s mission has been to provide a space where creativity grows, and where individuals of all ages can discover and nurture their artistic talents, regardless of their ability to pay.
“We started out with one music teacher, and have grown to have 9 music teachers and over 100 music students in just 3 years. It is truly gratifying to know how many families are being impacted by music,” said Marci Reynolds, who takes charge of the music programs at the Hub.
“Every week we see 50-70 students coming in for all sorts of classes, ranging from several levels of digital and 3-D art classes, painting, cooking, art fun for the littles, and classes at our partner venues, HH Hinder Brewing and the Grand National Lounge, for the adults,” said Laura, who is in charge of the art and cooking classes.
“It has been great adding talented art and cooking teachers to the Arts Hub, who have the skill and teaching expertise to keep students engaged and help them discover their inner talents, and have fun,” she said.
Laura also coordinates many outreach programs.
“It’s important to bring our programs to the community so that everyone has access,” said Laura.
In 2023, the Arts Hub served more than 1,200 individuals through outreach art, craft and music programs at places like the Waupaca Area Public Library, Waupaca Park and Rec, Head Start, the CEC, and more.
Along with the music and art teachers, the Hub has a part-time administrator, Rachel Bailey, whose job it is to keep things running seamlessly as 150-170 students pass through their doors weekly.
“I work to make sure that every single student, young or old, gets connected, whether it is with the right music teacher, or in the classes they want to take … I answer questions, connect with families, and help get information out to our community partners and the community. It’s been a fun journey, seeing the Hub grow,” said Bailey.
The Arts Hub is able to offer many amenities to make access to the arts possible. The Waupaca School District provides after-school bus service to the Arts Hub. And thanks to donors there is a healthy tuition assistance program that helps more than 45 families with the cost of music and art classes.