It's the golden anniversary year for School of the Arts at Rhinelander and special events are planned. The school runs this year from Saturday, July 20 through Wednesday, July 24 at James Williams Middle School in Rhinelander.
Director Lynn Tarnoff says the 50th anniversary has a number of events..
"....we're having a celebration dinner at Holiday Acres that Saturday evening. It is a ticket event. There's a limited amount of tickets and they're going fast. We want to acknowledge people who have been with us for quite some time. We have some stories to tell...."
In addition, Sunday at noon will be a presentation with Maryo Gard-Ewell. She is founder Robert Gard's daughter. Instructor Pat Gilday will give more history. Gilway's mother was at the first School. Director of the Wisconsin Arts Board George Tzourgos will also be on hand. Early registrants will get a 50th edition T-shirt before June 15th.
Tarnoff says they also have financial aid available through the School of the Arts websitebefore June 7. Tarnoff says folks who have been waiting to go should consider going this year....
".....I would say this is the year to do it. It's extra-special. The content is always great, but it's special this year with the 50th anniversary. But there's another difference. It had been a Monday to Friday program before. This year it's a Saturday through Wednesday program..."
Some classes are only for Saturday and Sunday. The school features art and folk art, culinary arts, mind/body/spirit, digital media, performing arts and more. The school was founded by UW professor Robert Gard in 1964 as an arts outreach to rural Wisconsin.
