School of the Arts at Rhinelander

While much of this week is dedicated to the Hodag Country Festival, in less than two weeks, another multi-day event begins in Rhinelander.

The 51st School of the Arts at Rhinelander begins July 19 through the 23rd at James Williams Middle School. It's sponsored by the UW-Madison Continuing Studies Department.

The school is open to anyone with an interest in writing, music,  performing, cooking, spiritual enhancement, painting,  and other arts.

Director Lynn Tarnoff says they too have some headliners...

July 19-23 the much anticipated annual event "The School of the Arts at Rhinelander". The event passed a half-century last year. Director Lynn Tarnoff and Ken Krall  chatted about some of the offerings this year...

Lynn Tarnoff of the UW- Madison Continuing Education Department and Director of the School of the Arts at Rhinelander. The school is July 19-23 at James Williams Middle School. More information is available on line at www.soawisconsin.org   or catalogs are available at the Rhinelander District Library.

Summer might feel far away, but organizers of School of the Arts Rhinelander are already looking ahead to this July's programming. 

The 51st year of the program will offer five days of art workshops at a Rhinelander middle school. 

Director Lynn Tarnoff says registration is open for more than 50 courses.

“And we have five different tracks for people to take.  We have scheduling that is weekend-only, and scheduling that can be Saturday through Wednesday.”

Each summer Rhinelander gets hit with what amounts to an explosion of creativity: School of the Arts Rhinelander sets up camp for five days in a local middle school, and holds a slew of art classes for adults.  2013 marked the program's 50th anniversary.

Even though more than half of the 150 students enrolled in School of the Arts are newcomers, it’s not hard to spot the longtime attendees.  They’re wearing nametags with colored ribbons to indicate their veteran status. Lee Densmore sports a tag marking 15 years.  He’s here for a poetry class.

School of the Arts Rhinelander is still underway; it wraps up on Wednesday.  The five-day art school for adults takes place at the James Williams middle school, where the cafeteria and dozens of classrooms undergo a big changeover – practically overnight.  School of the Arts Facilities Manager Beth Bloom says it’s not an easy task.  She hires a team of 9 high school students to help with the shuffle. 

It’s almost the time of year for School of the Arts Rhinelander.  That’s when the University of Wisconsin Madison Continuing Studies sets up a five-day art school for adults in a Rhinelander middle school. 

Director Lynn Tarnoff says she and staff are getting ready to haul at least one van full of supplies from Madison. 

“Actually make that two vans.  And one of them’s been upgraded to a pick up truck with a car top carrier.”

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..