Peninsula Arts Association Looks to the Future

Door County’s oldest non-profit for local painters, potters, musicians, thespians, quilters, poets, and more – the Peninsula Arts Association (PAA) – is undergoing some changes, some good, some not so good. But PAA President Pete Thelen is optimistic and anxious to reach out to the community that PAA has greatly influenced since it was established in 1937.

The organization has bestowed monumental funds to artists and arts organizations throughout the years. “The list goes on forever,” says Thelen, “Midsummers Music, Hardy Gallery, Peninsula School of Art, American Folklore Theatre.” The organization also helps artists on individual levels – they provided grants to local musicians Eli Mattson and Jeanne Kuhns, jeweler Angela Lensch, costume designer Karin Kopischke, and various writers who wished to participate in Steel Bridge Songfest’s writing workshops.

Yet, PAA keeps a “low profile” according to Thelen, “people don’t really know who we are,” and that needs to change.

On April 12 the PAA Board of Directors with host a Meet & Greet at the Harbor Fish Market in Baileys Harbor from 5 – 7 pm. “The reason we’re doing this,” explains Thelen, “is to welcome our new board members (including Brynn Swanson and Amy Ludwigsen) and discuss the future.”

Recently the PAA lost matching funds they received from the Wisconsin Arts Board. “So, even if we had a mediocre year and received $10,000 dollars that was $20,000 we could grant to artists,” says Thelen. “Our future is in the hands of the residents of Door County.”

The break from Wisconsin Arts Board is not entirely negative, stresses Thelen: “We want to revamp applications. It’s quite an application and with the Wisconsin Arts Board there were suggestions of what had to be there, our hands were tied, now we can make some changes, ease up on applicants.”

But the PAA needs help and input. “There are a lot of established artists in the county,” says Thelen, “I hope we can draw some out to talk to us. We need input. We want to start this new group off with a bit more vision.”

For more information about the Meet & Greet, contact Thelen by calling 920.495.0893 or emailing [email protected].

For more information about PAA, visit peninsulaartsassociation.blogspot.com or search ‘Peninsula Arts Association’ on Facebook.