Description
The Appleton Art Center was established in 1960 with a mission to promote, teach and nourish the creation and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, educational programs and information services.
The Appleton Art Center's programming and events have been so successful that our facility at 130 North Morrison Street could no longer handle the nearly 100,000 people we serve each year. Thanks to the generosity of the community and Appleton Art Center donors, partilcularly Lyle and Victoria Reigel, we purchased a 25,000 square foot facility on College Avenue. The much needed expansion from 5,000 to 25,000 square feet allows the Appleton Art Center to run exhibitions year round on two floors of the building. The third floor provides ample space for adult and children's art classes and the fourth floor houses the offices of the Appleton Art Center staff.
The Appleton Art Center's building is also the administrative home of the offices of the White Heron Chorale, the Fox Valley Symphony and the Appleton Boychoir.
The activities, which allow the Appleton Art Center to fulfill its mission, can be divided into three categories: Exhibitions, Educational Programming and Special Events.
Exhibitions
The Appleton Art Center is committed to creating high quality exhibitions, which serve a role in providing general artistic education for the community. Through these exhibitions the general public is exposed to various forms of artwork from regional to international artists. Each of the eight to ten art exhibitions held annually provide the focus of all the other activities that occur at the Art Center.
Educational Programming
The Art Center offers classes year round for children, young adults and adults. Along with painting, drawing, and sculpting, the Art Center also conducts classes relating to the exhibit on view in the gallery during that time. Tours are available for the Art Center's educational exhibitions mentioned above. The 75 minute guided tour provides a deeper understanding of the exhibition that is featured. The Art Center also works together with schools, corporations and other organizations throughout the Fox Valley to offer special programming on contract.
Special Events
Special events consist of large fund-raising extravaganzas such as Art in the Park, which brings artists, exhibitors, and creative individuals from across the country together at Appleton's City Park for one day. This special fund-raising event reserves a special art area for children where they can participate in hands-on art activities, allowing participation for entire families. Other special events are scheduled to coincide with each exhibition, such as lectures, special workshops, Family Fun Day, or musical concerts.
