About
Our Mission
To provide quality creative arts education and enrichment experiences for a diverse population of youth and adult learners
Our Vision
To become a leading education and cultural enrichment center that inspires and nurtures artistic development through dynamic programming.
Our Values
The arts enrich our lives
The arts should be accessible to all
Every individual has creative potential and ability
Expressions of creativity and ability should be encouraged and embraced
Everyone deserves a master teacher
The arts enrich our community
Master Teachers. Magic Setting.
This could not be more true of the Shell Lake Arts Center. The rich history of musical and artistic excellence began with the creation of the Indianhead Arts Center under the leadership of Darrell Aderman and the University Of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension . Their efforts have made this camp a destination for the study of music and the arts in the Wisconsin Northwoods.
The names of our master teachers of the past and present are emblazoned in the hearts and minds of our campers. Through their efforts our students become life-long, literate performers and creators of the arts--in all of their varied forms.
Our magic setting is feet from the banks of the beautiful Shell Lake with trees, smells of the outdoors, pinecones, deer, swimming, Northern Lights, and even Northwoods critters that wander through during the daily life of our community. Our artists come ready to learn and in this environment which may be different than that of their own personal artistic experiences and homes, they create, perform, respond and integrate their past practices into new paradigms of learning and growth.
It is here that we do our best work. Every student that enters through our doors matters and we strive for them to recognize and attain maximum growth, potential, and passion, as artists, students and citizens of the global community.
Give our master teachers a try--in this magic setting-- and we promise you one of the best experiences of your life. At the Shell Lake Arts Center we don’t study the Arts, we do the Arts. Are you ready to join us?
Patrick S Barnett
Executive Director
Summer Camps & Workshops in the Arts and so much more!
Located in beautiful northwestern Wisconsin, only a short hour and fifteen minutes northwest of Eau Claire, the Shell Lake Arts Center in Shell Lake provides a premium learning experience for all students. Our programs and staff are well-respected nationally with some of the longest-running programs of their kind in the United States. With over 50 years of experience, the Arts Center provides a positive, safe and secure learning environment for students to further develop and explore their talents.
Participants are admitted without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or handicap.
Shell Lake Arts Center is an inclusive organization, and we accept all artists and musicians.
give your support
The Shell Lake Arts Center appreciates your support. Whether a monetary donation or an investment of your time, we’re made better because of the support of our community.
We are supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Proud sponsors of the Shell Lake Arts Center Summer Programs
