Generations of northwoods residents and visitors dreamed of a comprehensive art center to serve as the heart of the arts community in the north. We are excited to tell you that this long-held dream is today becoming reality.
The Campanile Center for the Arts now occupies the building that served St. Patrick's Church in Minocqua for forty-four years.  What was once the sanctuary has been transformed into a performing arts auditorium.  As we continue to renovate the interior of the building, we will be able to hosts receptions, exhibitions and other art and community related events.  The Campanile Conservatory now resides in the former rectory and offers all disciplines of art instruction from dimensional, all aspects of music, creative writing and theatre.   Planners received a ringing endorsement from the Wisconsin Arts Board, "This facility, located on a large lakeside lot in the center of Minocqua, lends itself superbly to this application."

Campanile ~ comes from the Italian word for freestanding bell tower.

As we renovate the building, the old bell tower will remain to honor the history of the site and to symbolize the role of the Center as a bell to draw the arts and art seekers to the northwoods.

You are invited to help to keep the dream of the  Campanile Center alive.

Your donation will honor those who through the generations kept the dream of an arts center alive. Help us provide for those to come that will dance on its floors, sing in its halls and create the artwork we hang on our walls.

Ring the bell for Campanile!

Mission

To develop, promote and support the arts in the Lakeland community through education, performance and exhibition.

The Facility

Situated on one and a half acres in downtown Minocqua, the Campanile Center for the Arts is centrally located and within walking distance of the shops, restaurants and night spots of the Island City. The Center existed for forty- four years as the St. Patrick's Catholic Church until the consolidation of three parishes made this property available. Since the acquisition in May of 2006, many changes have taken place to adapt the building to becoming an arts center. The former sanctuary has been transformed into a performing arts auditorium with a stage replacing what used to be the altar. Plans are in the works to remove the bench style seating and have cushioned chairs put in their place. Not only will this improve the comfort of our attendees but, since they will be removable, this will allow for the use of the auditorium for exhibitions, receptions, banquets and other events. What was once the church rectory is now home to the conservatory wing of the Campanile campus. All aspects of instruction in the arts are available in group and individual instruction settings. Currently our students ages span over six decades so you're never too young to start and never too old to learn.

The Programs

The Campanile Center for the Arts is an all-inclusive arts center offering:

Classes

• Voice
• Guitar
• Flute
• Dulcimer
• Piano
• Violin, including Suzuki
• Banjo
• Brass
• Soapstone Carving
• Drawing
• Painting
• Sketching in the Northwoods
• Book Illustration
• Children's Advanced Art Study
• Photography
• Acting
• Children's Summer Theatre School
• Creative Writing

Theatre

• Community Theatre
• Children's Summer Theatre Workshop

Local Performances

• Campanile Chorus
• Campanile Children's Chorus
• Lakeland Community Concert Band
• Campanile Theatre Players

Touring Performances

• Contemporary/Pop
• Cajun/Zydeco
• Classical
• Country
• Dixieland
• Bluegrass
• Jazz
• Cabaret
• Swing/Big Band
• Blues
• Folk
• Celtic
• Ballet
• Jazz Dance
• Modern Dance
• Tap
• Comedians/Comics
• Theatre Touring Companies

Area of Service

With a service area stretching as far south as Merrill and north to the upper Peninsula, the Campanile Center for the Arts intends to be a regional arts center, extending its services and programs to those who might not normally be exposed to the arts.

Staff

Through the Campanile Conservatory we currently have an excellent teaching staff for music, art, creative writing, theatre and we are ever looking to expand our offerings to meet the demands of the students of our region. The staff currently consists of 10 instructors with outstanding qualifications. They bring talents from around the world and we are truly fortunate to have them. Their dedication to their students and the Conservatory is shown by the many years of struggle to develop this center. Many of them started out at the beginning of the current Conservatory with 3-5 students and are now filling all available hours.

Jean Long is the Center's office administrator and Joseph "Woody" Woodruff is the Executtive Director.

Future

We still have a long way to go and the ever changing world of the Arts will guarantee that Campanile will continue to be a work in progress. However, through the efforts and dedication of our residents and visitors, look how far we have come in such a short span of time! The excitement surrounding the Center increases with every step forward and the momentum continues to build as we provide the area with quality instruction and education in the Arts and a venue for world class entertainers to perform.

Please meet the Campanile Board of Directors:

President: Laurie Timm

Vice President: John Teichmiller

Secretary: Trish Ellis

Treasurer: Matthew Koch

Lisa Africano

Roger Ganschow

Greg Nicklaus

Laurie Oungst

Adam Redman