What We Do!
CHARAC (pronounced chair-ack), was formed in 1996 by a group of artists and individuals interested in promoting the arts in our region. Its genesis came from the Chequamegon Fine Arts Festival that had been held at Telemark beginning in 1992. They produced their first newsletter in 1997 and began seeking memberships to the arts council in 1998 in order to provide support to local artists and aspiring artists. Beginning in 1999 the council was able to begin awarding scholarships to graduating high school seniors; sponsor their very first art exhibit at Northwoods Health Center; their first Namekagon Art and Music Festival in Seeley, and the First Annual Dinner. From 2000 to the present, CHARAC has sponsored art events and activities by Northwoods Strings; 2nd Sunday Poets; WOJB concerts; Chequamegon Children’s Theater; Serendipity Players; and of course, the Park Theater Project.
CHARAC continues to provide scholarships through the local high schools; Emerging Artists Grants; Grants for education/workshops; and Professional Artist Grants. See details about these grant awards and scholarships under Resource Information on this website. In 2012 CHARAC was able to provide grants of $1,000 each to the four high schools in our covered area: Winter, LCO, Drummond and Hayward High Schools were able to continue some programs and develop new ones with the influx of dollars we provided.
The Park Theater Project is the most challenging project that CHARAC has taken on. The theater for the Performing Arts in Hayward continues to grow and function with the help of a long list of volunteers led by co-chairs, Deanna Persson and Barbara Bolitho and Paul Mitchell. You can go to www.parktheaterproject.com for news and performance listings. The latest exciting news is that the lobby has been refurbished; new carpeting, new paint, and ready to greet you as you enter for a play, a concert, a comedy show, a special film presentation, as well as training seminars, etc. There are more renovations to be undertaken so just keep watching!
CHARAC also sponsors exhibits at the Weiss Library, the Northwoods Clinic; sponsors Sunday Salons, (an intimate art experience on Sunday afternoons at the homes of art patrons); and a growing list of art events and activities. On the agenda for the new board are program goals that work to provide creative community projects that promote arts education and community arts development in our region. Our region covers the population areas from Grandview in the north over to Barnes; down to Wascott through Minong to Spooner; and back east through Stone lake, and Couderay to Winter. We intend to work toward inclusion of art and art patrons from those areas by reaching out with programs and invitations to join us.
Artist’s Exhibits A rotating public exhibit of local area artist’s works are displayed at the Northwoods Community Health center and the Weiss Public Library in Hayward. For exhibit information or if you are interested in being part of our exhibits, please call Carol Anderson at 715-638-2529.
We Have Proudly Supported:
| Northwood's String Program |
Theater Connections |
Lips Productions |
| Blue Moon Art Tour |
Chequamegon Children's Theater |
Second Sunday Poets |
| WOJB Community Radio |
Theater in the Woods |
American Indian Art & Craft Festival |
| Serendipity Productions |