Get To Know Eau Claire’s Arts Community:
Matt Kaiser
Eau Claire is Wisconsin’s art town. Whether our residents are creating art or enjoying art, art remains at the center of all we do. There’s so much to share, and I can’t wait to share it.
Read on for an overview of Eau Claire’s diverse and thriving art scene; and in particular, our love of music, visual art, writing, theatre, and dance!
Music
Eau Claire lives and breathes music—and it shows. Hailed as “The Musical Capital of the North” the city is home to an array of local and world renowned musicians alike. From Bon Iver, S. Carey, and Them Coulee Boys, to Sue Orfield, Peter Phippen, and oh so many more! At last count, Eau Claire is home to 68 music venues and hosts, on average, 152 live music events per month. Home to several music festivals, including Eaux Claires, Country Fest, Country Jam, Rock Fest, and Blue Ox, there’s literally something for every music lover.
And let’s not forget Jazz Fest—a weekend-long event showcasing incredible student and professional musicians in numerous venues throughout Eau Claire. Every spring, the finest jazz musicians in the country descend upon Eau Claire for several days of musical collaboration. Oh, and the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra! And the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra!
“But the music doesn’t stop there! Eau Claire is overflowing with venues to catch live music—from live jazz at The Lakely to acoustic sessions at the Acoustic Café. ”
But the music doesn’t stop there! Eau Claire is overflowing with venues to catch live music—from live jazz at The Lakely to acoustic sessions at the Acoustic Café. Throughout the summer, Volume One also hosts one of our city’s crown jewels, the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, which brings thousands of Eau Claire residents together every Thursday night for a wide range of live musical performances.
Visual Art
Like visual art? So do the people of Eau Claire! Take a short walk through downtown and you won’t be able to avoid the many galleries featuring local artists displaying their works. From 200 Main Art & Wine Gallery, to Galaudet Gallery to the Janet Carson gallery in the Pablo Center—you can’t barely make it more than a block without feasting your eyes on some art.
“If you want to see the artists at work, a quick trip to Artisan Forge will allow you to see up to 30 artists at work perfecting their craft.”
If you want to see the artists at work, a quick trip to Artisan Forge will allow you to see up to 30 artists at work perfecting their craft. If free art is more your scene, grab a coffee at Shift or ECDC and take a stroll while enjoying Eau Claire's Sculpture Tour or take your photo in front of one of downtown’s numerous murals.
Writing
Blame it on the inspiring landscapes, the various literary events, or simply the collaborative nature of the city itself—whatever the reason, the Chippewa Valley is home to an astounding number of talented and nationally known writers. Like Nickolas Butler (author of Shotgun Lovesongs, Little Faith, among others), Michael Perry (Population: 485, Truck, Peaceful Persistence etc.), Molly Patterson (Rebellion), Dorothy Chan, Max Garland, Jon Loomis, Allyson Loomis, José Alvergue, Bruce Taylor, Patti See, David Hadbawnik, Eric Rasmussen, Karen Loeb, and the Midwest Artist Academy’s own B.J. Hollars. You can regularly find these writers and others sharing pieces of writing through events hosted by the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild.
“If you like sound with your stories, check out Eau Claire writer-in-residence Ken Szymanski’s brand new Snapshot Series, which brings together writing, photography, and music into a truly collaborative experience.”
If you like sound with your stories, check out Eau Claire writer-in-residence Ken Szymanski’s brand new Snapshot Series, which brings together writing, photography, and music into a truly collaborative experience.
Theatre
Eau Claire’s size is no limitation when it comes to offering high quality theatre options. Major companies such as the Eau Claire Children's Theatre and the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild have established reputations as centers of artistic excellence in Eau Claire. Newer theatre startups, like Performance Anxiety and Speck of Dust Theatre Company, build on Eau Claire’s history of theatre to broaden options for patrons of the theatre in town. Oh, and did we mention UW-Eau Claire’s incredible music & theatre department, which performs dozens of shows each season? Learn more about Speck of Dust by checking out our artist spotlight of the company’s founder, Logan Toftness.
Dance
MAA Da ce Instructor Kathryn Key
The creation of the Pablo Center at the Confluence provided a venue to bring elite dance performances to Eau Claire. These have included New York’s Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and Ailey II and the Twin Cities’ TU Dance. Local dance companies include BaredFeet, who offer educational classes, and e Dance Company which is seeking to increase exposure to modern dance in Eau Claire through collaboration with local writers, musicians, and visual artists. Learn more about eDance Company founder Emily Emerson by clicking here.
Best of all, when you’re a part of the Midwest Artist Academy, you get to be a part of all of this! Join us in summer 2021 for a week of creation, collaboration, and finding your inner artist! Apply today! Plenty of scholarships are available!