Midwest Artist Academy

Midwest Artist Academy Welcome to the Midwest Artist Academy, a high-impact, inclusive, and transformative, arts academy.

This photo still gives us all the feels: young artists being their awesome selves, creating masterpieces, and saving the...
02/28/2026

This photo still gives us all the feels: young artists being their awesome selves, creating masterpieces, and saving the world one art piece at a time! 🤩

14-18-year-old writers, artists, actors, dancers, and musicians, we need your talents at the Midwest Artist Academy on the UW-EC campus this July 12-19! We've got scholarships, superstar instructors, and all the creative vibes you can handle. Don't let anything stop you. This. Is. For. YOU.

Apply by March 1! https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

02/19/2026

Musicians! Meet Shane Leonard, your music instructor this summer at the MAA! Check out this video to learn all about Shane’s experiences in the music world, and then apply to learn alongside him this summer!

https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

02/18/2026

Calling all 14 to 18 year-old dancers! This summer, learn from the very best at the Midwest Artist Academy. Check out this video to learn more about our dance instructor Tara Lynn Steele (tlsteele1) who has been with us since the very beginning! Dancers of all levels and experiences are encouraged to apply! Scholarships are available.
👉 https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

Wanna learn more about this summer's music program with music instructor Shane Leonard? Read on! In the music course, ...
02/07/2026

Wanna learn more about this summer's music program with music instructor Shane Leonard? Read on!

In the music course, participants will work individually and collaboratively to create original music. Instrumental compositions, songs, soundscapes, improvised pieces - everything is in play and the outcome will defy your preconceived notions of what you will create. We will aim to deepen our relationship with music as a communication medium, and this process will include experimentation with sound, listening to a wide variety of historic recordings, self-reflective writing, improvisation games and exercises, and more. Ability to read standard notation is not required. The week culminates in a supportive showcase where students will perform their original music and enjoy the performances of their peers.

APPLY: https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/
photo credit: Libby Rodenbaugh

Finally, meet our tag team of writing instructors, Maggie Pahos and Ken Szymanski!Maggie Pahos is a writer and teacher l...
02/06/2026

Finally, meet our tag team of writing instructors, Maggie Pahos and Ken Szymanski!

Maggie Pahos is a writer and teacher living in Portland, Oregon. Her writing has appeared in the Rumpus, Brevity, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and elsewhere.

Ken Szymanski is the writer-in-residence of Eau Claire. he is the author of Home Field Advantage, Sit Down and Stay Awhile, and Summertime Souvenirs: Stories!

APPLY to work alongside them this summer: https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

Next up in our faculty spotlight, theater instructor Dana Strothenke!Dana is a theatre educator, director, and actor wit...
02/05/2026

Next up in our faculty spotlight, theater instructor Dana Strothenke!

Dana is a theatre educator, director, and actor with a passion for nurturing young talent. Originally from Wauwatosa, WI, Dana earned a comprehensive degree in Theatre Arts from UW–Eau Claire. She has since worked in artistic administration with the Glimmerglass Festival, a renowned opera company in upstate New York, and at Sunset Playhouse, a community theatre in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now based in Minneapolis, MN, Dana serves as the Education Manager for Character Kids, a theatre education program offering classes to over 2,000 elementary students each year. Beyond her work onstage and in the classroom, Dana has acted in, directed, and produced numerous short films throughout the Midwest. She finds great joy in watching her students grow their confidence and creativity through theatre!

Work alongside Dana this summer; apply today!
https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

Next up in our faculty spotlight, visual art instructor Kathy Rulien-Bareis!Kathy is an art educator, designer and artis...
02/04/2026

Next up in our faculty spotlight, visual art instructor Kathy Rulien-Bareis!

Kathy is an art educator, designer and artist. She grew up in Altoona, graduated from UWEC with a BA in Art Education and BS in Elementary Education. She worked on her graduate work at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin where for ten summers she taught and was a site coordinator for the Young Artist Workshops. Her thirty-eight years of teaching included teaching within six different school districts, ages three years to adults. The majority of her teaching was at DeLong Middle School in Eau Claire until her retirement last fall. Her passion working with students who have special needs pushed her to invent tools that could allow for more independence. She holds 5 US patents for her art tool inventions. During her learning through this process, she taught entrepreneurship to her students and started Prime Products a student run business. In the twenty years students worked with Prime Products they gave back over twenty thousand dollars to community charities.

Apply to work with Kathy: https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

Next up in our faculty spotlights is our brand new music faculty member, Shane Leonard ().Shane Leonard is a producer, s...
02/03/2026

Next up in our faculty spotlights is our brand new music faculty member, Shane Leonard ().

Shane Leonard is a producer, songwriter, and comedian who lives in Eau Claire, WI. He’s made records with many acclaimed artists (Josh Ritter, Anna Tivel, Mipso, Courtney Hartman, Humbird, Field Report), opened for legendary comedians Reggie Watts, Sean Patton, Shane Torres, Louis Katz and Mary Mack, and frequently performs with his improv comedy teams Analog Improv and Day Of Show.

APPLY to work with Shane: https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

credit: Sarah Elstran

The true magic of MAA? Why, our committed, world-class faculty, of course!Meet dance instructor, Tara Lynn Steele () wh...
02/03/2026

The true magic of MAA? Why, our committed, world-class faculty, of course!

Meet dance instructor, Tara Lynn Steele () who lives in Thomasville, GA where she is the Performing Arts Department Chair, Artistic Director, Choreographer, Performing arts instructor and One Act Director. She recently relocated after living in NYC for 10 years, where she performed, choreographed, co-founded 3 companies, and wrote a book (Your Toolbox to Unleash Your Superpowers). She continues to coach fitness via her business Steele Mobility at a new gym. She works with folks of all ages doing theatre, dance, and aerial work. MAA is one of her favorite weeks of the year—and she is ecstatic to be back for round 6!

APPLY TO WORK WITH TL TODAY: forms.gle/3xxYa9XkYyAEqh1V7

Look, we get it, you're busy people! Which is why we're extending the deadline to apply for season 6 of the Midwest Art...
02/02/2026

Look, we get it, you're busy people! Which is why we're extending the deadline to apply for season 6 of the Midwest Artist Academy to March 1!

Whatever got in the way the first time around, don't let it stop you now! We've got scholarships, we've got (a few!) spots--all we need is you! If you're a 14-18 year old, writer, dancer, actor, musician or visual artist, the time is now. Like for real. Now. APPLY TODAY! Your art deserves it.
âž¡ https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

14-18-YEAR-OLD WRITERS, DANCERS, ACTORS, MUSICIANS AND VISUAL ARTISTS! Don't look back on this day and wish you had done...
02/01/2026

14-18-YEAR-OLD WRITERS, DANCERS, ACTORS, MUSICIANS AND VISUAL ARTISTS!

Don't look back on this day and wish you had done it. Look back on this day and be glad you did. Apply today to be a key part of Season 6 of the Midwest Artist Academy. Partial scholarships available. This opportunity is ready-made for you.

âž¡https://www.midwestartistacademy.org/

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UW-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI
54701

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