Peninsula School of Art (PenArt) is Door County’s inclusive destination for art makers, admirers, students, and advocates – cultivating personal and community wellbeing through classes, programs, and discourse. Since 1965, PenArt has been a leading innovator of creative experiences and arts education for participants of all ages and abilities. Through dynamic workshops, classes, exhibitions, event
s, and artist residencies, PenArt celebrates and supports people at all stages of creative life while fostering a culture of belonging and inclusivity. Founded by Chicago artist and filmmaker Madeline Tourtelot, the school is located on a 10-acre campus, and surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Annually around 10,000 art students, collectors, and enthusiasts travel to PenArt from around the County, State of Wisconsin, Midwest region, and the broader United States. Our Mission
Peninsula School of Art provides enriching visual art educational experiences for participants of all ages and abilities to inspire creativity and build community. We’re committed to listening to, learning from, collaborating with, supporting, and celebrating artists of all career stages and visual arts practices. Our premise is a simple one of mutual investment: “Peninsula School of Art doesn’t succeed if artists don’t succeed.”
Leading with integrity. We’re committed to honesty and transparency, upholding the values and principles of PenArt through our actions and decisions, building trust, being accountable for our commitments, and demonstrating respect for our students, instructors, donors, and community. We value growth: for our students, challenging them to push themselves creatively and take the next step in their artistic development; for our community, providing opportunities to learn and discuss new ideas; for our staff, supporting personal and professional evolutions; and as an organization, striving to continually improve. We celebrate moments of this growth—both large and small—and measure our success by them. Strengthened by community. We believe in the power of the communities we create and serve. We seek to foster a welcoming atmosphere, a spirit of belonging, and inclusivity. The unique talents, interests, values, and perspectives of our staff and the individuals we serve strengthen our programs and infuse passion into everything we do. Forever forward-thinking. We lead change. We anticipate hurdles, innovate, make incremental improvements, and embrace a proactive, critical approach. We both recognize and create opportunities to explore diverse perspectives on new thoughts, ideas, media, technologies, and ways of working.
