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At the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, we take an interactive approach to the visual arts. Through a variety of engaging programs, we give every member of our community a way to deepen their love of art.
Individuals with early- to mid-stage memory loss are invited to participate with a friend, family member, or care partner in engaging art experiences. Artworks on view inspire conversation among participants, and each program includes a creative, art-making activity. Family and friends can register for monthly programs on our online events calendar; also, long-term-care facilities may call to schedule customized visits for their residents. Call the Museum at 715.845.7010 to register for both options.
For more information about SPARK!, visit the SPARK! Alliance website.
Since 2006, the Woodson Art Museum has offered public programs for community members with low vision and blindness. Art Beyond Sight (ABS) programs are led by Museum educators and guest presenters and include a multisensory guided experience of exhibitions, followed by hands-on art making in a Museum classroom. Artists in residence, regional experts, and Museum staff collaborate to produce ABS programs that educate, engage, and empower visitors with vision impairment. Sensory gallery tours include a variety of tools used to enhance a participant’s understanding and appreciation of works on view, including verbal descriptions and tactile aids. ABS programs are free and are offered during each temporary exhibition. To register for upcoming programs, visit our online events calendar or call 715.845.7010.
Every visit to the Woodson offers new opportunities to learn and grow.
At the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, we are passionate about enhancing lives through art. The Museum strives to provide barrier-free access to all audiences with quality art experiences through the Museum’s collection, traveling exhibitions, and educational programs for all ages and life stages. Many of our programs are free for all visitors. If a fee is required, it will be provided in the program details.
Art for Everyone
At the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, we are passionate about enhancing lives through art. The Museum strives to provide barrier-free access to all audiences with quality art experiences through the Museum’s collection, traveling exhibitions, and educational programs for all ages and life stages. Many of our programs are free for all visitors. If a fee is required, it will be provided in the program details.
Our Art Beyond Sight program allows visitors with low vision and blindness to explore exhibitions through multi-sensory experiences. Sessions include tactile tours, detailed verbal descriptions, conversations, and hands-on art activities. This program is offered once per exhibition period in conjunction with our exhibition schedule.
Every month, the Woodson Art Museum puts on SPARK!, a creative engagement program for people with early to mid-stage memory loss and their care partners. Programs are designed to keep participants actively engaged in their communities by providing experiences that stimulate conversations, provide peer support, and inspire creativity through creative engagement, workshops, and programs.
At the Woodson Art Museum, we love to support families, especially those with young children. Programs designed specifically for families and children include:
Find each of these programs and upcoming dates in our calendar.
In addition to our art programs in Wausau, families and young children may enjoy many of our offerings, particularly Art Park, the Sculpture Garden and surrounding grounds, and our Activity Guides for our current exhibitions.
While many children have the opportunity to learn about art and create in school, art education opportunities can be scarcer for teenagers and adults. At the Woodson, we want to provide every age with fresh, fun, and engaging art encounters.
Teens and adults looking for art programs in Wausau may enjoy the following programs:
We also provide extended hours on the first Thursday of each month and each Thursday during Birds in Art to give busy adults and families more opportunities to visit the Woodson.
Thanks to the Wisconsin Valley Art Association, we offer scholarship funds for youth and adult program fees. If you’re interested in financial aid for a specific program, call the Woodson Art Museum at 715.845.7010 for more information.
While many of our programs and events are free, some may require a participation fee. You must pay the full participation fee to reserve your spot in a program or event.
If you cancel 7 days or more before a class begins, we will refund your participation fee minus a 20% handling charge. If you cancel fewer than 7 days before your program begins, we will not refund your participation fee. However, if your class or program has a waiting list, we may refund your participation fee minus a 20% handling charge.
In cases where the Woodson cancels a program or event, we will issue a full refund to all participants.
Discover what’s in store for your next visit to our galleries.
