Celebrating 50 Years
Time flies when you’re having fun!
Fifty Years and Counting
September 2025 marks the start of the fiftieth edition of Birds in Art and the start of the fiftieth year since the opening of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.
Over the past five decades, we have had the honor of hosting thousands of artists and displaying even more artworks as well as welcoming visitors from all over the world. Fulfilling our mission: to enhance lives through art we consistently engage with our community through exhibitions, our collection, and programs for every age and stage of life.
Reflecting on the bountiful history of the Museum we are humbled by what has happened and excited for what is to come.
How It All Started
1972
The vision for the Woodson Art Museum began with plans by Leigh Yawkey Woodson’s three daughters, Nancy Woodson Spire (1917-1998), Alice Woodson Forester (1918-1994), and Margaret Woodson Fisher (1920-1972) to create a museum in memory of their mother. Alice Woodson Forester and her husband John E. Forester soon donated their Cotswold-style home to serve as the fledgling Museum’s original structure, and renovations and an addition transformed the house to include administrative offices, three large galleries, and public amenities.
1976
Birds of the Lakes, Fields, and Forests, the seminal exhibition that became what we know today as Birds in Art opened in September. The exhibition was the suggestion of the Woodson family’s respected friend, Owen J. Gromme, who that year was named Master Wildlife Artist.
1979
The American Alliance of Museums first awarded the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum accreditation in 1979. The Museum was awarded re-accreditation in 1987, 2002, and 2018.
Growing with the Community
Over the years, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum has expanded our facilities to meet the needs of our community and our growing collection.
1972
Renovation begins on the 1930s home to become an art museum. The existing second story bedrooms were converted into gallery space—which are now the staff offices. Many changes were made to keep the history of the building, but to also bring it up to code.
1987
The Museum added a second two-story gallery.
1997
A new main entrance was constructed, as well as a new wheelchair-friendly access to the sculpture garden.
2012
9,000-square-foot addition was completed which added the glass aviary stairwell.
2023
The Glass Box Studio opened, expanding the Woodson’s ability to host visiting artists and offer art programs, workshops, making sessions, and more.
2025
Our most recent project has been revitalizing the lower sculpture garden, making it more accessible for all ages.
Setting the Standard for Avian Art
In the fifty years the Birds in Art exhibition has been held, over 1,150 artists from around the work have exhibited over 5,000 artworks. These artists have represented forty-six states and thirty-two countries including those from Canada, England, Sweden, Japan, Germany, India, Peru, and the Netherlands, to name a few.
1999
Anne Senechal Faust is honored as the first woman to be awarded Master Wildlife Artist title.
2024
Gunnar Trygmo of Sweden was the most recent awared Master Wildlife Artist, making him the 41st artists to receive the title.
A Global Impact
Birds in Art receives praise from all around the world . . . from Wausau to China—to Japan—to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.—to the Royal Scottish Academy.
Art Programs for Every Age and Stage
The Museum prides itself in its robust accessible art programing. Programs at the Woodson Art Museum have grown and molded to meet our communities needs and welcome all to the Museum.
1978
Running almost as long as Birds in Art, the Woodson’s annual Student Art exhibition began in the Museum’s second year—hosting thousands of north central Wisconsin students’ artworks. Each spring, a new selection of student artwork is put on display.
1980
The first docent class was held. Docents are an integral part of keeping programs running. They are the friendly faces you see on guided tours or at other community events! Without our greeters and docents, many of our community programs would not be possible.
2006
Art Beyond Sight was introduced to provide a full-sensory experience to those with low vision or vision impairments. Participants spend time in the galleries with museum educators, then do a hands-on project in the lower-level classroom.
2010
We saw the inception of SPARK! was introduced for individuals with low to mid-stage memory loss. Participants and their care partners gather in the galleries for interactive experiences, which is followed by hands-on projects in the lower-level classroom inspired by observations and conversations.
2018
The museum received a grant from the Green Bay Packers Foundation for a permanent tactile exhibition—In Touch with Art, which opened in 2019.
In addition to these offerings, we also have monthly:
Art Babies, formerly Toddler Tuesday, for children 0-2.
Creative Explorers for kids 2-4 years of age.
Novel Notions, the Museum book club for teens and adults,
Drop-In Art Making at the Glass Box Studio
Many more events are being added throughout each exhibition schedule! To see all of the workshops, events, and programs we have to offer, please click here.
An Evergrowing Collection
The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum has over 14,000 objects in its collection with 956 objects accessioned in the last decade, including donations and acquisitions.
In fifty years of Birds in Art, the Museum has acquired 734 artworks from exhibiting artists. Of those artworks, 77 have been aquired through the Mueseum’s membership benefit, Project Postcard.
The Museum is also home to a complete collection of Dorothy Doughty’s porcelain birds; one of only a few full collections that exist.
Achievements Recognized
2016
The Museum received the Governor’s Arts, Culture, and Heritage tourism award.
2017
The museum was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. It had been a finalist in 2016.
2020
Kathy Kelsey Foley, the Woodson Museum’s director emerita, was awarded the Distinguished Career Award from the Association of Midwest Museums for her contributions to the Museum field over her tenure.
Then and now...
Staircase, 1975/2025; 12th Street Exterior, 1976/2025; East Side Main Entrance, 1987/2025; South Exterior, 1976/2025; 12th St Door, 1976/2025
