Waupaca Arts Hub awarded large grant

WAUPACA — The Waupaca Arts Hub has been awarded a $291,201 Wisconsin Non-State Grant, a transformational investment that will help secure the organization's new, permanent home at 515 School St., while bringing the community-driven Room to Grow Campaign within just $100,000 of its $1.5 million goal.

"This grant is a tremendous vote of confidence in what our community has built together," said Laura Reynolds, Co-Founder of the Waupaca Arts Hub. "It recognizes that access to arts education, creativity, and community spaces matters—not just in large cities, but in rural communities like Waupaca. We are grateful for this investment and for every donor and supporter who has helped bring us to this point."

Since moving into its new home in January, the Arts Hub has expanded opportunities for people of all ages through music lessons, visual arts classes, STEAM programming, Paint Your Own Pottery, cooking classes, and Create & Grow, an intergenerational play and creativity space designed to encourage learning, connection, and imaginative play. The grant also supports the preservation and adaptive reuse of a historic community building.

Originally built in the 1950s, the former school has been renovated into a welcoming space featuring music studios, a pottery studio, makerspace, performance hall, classrooms, and gathering spaces. The Waupaca Arts Hub is located on a community campus alongside the Waupaca Rec Center.

Although the grant is a major milestone, the campaign is not yet complete. "When we launched the Room to Grow Campaign, our vision was to create a home where creativity, lifelong learning, and community connection can thrive for generations," Marci Reynolds, President of the Waupaca Arts Board, said.

"With this grant, we are just $100,000 away from reaching our goal. We hope our community will help us cross the finish line." The Room to Grow Campaign was launched in 2025 to raise $1.5 million to purchase and renovate the Arts Hub's permanent home, create accessible spaces for arts education, and establish a sustainable future for the organization. Thanks to community support and major grant investments, only $100,000 remains to complete the campaign. Community members who would like to help complete the campaign can learn more or make a donation by visiting Room to Grow.