Local Arts & Culture Venues

Take part in the Door County art scene and learn a little from the artists that call Door County home. The peninsula is steeped in creativity as well as growth.

Learn the ins and outs of photography with a class exploring the county, go deep into a topic with a week-long immersion, attend a seminar featuring nationally respected experts, or take classes in weaving and knitting.

The county became a hub for the arts because of a few key figures who desired to educate others in the arts. A big movement of artists coming to the county started in 1930 when Jens Jensen founded The Clearing Folk School.

Other artists followed, flocking here to find quiet and inspiration in nature. One such person was Gerhard Miller, who taught painting at The Clearing before opening up his own gallery (one of the first in the county). Miller paved the way for more artists to do the same. Potter Abe Cohn was one of the first to move to Door County specifically to open up a studio.

The Door County art scene was built and founded upon the ideals of growth in the arts through education, and it continues today with more art schools opening as well as more studios offering chances to learn about their process. Without those first few people wanting to teach others, some doors might not have opened up for others to stretch their wings.