Not a Luxury, a Necessity: ArtStart’s Commitment to Arts, Youth, and Community Well-Being

Traci Stinebrink

Founded in 2011 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, ArtStart is a nonprofit rooted in the belief that creativity is not a luxury; it is a necessity. That belief shapes everything it does: from professional galleries featuring rotating regional and national exhibitions, to concerts that bring unique and intimate performances to the Northwoods, to SPARK!—an art program for individuals living with memory loss. And that belief is the beating heart of its work with the next generation.

Research from organizations like the Brookings Institution and Americans for the Arts is clear: Engagement in the arts for youth improves academic performance, builds social awareness and emotional well-being, reduces stress, and gives young people a sense of identity and belonging. For kids in rural communities, where resources can be limited and isolation is a very real challenge, access to creative outlets isnʼt just enriching—it can be life-changing.

ArtStart began as a small summer pilot in 2014 and has grown into a full suite of youth programs:

Culture Tap connects professional visiting artists with local youth. It has expanded into a Youth Mentorship Pilot that trains local artists to mentor students in media arts, music, and design, ultimately introducing teens to how creative businesses work.

Every Tuesday, the Teen Art Experience gives high schoolers a dedicated after-school space in ArtStartʼs Youth Arts Studio. That programming has been shaped directly by collaboration with area youth whose voices ensure that what is offered reflects what young people in Rhinelander actually need.

Since 2017, the Student Art Show partnership with the School District of Rhinelander has given young artists the same recognition that is extended to student athletes through a professionally mounted exhibition that draws hundreds of visitors each year.

ArtStartʼs programming reaches young people at every age and entry point. Arty Parties bring families together for hands-on creative activities and gallery exploration—joyful, low-pressure experiences that remind kids and parents alike that art is for everyone.

Rural communities face particular challenges: fewer mental health providers, greater stigma, and geographic isolation that can deepen loneliness. Art doesnʼt replace therapy, but it opens doors. It gives young people a vocabulary for their inner lives and fosters connection with peers, mentors, and community.

ArtStart has been working with the local middle school, providing artists in classrooms for the schoolʼs mental wellness days. In partnership with the Oneida County Health Department, ArtStart now offers drop-in peer coaching during Teen Art, creating a quiet but meaningful bridge between creative space and care.

In that moment of creation, something shifts. A young person stops being a passive observer of the world and becomes a maker of it. That is the power of art. That is the mission of ArtStart.

Find out more about ArtStart at artstarthinelander.org and visit the galleries at 68 S. Stevens Street in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

Traci Stinebrink is the communications director at ArtStart. tstinebrink@artstartrhinelander.org