RHINELANDER - With tough budgets, art and music are often the first things cut in schools. The School of the Arts in Rhinelander was on the brink of shutting down, but now enrollment is bouncing back, allowing students of all ages to discover new talents, and deepen connections through art.

“I am one who still thinks life is now, and quickens his pace,” says 96-year-old Lee Dinsmore, reading a haiku he wrote in class. “I think it's true that people everywhere have poetry. Poetry is something that people learn how to express themselves," says Dinsmore.

“If one person can gets a beautiful poem, that changes their world. And they can share it with someone else, who's world gets changed and gets a little bit richer," says poetry and writing instructor Mary Sue Koeppel.

Poetry is just one of dozens of art forms practiced in the School of Art. But no matter the medium, the expression and the emotion are what bring us together.

"Arts is about humanity, it's really about who we are as people, how we express ourselves, how we interpret and share our relationships with nature and the world," says Lynn Tarnoff, Director of the School of the Arts.

Through music, food, painting, and more, The School of the Arts brings creativity, passion, and a vibrancy to life in the Northwoods.

"As much as we can bring the arts to people and people to the arts we are helping them to lead richer deeper, more fulfilling lives," says Koeppel.

The School of the Arts is an extention through U-W Madison. For more information on the program and how to get involved, visit their website posted below.

Story By: Kailey Burton