ArtStart Board of Directors & Staff

As Community and Cultural Development Director for ArtStart in Rhinelander Childs focuses on Arts Based Community Development in rural settings. She leads collaborative community projects that span sustainability, economic development, youth advocacy, and cultural inclusion. Recent projects include working with local youth on a skatepark feasibility study for the CIty of Rhinelander, gallery and public art curation for Nicolet College, co-coordinating Project North, a music, art and sustainability festival, and launching a Northwoods JEDI initiative. Prior to moving to Rhinelander Childs was Director of Artists Services and a consultant for rural placemaking at Forecast Public Art in St. Paul, MN. In this role Childs designed professional and economic development training programs for artists and communities. Childs studied at the University of MN where she created an individualized degree focused on Art and Social Change with emphasis on Urban Studies, Geography, and Art. In addition to her work with ArtStart, Childs owns a frame shop and art gallery with her husband Jaron who is also an artist. The couple live in the woods with their two children, two dogs, a mess of chickens and lots of gardens.