Fox Cities PAC Reaches 500,000 Students in Arts Education

Half a million students have now experienced the magic of live performing arts thanks to one Wisconsin venue's decades-long commitment to education.

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton recently celebrated reaching 500,000 students through its education series since the program began. That's half a million kids who might not have otherwise experienced professional theater, dance, and music performances.

The education series brings affordable, age-appropriate live performances directly to students throughout the Fox Cities region. Schools can book field trips to the venue, making professional-quality arts accessible to students regardless of their family's income or background.

For many young people, these performances mark their first time inside a performing arts center. Teachers report that students who rarely engage in traditional classrooms light up during these interactive shows, discovering new interests and talents they didn't know they had.

The program has grown steadily over the years, expanding its reach to more schools and more students across northeastern Wisconsin. The center partners with touring companies and local artists to ensure a diverse lineup that reflects different cultures, art forms, and stories.

The Ripple Effect

This milestone represents more than just attendance numbers. Research consistently shows that exposure to the arts boosts academic performance, builds empathy, and develops critical thinking skills that serve students throughout their lives.

Many of those 500,000 students have gone on to pursue arts education themselves, becoming musicians, actors, dancers, and theater technicians. Others simply carry forward an appreciation for the arts that enriches their communities and supports local culture.

Teachers in the region now build lesson plans around these performances, integrating arts education into subjects from history to science. The center provides free curriculum guides that help educators maximize the learning impact of each show.

The Fox Cities PAC continues expanding its education offerings, ensuring the next 500,000 students will have even more opportunities to discover the transformative power of live performance.