By Door County Pulse, Peninsula Pulse — November 13th, 2025

Jacob Janssen. Submitted.

by JACOB JANSSEN, Peninsula Arts and Humanities Alliance president, and Jackie & Steve Kane Artistic Director for Third Avenue Playworks (TAP)

With the first snow in the air and the days growing shorter, this time of year our thoughts often turn to gratitude – reflecting on the people, places and experiences that enrich our lives. Here in Door County, we are fortunate to live in a place of such astounding beauty and cultural richness. Creativity surrounds us in every part of the county, from the galleries that illuminate our towns to the performances, classes, and cultural gatherings that bring us together in celebration of human expression.

This is the giving season – a time to recognize the extraordinary impact that the arts and humanities have on our community, and the vital role you play in sustaining them. The Peninsula Arts and Humanities Alliance (PAHA) is a coalition of 17 nonprofit arts and humanities organizations that represent every corner of the creative landscape in Door County. Our member organizations include theatres, galleries, museums, schools of art, and music and cultural centers – all committed to nurturing creativity, inspiring curiosity and strengthening the connections that make life here so rich.

Collectively, these organizations form the cultural backbone of the peninsula. They employ artists, educators, technicians, and administrators; they bring audiences to our towns, filling local restaurants and shops; and they create opportunities for residents and visitors alike to explore new ideas and experiences. From a child discovering her artistry in a youth symphony at Birch Creek to a family attending a play on a summer night in one of our four professional theatres, to the writer completing their first novel on retreat at Write On, the arts in Door County touch lives in ways that transcend geography and season.

Together, we want to thank everyone who makes the incredible art in Door County possible. It takes the whole community of volunteers, patrons, supporters, and fans. We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you!

You may have recently received a letter from one of our member organizations, inviting you to support their mission. Whether it was from a gallery or museum that inspired you this summer, or an art school that inspired a new passion, that letter represents more than a fundraising request – it is an invitation to invest in the very spirit of this place.

Every dollar given to a PAHA member organization directly supports the programs, performances, exhibitions and educational opportunities that define Door County’s cultural identity. Your generosity ensures that these experiences remain accessible for our year-round residents who rely on the arts to foster belonging, curiosity and joy – as well as the thousands of visitors who come each year seeking creative inspiration, and who are the economic engine of this special place.

Giving to the arts is not just about preserving tradition, it’s about shaping the future. Your support helps cultivate the next generation of artists and thinkers, encourages innovation in this creative place and strengthens the fabric of our civic life. In a world where connection and understanding are more important than ever, the arts and humanities remind us of how much we share.

This giving season, we invite you to support the organizations that make Door County a place of beauty, creativity and community. 

Culture Club is contributed by members of the Peninsula Arts and Humanities Alliance, a coalition of nonprofit organizations whose purpose is to enhance, promote and advocate the arts, humanities and natural sciences in Door County. The member organizations are: Birch Creek Music Performance Center; Björklunden; The Clearing Folk School; Door Community Auditorium; Door Shakespeare; The Hardy Gallery; Midsummer’s Music; Miller Art Museum; Northern Sky Theater; Peninsula Music Festival; Peninsula Players Theatre; Peninsula School of Art; Third Avenue PlayWorks; Trueblood Performing Arts Center; and Write On, Door County.