After going to theater school in New York City, this Eau Claire native returned to put down roots and build the local arts scene

name

Rose Dolan-Neill

family

Husband: Josh. Kids: Camille (20), Sinead (14), and Finn (13 months)

neighborhood

North Side Hill, Eau Claire

background

Rose is an Eau Claire native, a mother of three, and a familiar face in the Chippewa Valley arts scene. She’s director of visual arts at the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center in downtown Eau Claire, where she oversees visual arts workshops and the ARTmobile, a roving, free kids art program. Rose grew up in the Planets neighborhood on the north side of Eau Claire in a family of “artsy, camping hippies,” and she came of age as a teen drinking coffee and having all-night conversations at Racy’s. In college, Racy’s became the main stage for BareBones Ensemble Theatre, which she helped form. She attended UW-Eau Claire, then went to school for theater in the “urban zoo” of New York City, where she experienced the “crazy-wild” cultural scene. “I moved back to Eau Claire to help a friend and that turned into marriage – who knew?” she says. “I stayed in Eau Claire because this is where my history is, and it’s a great place for creativity.” Below, Rose talks about the beauty of the Valley, the power of patience, and the importance of reading to your kids every night.

We love the Chippewa Valley because ... Talk about the good life! Nature, accessible art, low-cost living. We live within blocks of the Eau Claire River and only a few minutes bike ride from Phoenix Park. Our lives are full of music in the park, bike rides to Dairy Queen, and yes, that’s how I get my family on bikes. Behold the power of ice cream! I love how close we are to nature living in this town. My children benefit from an amazing education in this town. Our public and charter schools are top-notch.

For me, an ideal day would be ... I can’t think of a better way to spend a summery Thursday night than to visit the Janet Carson Gallery, pick up some food at Smiling Moose, and sit down with a blanket near the ARTmobile tent at the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series in Phoenix Park. Perfect!

My favorite place to take the kids is ... My family walks around Irvine Park just about every weekend that we are home. It is a beautiful, shady place that always surprises. The animals are nice, but there are lots of beautiful trails and roads to wander down, too. We find little waterfalls off of trails after it rains, we hear strange birds, and we even found pitcher plants on a trail! In the winter there are lovely ski trails through the woods, all for free.

My family has taught me patience. Not always practiced, but life is always easier with patience.

My spouse would say my super power is really good hearing. I speak mumble, murmur, and eye-roll.

My kids will tell you that their mom and dad are nosey, passionate, and open-minded. Always there for them even when they don’t want us to be. We will always ask our children questions about themselves and always offer advice. We are their harshest critics and their biggest fans.

If I could pass on one bit of advice it would be to always read to your kids every night until middle school. Sometimes after middle school. Sometimes you’ll sit with your older child meaning to read and you’ll talk about something else. Something really, really important to them or to you. There you are, sitting in your child’s room one night having the most important conversation of their lives and it is all because you’ve always been there, sitting beside them with a book, every night.