the center for the visual arts

Beautiful historic location , adjacent to The Grand Theater in downtown Wausau. Art displays in all mediums from pottery to jewelry, and the on-going art classes make this a must see for anyone visiting or living in the Wausau metro area.

The rest of the square looks so upgraded and upscale this building does not. The inside is very nice but the layout is odd. The artwork was fantastic.

Nice and enjoyable. Was quite surprised at the local artists displays. Very easy to find with their maps in the local flyer.

If you're new to the Wausau area and are looking to experience art, I would first suggest going to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Having been to both, I found the selected pieces at CVA less interesting and that there isn't as much to see. In fairness, CVA is a smaller operation than the Museum. However, if you've already been to the Museum, this venue is worth stopping at too for those interested in art.Parking is very limited so you should anticipate parking in a nearby garage or street parking down the block. I wouldn't think you could spend much more than an hour in here and not see everything available for free. Whereas the Museum is very open about everything being open for free, CVA is not as clear, especially on their website. It has been a couple months since I visited, so perhaps my memory is just foggy on that point.The pieces here feature a lot of local work, which was inspiring to see. I came with a class trip and our tour guide was very knowledgeable of the artists and subject matters. She offered background information and was a great help. So if you visit, the staff should be able to help with any questions or curiosities you might have.Their gift shop is a nice touch over the Museum, as it allows you to both support the CVA, and take something home with you. Some of the paintings are available for sale as well, though the average visitor will not want to pay most of the prices for the pieces. Overall, it's still a nice place to check out for the free exhibits, but it is not as convenient to get to or park at, nor does it offer as much content and variety as the Museum. If you're staying downtown though, you should definitely take a walk over here when you get a spare hour or so.