Aretta Baumgartner

Aretta Baumgartner has a diverse work experience in the field of arts and education. Aretta served as the Education and Advocacy Director at the Center for Puppetry Arts since 2011. In 2021, they became a Board Member at ART Station. Aretta worked as a Guest Artist/Teaching Artist at the Educational Theatre Association starting in 2008. Aretta also contributed to the ArtsBridge Foundation as an Adjudicator and Advisory Committee Member for their Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards since 2014. Aretta has been involved with the Madcap Puppets since 2009, working on various projects as a Special Projects Puppeteer. Aretta has also held roles as a Performer (actor, puppeteer, vocalist) in various companies since 1992. Aretta was an Ensemble Member and Education/Outreach Manager at Performance Gallery from 2004 onwards. Additionally, they served as the President of the Board of Directors for PUPPETEERS OF AMERICA from 2016 to 2022. Before that, they worked as a Program Coordinator for Covington Independent Public Schools and as the Artistic and Managing Director/Touring Performer at ImagineNation.

Aretta Baumgartner attended Ashland University from 1987 to 1991, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Communication Arts. Following this, from 1992 to 1994, they pursued further education at the University of Cincinnati, completing a Master of Arts degree in Communication Arts.