Aretta Baumgartner

Aretta Baumgartner serves as the Education and Advocacy Director at the Center for Puppetry Arts since July 2011, overseeing programming, staffing, budgeting, and advocacy for the largest puppetry arts non-profit in the nation. Additionally, Aretta is a Board Member of ART Station since August 2021, contributing to resource security and community engagement. A seasoned Guest Artist and Teaching Artist for the Educational Theatre Association since 2008, Aretta has facilitated numerous workshops and presentations at various prestigious theater festivals. As an Adjudicator and Advisory Committee Member for the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards at the ArtsBridge Foundation, involvement in promoting excellence in high school theater is notable. Aretta also collaborates with Madcap Puppets and has held various roles in numerous professional productions since 1992, complemented by a comprehensive education in Theatre and Communication Arts from Ashland University and the University of Cincinnati. Other significant past roles include serving as President of the Board of Directors for Puppeteers of America and Program Coordinator for the Let It Shine Afterschool Arts Program.