Announcement from the Board
Chris Schellinger Appointed Executive Director of Avon Hills Folk School
Avon, MN - The Board of the Avon Hills Folk School (AHFS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Schellinger as its full-time Executive Director, effective Aug 21, 2023. Chris has been serving as the volunteer director of the AHFS since its incorporation as a non-profit institution in 2017. His unwavering commitment and exceptional leadership have made a lasting impact on the organization and the community served by the AHFS.
With a passion for preserving cultural heritage and a wealth of experience in nonprofit management, organizational leadership and community engagement, Chris Schellinger also brings outdoors skills and a commitment to traditional crafts, all hallmarks of the AHFS. His unique set of skills and experience has been an instrumental force in refining the vision of the Avon Hills Folk School. During his tenure as volunteer Executive Director, he has demonstrated visionary thinking and a deep understanding of the importance of arts, culture, and lifelong learning within nature and its power to build and enrich our community.
"The Avon Hills Folk School welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels to discover, learn and create. All within the natural beauty of this special place- the Avon Hills.," said Chris Schellinger. "I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead this remarkable organization as we seek to respond to the tremendous interest and support we’ve received over our first several years. I look forward to continuing to foster an inclusive and enriching environment for all learners, while honoring the unique, natural environment of the Avon Hills and the heritage and traditions of all who have gathered together here in the past, present and future.."
As Executive Director, Chris will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, overseeing program development and implementation, managing financial resources, and cultivating strong partnerships within the community. His dedication to financial sustainability and data-driven decision-making will further strengthen the Folk School's position as a cornerstone of cultural enrichment and educational excellence. A key component of the new Executive Director position will be to conduct the capital campaign that will strengthen the capacity of the organization as well as major improvements to facilities and grounds. A focus of this effort will be the re-raising of a local timber-framed century barn built in 1889. The restored timber-framed barn will serve as the center of campus and main learning, gathering space for the AHFS.
"We are delighted to have Chris Schellinger as our full-time Executive Director," said Neil Franz, spokesperson for the AHFS Board. "Chris's exceptional leadership and deep-rooted commitment to our mission make him the ideal person to lead us into the bright future the board envisions for the Folk School. With his guidance, we will continue to thrive and grow as a vital cultural and educational hub in the Avon Hills region."
The Avon Hills Folk School lies in the heart of the rolling hills, lakes, and streams of the Avon hills, two and a half miles south of Avon, MN. It’s dedicated to preserving and promoting cultural heritage through immersive and diverse educational experiences. With a focus on arts, crafts, traditional skills, and sustainable living, the Folk School provides a nurturing environment for individuals of all ages to learn, share knowledge, and connect with their community's rich cultural heritage. With a mission to "Offer hands-on learning in a non-competitive, inter-generational environment that creates the opportunity for the community to happen within the natural splendor of the Avon Hills," its accompanying vision is to "create and nurture an environment that allows people to discover, learn, and create. We will do this by providing a venue for local, regional artists and craftspeople to share and teach their craft with others.” The Avon Hills Folk School is a new model of sustainability, of land, traditional crafts and arts, and the legacies of the people in this region.
