.png)
BAAC Celebrates Carly Dahl's 10 Years of Transformative Leadership
.jpg)
The Batesville Area Arts Council (BAAC) proudly celebrates Executive Director Carly Dahl’s 10th anniversary leading the organization. Since stepping into the role in 2015, Dahl has transformed BAAC into a vibrant cultural hub, establishing signature community events, expanding programming, enhancing the organization's facilities, and growing its staff.
Among Dahl’s most notable achievements is the creation of Artoberfest, a lively annual arts and music festival that began in 2015 and has grown steadily in both size and popularity. Now a much-anticipated event each fall, Artoberfest brings together regional artists, musicians, and community members in a celebration of creativity and culture in downtown Batesville.
Dahl’s tenure has also marked a period of major growth and revitalization for the BAAC gallery space. She led fundraising and management efforts for the extensive renovation and expansion of the workshop area—more than doubling its size—to better accommodate community classes and events. The project also added a larger storefront gift shop featuring local artists’ work and opened a dedicated community gallery space to provide more exhibition opportunities for regional creatives.
“Carly had a clear vision for the new work/shop space,” said BAAC Board President Abby Perrine, “her vision is what inspired support from the board and from the businesses and individuals who contributed their time and money to the renovation. It would not have happened without Carly’s vision, leadership, and hard work.”
For the first six years of her leadership, Dahl served as the organization's only staff member, where she managed operations, curated exhibitions, organized events, and provided arts programming. Her dedication and tireless work ethic laid the groundwork for the organization’s long-term sustainability. In 2021, she secured the necessary funding to hire BAAC’s first gallery assistant, a key role for providing day-to-day support and continuity in gallery management.
“Carly is a dedicated and driven leader with a true passion for the arts,” said BAAC Board President Abby Perrine. “BAAC has flourished because of her vision, passion, commitment, and willingness to do the hard work. Carly’s work over the past ten years has not only enriched our community but also established a lasting foundation for the future of arts in Batesville.”
Reflecting on the past decade, Dahl shared, "The support we’ve received from the Batesville community has been incredible. Every step we’ve taken—from expanding our space to launching new events—has been possible because people here believe in what we’re doing. I’m excited to see how BAAC continues to grow in the years ahead.”
As BAAC looks ahead to the next chapter, the organization honors Dahl’s extraordinary decade of service and the legacy she continues to build in the Batesville arts community.
Donate today to support Batesville Area Arts Council's mission to enrich our community through the arts.