ABOUT US

The St. Charles Arts Council is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to promote the arts, creativity and culture in our community.  We do this recognizing the role that a vibrant, creative culture plays in a high quality of life and the economic impact that a thriving artistic community provides.  Funding is provided by grants from the St. Charles Visitors Cultural Commission, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the National Endowment for the Arts and from membership donations from community members.  In addition, we hold fund raisers to help cover programming and administrative costs.

SCAC programming includes hosting the annual Fox River Valley Student Art Show (April), the Fox River Arts Ramble in partnership with the Fine Line Creative Arts Center, Water Street Studios, and the Geneva Arts Council (June), Members Only Art Exhibit in partnership with the St. Charles Public Library (September/October), and curating a rotating exhibit of local artwork in the Mayor's offices at the St. Charles Municipal Building.  We also host a community art project annually which is aimed at engaging our local community to participate and enjoy!

The Beginnings...

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The St. Charles Arts Council was founded in 2010 and spearheaded by four community members - Elizabeth Belaver, Sue McDowell, John Abel and Carol Abel - who had been involved in the arts in many ways and for many years in St. Charles.  They organized a meeting at the St. Charles Pubic Library to explore the idea of creating an organization that would advocate for the arts and thus help create St. Charles as an "arts destination".   More than 100 people attended the meeting and served on committees, hosted events and presented programs over the years.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Holly Cabel (Secretary):  Director of the St./ Charles Park District
Connie Flores:  Director of the Marquee Youth Stage
Amy Furio: Artist and local business owner
Curt Hurst:  President, Frontier Development
Erin Livermore:  Artist, Owner of All Things Art Studio
Sue McDowell:  One of our founding members.  Chair of the St. Charles Fine Art Fair, Art Curator and Art Advocate
Al Patten:  Retired Minister from Baker Memorial Church
Rheanna Valdez Reed:  Community Volunteer
Natasha Ritsma:  Director, Shingoethe Center at Aurora University
Howard Russo:  Artist, Retired Art Instructor at Elgin Community College
Jake Wyatt (Treasurer):  Director of the St. Charles Veterans Center

​Staff:  Kathryn Bail Hill, Executive Director (info@stcharlesartscouncil.org)
Edie Glenn, Bookkeeper