Rockford Area Arts Council
ANNUAL REPORT
September 2010 - August 2011
Dear Arts Enthusiasts,
The Rockford Area Arts Council is proud to be reporting the past year's successes. Your support allows the Arts Council to reach out in our region to bring the arts to everyone, young and old, from every economic and ethnic background. Here are the highlights of the 2010-2011 season.
•ArtsPlace
The Arts Council offered ArtsPlace for the sixteenth consecutive summer. ArtsPlace is an arts apprenticeship program for youth ages 14-18 with priority given to youth from low income families. Its mission is to mentor the development of youth through the arts.
ArtsPlace is essentially an entrepreneurial enterprise in which the youth are engaged in all aspects of the business: creating the product, pricing, advertising, selling, budgeting, problem solving, continuous evaluation and improvement of the product. Arts performances are created and presented to the public; original artwork is exhibited and sold. To authentically replicate real work experience, proceeds earned by the sale of the artwork and ticket sales for performances are awarded to the ArtsPlace apprentices.
All teams participate in community service through offering performances in the community, donating art to local benefits and teaching younger children art in neighborhood parks. Through the process of creating art, the youth learn to set goals and identify obstacles to overcome or avoid. They create strategies for achievement that will positively impact their lives.
ArtsPlace was held at Rockford College's Clark Arts Center. Artists this year: Bruce McDonald was the on-site Project Director. Teaching artists were: Marco Basurto (sculpture), Maya Simmons (painting), Tamara Newquist (dance), Richard Raether (theater) and Tricia Sheridan (Spoken Word Poetry). Guest artists included Tom Littrell and Tabatha Dougherty from 317 Studio & Gallery. They gave sage advice to the youth in how to be successful: passion and perseverance. (55 youth/ages 14-18)
• RAAC Camp
The Rockford Park District has offered this camp, held at Ellis School for fourteen years. The Arts Council has worked closely with the Park District since the beginning to design the program and recruit quality artists. Due to budget cuts, the Park District Board eliminated the program this year.
Through the generous donation of an anonymous donor and support from District 205, the Arts Council offered RAAC Camp for one two-week session. The camp is for children 5-14 and they had the opportunity to explore visual arts, music, dance, drama, video production and rap. On the final day a performance and exhibit were held for family and friends. (60 children attended)
• After-School Programs
We were the lead agency for Ellis Arts Academy After-School Achievement program. The purpose of the program is to improve reading and math skills through direct instruction on identified deficiencies, provide a safe environment for the children after school and increase their skills and enjoyment of the arts. Individual artists worked at these additional sites: Haskell, Walker, Conklin and Lewis Lemon. A high school program was initiated and held at the nCenter. Youth from four high schools were given the opportunity to participate in visual arts, dance and poetry writing. (14 artists were employed part-time and 500 children/youth participated).
• Family Arts Festival
An arts in education advocacy event organized by the Arts Council and our "ArtsPlus" committee. The event was held in March to celebrate "Arts in Education Month." This year the Mayor's Arts Awards for Student and Teacher were awarded at the event. Rebecca Pelley, art teacher at Guilford High School won the Star Educator award, and her student Winston Cuevas, also of Guilford, won the Exceptional Student award. In addition to the award presentation there were hands-on arts experiences, dance performances and demonstration classes and resource information for families on arts opportunities for children. (approximately 500 people attended)
• Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Competition
Poetry Out Loud is a free national program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Poetry Out Loud encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, which help students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary heritage. The Illinois Arts Council designated the Rockford Area Arts Council as the regional coordinator of the Northern Illinois Poetry Out Loud competition. The regional competition was held at Ellis Arts Academy. Participating schools this year were: Auburn Main Campus, Auburn Freshman Campus, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Spectrum. Winner, Joy Avery of Auburn Freshman Campus and first runner up Niambi Thompson of Roosevelt went on to compete inthe state competition held in Springfield in March. Third runner up, Xavier Kimbrough of Auburn was invited to attend the State Competition and performed his poem at the dinner and reception for Poetry out Loud competitors and their families. (approximately 300 people in attendance). This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
• ArtsPlus
Is a committee sponsored by the Arts Council to advocate for the Arts in Education. The past year the main activities were planning the Family Arts Festival, continued collaborations to offer curriculum based field trips and developing arts advocacy strategies. New this year was "March for the Arts" participation in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Julie Palkowski, the new Vice Principal for Fine Arts and CAPA met with the committee and is actively seeking ways the arts organizations and the school district can work together.
• Haskell Parent Academy
The Arts Council worked with Haskell School's fall and spring Parent Academies. This is a daylong in-service for parents to gain skills. There are sessions in parenting, helping with math and reading homework, family resources, family communications, positive discipline and family arts activities. The arts portion of the academy was supported by a grant through Columbia College's Illinois Parent Resource Center funding.
• Alignment Rockford
The goal of this group is to garner community support for District 205's strategic plan. It is modeled after an organization in Nashville. Sharon Nesbit-Davis serves on the K-5 reading and math committee. The focus of the committee is encouraging parent involvement in the schools. The committee has selected parents of kindergarten students at King Elementary school as its first project. This summer the committee accepted proposals from community agencies to engage parents. Proposals accepted included Parent Cafes from the YWCA and family story time event from the Rockford Dance Company. Family nights have been planned throughout the school year 2011-12.
• Educator's Memorial Fund
This is a program created initially to honor Eileen Michaely who was an arts in education advocate and first Chair of Education for the Arts Council. The focus of the program funded through donations and interest from a portion of the Endowment bequeathed by Eileen Michaely estated, remains on teaching classroom teachers in District 205 to infuse arts into all curricular areas. Grant funds are available for teachers to work with an artist to develop arts lesson plans to enhance curriculum. The funds were not dispensed this year as no teachers applied for the funding. We understand this is due to the emphasis on testing for reading and math and lack of time and support to present lesson plans that have not been proven to increase test scores. We are encouraged by recent meetings with District 205 Administration and statements by Superintendent Dr. Willis, that the arts programs are going to be strengthened and renewed and there is now encouragement for teachers to engage their students in all curricular areas through the arts.
2011 Grant Recipients
On Thursday, April 7, the Rockford Area Arts Council and its Board of Directors recognized recipients of its 2011 Community Arts Access Grants at a reception held at the Rockford Park District. The Rockford Area Arts Council awarded nearly $19,000 in grants to artists, arts organizations and community groups. These grants are made possible in part by the Illinois Arts Council, City of Rockford and generous members. We would like to thank all our grants recipients for their fine contributions to the community through the arts!
2011 Community Arts Access Grant Recipients
Art Attack School of Art
The Art Attack –On the Road, collaboration between our non-profit arts organization and public schools $1,000
Art Matters: Artist Cooperative
Inter:Act, a two part project focused on "Participatory Art" $900
Boone County Arts Council
"The 5th Grade Enrichment Project" exposing students to various art mediums $650
Circles of Learning
"Through the Eyes of a Child" introducing photography to 2nd-5th grade low income children $725
Festival of Fantasy
Children's Halloween parade and costume contest at Edgebrook Mall $500
Janet Wattles Center
"The Art of Healing" Art show by children and adults with mental illness $500
Kishwaukee College Family Literacy Program
Mexican and South American Masks: Learning the cultural significance of masks $800
Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center
Public concert and class for piano students by Angela Cheng, Alvin and Alan Chow $550
Meridian Community Unit School District #223
"Meridian Mozarts" A project giving students increased access to music $1,900
Milestone, Inc.
"Unlocking the Artist" A project to expose the arts to adults and children at Milestone $500
Northwest Community Center
Low income minority youth at Northwest Community Center will learn basic portrait collage skills $750
Rockford Art Museum
"Full Deck: A Short History of Skate Art" three-month exhibition $500
Rockford Boys and Girls Club
Digital Arts Suite program exposing at risk youth to various forms of digital art $900
The Music Academy Foundation
25th Anniversary Solo and Ensemble Clinic $1,000
Rockford Dance Company
Artist will conduct lecture/workshops to four outreach programs $1,200
Rockford Park District
"Sounds of Summer" Free Music Concert Series $500
Rockford Public Library
Summer Art Series for children and teens teaching art history and studio art $900
Rockford Symphony Orchestra
"Music of the New World" annual youth concert with RPS art students $1,200
Rockford Wind Ensemble
Ninth Annual Youth Honors Band workshop and performance $1,275
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
“Tinker with Music” Free Summer Concert Series $800
William Douglas Holloway
"It's A Breeze" A wearable art show using live mannequins at Spring ArtScene $650
YMCA of Rock River Valley
After-school artist for "Learn to Earn" program for at-risk teens $550
TOTAL 2011 Community Arts Access Grants....$18,250
THANKS TO OUR 2011 DONORS AND SPONSORS
$5,000 and up
City of Rockford
Illinois Arts Council
Gloyd Family Foundation
Hamilton Sundstrand
ARTS ANGELS
William & Leah Baskin
Bergstrom, Inc.
James & Julie Buchanan
Janet Kjellstrom
Richard & Grace Leighton
Mary Ann Smith
Williams McCarthy
ARTS CHERUBS
Doug & Helen Brooks
John & Sue Brubaker
Steve & Lisa Carter
Dick & Jody Goff
The Ben Harding Family Foundation
Ralph Kreissler
Sjostrom & Sons, Inc.
ARTS FANATICS
Albano & Lynn Andreini
Stephen & Anne Bernsten
Dave & Kohnne Bippus
Dave & Connie Coady
John Cook
Rena Cotsones
Jim & Alissa Cronauer
Joan Davis
Janyce Fadden
Jay Graham
Ginny Gregory
Phil & Karen Grover
Ron & Barbara Herbig
Dan & Cathy Herdeman
Jeff & Jami Hoskins
Edward & Beth Howard
David & Chris Kase
Jim & Pam Keeling
Angela Larson
Danny & Kristie Lorden
John & Barbara McNamara
Jaxon & Linda Oshita
Rick & Judith Pollack
Edward & Tamara Rentschler
Joe & Mary Jo Ross
Michael & Julie Shalbrack
Jack & Barbara Simon
William & Julie Snively
Ken & Pat Staaf
William & Cathie Thiede
Phil & Paula Turner
Voss Metals
Frank & Jennifer Wehrstein
Jonathan & Nancy Whitlock
ARTS ENTHUSIASTS
David & Karen Anderson-Wade
Robert Apolloni
Paul & Teri Baits
Balthasar Consistory #92
Fred & Marie Beck
Dave & Kohnne Bippus
Arthur & Elaine Breck
Michael Bugler
Lois Cannell Ramon
Nicholas & Carole Carbone
Libby Chiu
John & Diane Cobb
Jim & Connie Coffey
Doug & Holli Connell
William Daer
George & Sharon Davis
Mike & Sharon DeDoncker
Elizabeth Dickinson
Paul Dickover
Philip & Kathy Dierstein
Jack & Zelka Dillon
Norris & Marilyn Dougherty
George & Janet Farbotko
Roger & Wendy Fisher
Forest City Gear
The Frame Shoppe/Gallery
Tom & Darlene Furst
Gaffney Bolt Company, Inc.
Doug & Debbie Gass
Gerald & Andrea Gibbs
Susan Grans
John & Kaylene Groh
Terrie Hall
Bob & Nadine Hallstrom
Marge Henning
John & Kim Henning
Tom & Helen Hill
Katherine Hotchkiss
William & Martha Hutt
Barbara Jo Johnson
Curt & Laurie Kleckler
Jude & Patricia Lai
Larry & Judith Larson
Jay & Christy Lenox
Mark & Lisa Lindman
Mona Lindvall
Dan & Amy Loescher
Stephanie Lombardi
Roger & Nancy Lundstrom
Mr. & Mrs. Leo Lynch
Doug & Sally Mark
Bradd & Melissa Marsden
Betsey McCoy
Jim & Helen Millikin
Scott & Becky Morris
Mary Pat Muzzarelli
John C. Nelson
Steve & Carole Newcomer
Patrick O'Keefe
Anne E. O'Keefe
Marilyn O'Keefe
Jerry Paulson
Lisbeth Pearson
Pecatonica Pharmacy
Del & Lois Peterson
Curt Peterson
Jay & Cathy Pick
Charles & Judith Picus
PR Etc., Inc.
Charles Prorok & Marcia Mueller
Peter & Margie Ricker
Barbara Ross-Shannon
Claire Rotolo
Joan Sage
Frank & Gayanne Schepley
Thomas & Karen Schiller
Tom & Karen Shifo
Duanne & Rulee Stallman
Larry & Ann Stegall
Larry & Tricia Sweeney
Craig & Dawn Thomas
Connie Tucker
Tom & Karen Walsh
Glen & Laura Wiegert
Susan Williams
Doug & Diane Wilson
Michael Wright
Arts Supporters
Gary & Judith Anderson
Jean Apgar
Kathie Ayres
Marco Basurto & Sherrie Door
Brian & Andrea Bear
Howard & Nadine Bell
Kurt & Sarah Bell
Lavonne Berkeley
William & Karyn Bohl
Roger & Lynda Bohn
Craig Booher
Warren & Marilyn Cade
Mary-Stuart Carruthers
Bob Cholke
Janice Clinton
Bob & Charlie Corder
Joseph & Diane Dailing
Peter Damby
Mike & Colleen Delany
Lisa Doll & Steve Jaycox
Tabatha Dougherty
Joe & Susan Drennan
Marvin & Jerry Lu Dundore
Gordon & Georganne Eggers
Kelly Epperson
Chellis & Reggie French
Robert Furgason
Stephen & Jean Geller
Patricia Gomez
Bob & Bonnie Gosdick
John Gradick
Eugene & Lola Gustafson
Don & Shirley Hacker
Fred & Maxine Hadley
David & Anne Hagney
Rachel Handlin & Michael Beert
Arles Hendershott & Joe Love
Shirley Henley
Lon & Mary Ann Hoegberg
Dennis Horton
Walnut Hulling
Ruth Jackson
Richard & Roberta Jacobson
Jeanette Jess Geraghty
Dick & Joanne Johnson
Wayne & Janet Jones
Nancy Kalchbrenner
Howard & Patricia Kaufman
Peter & Mary Joan Keffer
John & Margaret Kleber
Norm Knott
Lynne Koenigsberger-Townsend
Bengt & Mary Kuller
Rich & Laura Laumer
Anita Layng
Tom Littrell
Rod & Jessica MacDonald
Faye Marcus
Paul & Agnes Mastrangeli
Don & Judith McCanse
Edith McCauley
Thomas & Lynn McConville
Bruce & Deborah McDonald
Hugh & Lydia McHugh
Norman & Anne Meyer
Ethel Migra
Michelle Minick
Neil & Marlene Mizen
Bruce & Judy Moe
Stephen & Janet Moore
Joseph & Josephine Morrissey
Don & Doris Mosser
June Mutchler
Deborah Newton
Webbs & Mary Norman
Beverly O'Keefe
Irene Oldson
Jack & Lavonne Packard
Dorothy Paige-Turner
Alice Pampe
Raymond & Joe Marie Paul
Fred & Becky Pelley
Jayne Pheiffer
Joyce Ramer
Dr. & Mrs. Gary Rifkin
Joel Ross
Attorney Sherri Rudy
Dick & Ann Rundall
Tom & Linda Sandquist
Roger & Pam Schmidt
Doug & Tammy Scott
Harvey & Natalie Share
Jane Smith
Belinda Stewart
Stephen & Suzette Symes
Senator Dave Syverson
Steven & Marcia Terrill
Bert & Kathy Thomas
Mark & Pamela Thompson
Dean & Pat Tollefsrud
Eleanor Turbyville
Teri Watts
Shawn & Kathy Way
Steve & Janice Westlund
Woodman's Food Markets
Don & Betty Zimmerman
ARTS FRIENDS
Phyllis Adelman
Ralph & Christy Andres
Brent & Linda Auman
Richard & Sally Baker
Shawn Barbagallo
Kathleen Barch
Tamarra BaVincio-Legge
John & Sandra Beck
Donald & Suzanne Berger
Lori Berkes-Nelson
David Black
Thomas Brain
Karen Brown
Richard & Phyllis Brynteson
Sandra Buell
Paul & Carol Burkholder
Mary Caskey
Tom Clabough
Ron Clevenger
Paul & Jeannette Colombi
Joel & Judy Cowen
Vicki Crone
Jody Deery
Mary DeHaan
Audrey Doll
Marcina Drake
EventUs
Priscilla Flynn-Heath
Lyle & Martha Frantz
Donald & Bridget Fraser
Lenny French
Kim Girouard
Lydia Gonzalez
Madge Gulley
Gerrie Gustafson
Charlotte Hackin
Sean Halcom
Lucia Hauge
Bernard & Mary Healy
Tom Heflin
Vivian Hickey
Cynthia Hill
Shirley Holzwarth
Eric Howanietz
Tim Hughes
Teresa Ingrassia
Karl & Carol Jacobs
Chuck Johannsen
Doris Kampfe
Dan & Sandra Kelly
Swav & Monica Kyrsztopa
Mary Kuchenmeister
Ed & Lee Ladenburger
Jean Larsen
Herbert & Ruby Lash
Karen Leyrer
Joseph Like
Robert Lindvall
John Lombardo
Thomas Long
Gabor & Nancy von Lugossy
Lenore Lund
Richard & Barbara Lunde
Mark Lundstrom
Jane Lyons
Martha Mangas
Jane McAfee
Kari McDonald
Lois McDowell
Nancy McManus Olson
Sally Medernach
Jeanneil Miller-Paul
Jeanne Moyer
Ms. Timothy Muldowney
Dennis & Earlynn Mullins
Robert Nieman
Rudy & Laura Ortiz
Carol Ostrom
Rex & Carol Parker
Susan Pasetti
Carolyn Pearson
James Phillip
Carolyn Plummer
Kanwal & Meenakshi Prashar
Sherry Pritz
Carolyn Repka
Tim & Carrie Rollins
Trish Rooney
Mary Ross
Therese Rowinski
Andrew & Michele Scarpaci
Nadja Schutt
Gene & Mary Lib Skerkoske
Stuart & Polly Smith
Peg Sowle
Patrick & Susan Stewart
Jeff & Christine Swanberg
Diane Voneida
Mary Wedemeyer
Richard & Jane Weigle
John & Beverly Whitehead
Carolyn Williams
Kristin Wilson
Henry Wilson
Sheila Winckler
Patty Zickert
Joseph Zimmer
Organization Members
AgeQuake Theatre
Art Matters
Artists' Ensemble Theater
Boone County Arts Council
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Byron Civic Theatre
Children's Theatre Project
Coronado Performing Arts Center
Crossroads Blues Society
Discovery Center Museum
Edgebrook/Orput Companies
Erlander Home Museum/Swedish Historical Society
Ethnic Heritage Museum
Flute Club of Rockford
Kantorei, The Singing Boys of Rockford
Kishwaukee Valley Concert Band
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Main Street Players of Boone County
Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center
Midway Village Museum
Moonlight Jazz Orchestra
Northern Illinois University College of Visual & Performing Arts
Northern Illinois University School of Theatre & Dance
Northern Illinois Wood Turners
Northern Public Radio/WNIU-WNIJ
Pec Playhouse Theatre
Rock Valley College Starlight Theatre
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Rockford Area Music Industry
Rockford Art Museum
Rockford Chamber Players
Rockford Coronado Concert Association
Rockford Lutheran Choral Union
Rockford Park District
Rockford Public Library
Rockford Society, Archaeological Institute of America
Rockford Symphony Orchestra
Rockford Wind Ensemble
Rockford Woman's Club
Rockford Writers' Guild
Rosecrance Ware Center
Sigma Alpha Iota
Spectrum School
The Tiffany Trio
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
Womanspace
YMCA of Rock River Valley
Zion Development Corporation
Matching Donors
United Technologies Matching Gift Program
Williams-Manny Charitable Trust
ArtsPlace Sponsors
$10,000 and above
National Endowment for the Arts
Rockford Park District
$5,000 and above
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
Illinois Department of Human Services
$2,000 and above
J.L. Clark
Target Stores
$350 and above
Applebee's Bar & Grill
$25-$100
John & Colleen Holmbeck
Bruce & Deborah McDonald
Sally Medernach
Anne E. O'Keefe
Patrick O'Keefe
RAAC State of the Arts Awards
Alpine Bank
Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.
BMO Harris Bank
Buchanan Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
Cliffbreakers
Magnum Creative
McGladrey
Northern Public Radio
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
Rockford Bank & Trust
Savant Capital Management
Jane Smith
In-Kind
Adams Letter Services
Rockford Park District
ArtSavers "Change for the Better" Campaign
Marilyn O'Keefe
Chicago International Airport
ArtSavers Challenge
Gary & Judy Anderson
Albano & Lynn Andreini
Jean Apgar
Janice Bartik
Kurt & Sarah Bell
Big Paw Records
Cheryl Bischoff
David Black
Leslie Carr
Sandra Carter
Steve & Lisa Carter
Jim & Connie Coffey
Lisa Davis
Nicole Debruler
Perry & Catherine Eppes
La Vona Farney
Lyle & Martha Frantz
Robert & Bonnie Gosdick
John Gradick
Ellen Grall
Susan Grans
Terrie Hall
The Ben Harding Family Foundation
Ron & Barbara Herbig
Thomas & Helen Hill
Shirley Holzwarth
Jeanette Jess-Geraghty
Michael & Karen Johnson
Emily Kicklighter
Mary Lamphere
Anita Layng
Susan Lindsay-Jones
Mona Lindvall
Richard & Barbara Lunde
Mrs. & Mrs. Leo Lynch
Bradd & Melissa Marsden
Linda Niemiec
Webbs & Mary Norman
Sean O'Keefe
Jeff & Julie Palkowski
Fred & Becky Pelley
Robert & Dorien Peterson
Ann Petta
Robert & Mary Ann Pressman
Karen Ream
Judy Roby
Megan Ross
Claire Rotolo
Kathy Scarpaci
Laura Schweitzer
Tom & Karen Shifo
Ted & Debbie Simmering
Jack & Barbara Simon
Jane Smith
Ken & Pat Staaf
Dave & Nancy Voss
Alesa Wurfel
2011 State of the Arts Awards Recipients
The Rockford Area Arts Council hosted the 2011State of the Arts Awards Luncheon on October 5th at Cliffbreakers Restaurant. This annual fundraiser honored recipients of the Mayor's Arts Awards and celebrated achievements in the arts for the past year. Congratulations to the 2011 State of the Arts Awards Recipients and Event Sponsors!
Individual Artist
Mike Webb
Individual Arts Advocate
JoAnn Shaheen
Lawrence E. Gloyd Community Impact
Engine Studio
A Note to Our Donors....
You deserve to be properly recognized for your contributions and we strive for 100 percent accuracy. If we have made an error, please contact our office at 815-963-6765 with any corrections.
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