Elgin could get a little Artspace

As a technician at the year-old Elgin Art Showcase, Catie Early has seen firsthand how people can blossom if provided with resources.

"There's so much art and so much that wants to happen in Elgin," said Early, who grew up in Elgin and earned a fine arts degree in 2004.

After just a year, the eighth-floor gallery of the Elgin Professional Building in downtown is host to a plethora of media and has offered artists of all kinds a chance to come together.

Now, Elgin area leaders hope the art community can grow with the help of a Minneapolis-based nonprofit group.

Two representatives from Artspace Projects will tour Elgin today and Friday, meeting with community leaders and developers, conducting interviews and gauging whether there is enough support for the group's latest venture.

Artspace uses a combination of grants and private funding to buy, refurbish and rent out lofts for artists.

Tenants must meet income requirements -- they can't make too much beyond a percentage of the area's median income.

The group currently operates 20 developments across the country and another 12 are in the works.

Other Illinois municipalities being considered are Macomb, Rock Island, Freeport and Waukegan.

While the goal is to put Elgin's best foot forward, Mayor Ed Schock said the visit also will provide a good perspective on how far the city has come and how far it has to go in terms of becoming a destination for arts, theater and entertainment.

"I think we've made much progress," said Schock, who added he would support city financial assistance should Artspace choose Elgin.

"We see it as a great opportunity to continue to grow the arts in Elgin," he said, noting a development near downtown also would translate to more downtown visitors who would go to art shows, restaurants and stores in the area.

Sylvia Grady, the city's liaison to the Cultural Arts Commission, believes such a venture would give starting artists a place to grow and explore in a creative, collaborative setting.

Grady says too many local artists feel isolated as they hone their skills in basements and dusty attics.

During the visit, Artspace officials will visit at least five possible Elgin sites. It also will hold a community meeting with a Q-and-A session with the public at 8 p.m. today in the Heritage Ballroom at the Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way.

"It's to see if there's the right space and the right interest in the project," Grady said.

City leaders also point to performance groups, opera groups, the Hemmens, strong art programs at local high schools, along with Judson and Elgin Community College as parts of the city's foundation for becoming an arts and entertainment destination.

Grady visited Artspace's only Illinois location last fall.

She said she was impressed with the former telephone switching station on Chicago's West Side, which opened in an 2003 after a $5.3 million renovation paid for through grants.

"The inside of the building was alive with creative energy," she said. "As soon as you walked in, you knew this was a creative space."

If you go

What: Officials from Artspace Projects, a Minneapolis-based group, will hold a public forum as part of a two-day visit to Elgin to gauge whether there is support for a public-private artist co-op near downtown.

When: 8 p.m. today.

Where: The Heritage Ballroom at the Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way.

Details: Call (847) 931-5667.