Arlington Heights wins arts honor

Arlington Heights has received the Presidents' Choice Award as an Arts Friendly Community from the Illinois Arts Alliance and the Illinois Municipal League.

"A key goal for the village has been to create a unique, inviting arts culture in Arlington Heights that would enhance the quality of life of our residents and help identify us as the place to be for a great cultural experience," Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder said in a prepared release.

In 2004, the village purchased the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, now the 7th largest theater in the Chicago area with 83,000 patrons annually, according to the League of Chicago Theatres. Other arts programs the village supports include the Sounds of Summer concert series, the Promenade of the Arts festival and the Sculpture Walk. The village adopted a 0.25 percent tax on food and beverages in 2005 that generates about $500,000 per year for the arts.

While Arlington Heights got the top award among 17 communities honored statewide, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates and Palatine all got honorable mentions.

More information is available artsalliance.org/artsfriendly.