St. Charles Arts Council off to a rousing start
Create. Facilitate. Improve. Plan. Support. Expand.
The newly formed St. Charles Arts Council intends to do that and much more for the numerous individuals, organizations and venues already devoted to the arts in the city.
Proclaiming it “the first official event” of the organization, board members Thursday night welcomed about 60 people jammed into the Brix Wine and Cheese Bar in the First Street Plaza who came to learn about the goals and mission of the SCAC.
“We wanted it to be like this,” board member Sue McDowell said of the crowded setting. “Our intention was to talk to a lot of people one-on-one because we are open to a lot of ideas and help from everyone who loves the arts.”
The creation of the SCAC was announced two months ago as an organization that would take a broad view of serving those in the arts by including everything from graphics, plastic, decorative art, architecture, crafts, literature, poetry, music, theater and dance.
In the future, SCAC members may stand on the stage of a crowded theater, or address large crowds at outdoor art events or concerts, but on this night, they used a stepladder behind the bar at Brix to stand above the crowd and explain their future vision.
“We want the council to be regarded as the ‘go to source' for anything related to the arts,” said Elizabeth Bellaver, who has been a key figure in creating the council. “We have an ambitious vision and it's not going to happen easily or overnight.”
Bellaver announced that the City of St. Charles has landed its support by offering the council office space at the Municipal Center.
“This is great news for us and a great help to our budget,” said Bellaver, who read a statement of support from city Administrator Brian Townsend, who could not attend, but noted that he was busy that night “supporting the arts” by attending his daughter's middle school concert.
“We are not looking to brand ourselves, but we want to brand the city as a center for the arts,” Bellaver explained. “We want to be a resource and we want to be credible in our support of other organizations in town.”
Bellaver expressed the need for financial support in the community, as well as volunteers stepping forward when needed.
Laura Spicer, who described herself as “a busy mom,” said she and her family moved to St. Charles from Chicago because she could sense it had “a certain something” and a “thriving arts scene.”
“I could easily say I am too busy to get involved,” Spicer said. “But I just saw many opportunities for fun, and that's what this is.”
Some in attendance were hearing about the SCAC and its mission for the first time.
Tony Carnesecchi, who owns Tony and Friends Art Studio in St. Charles, said that area art shows were feeling the effects of the weak economy the past few years, and he was hoping that a focused council could help future shows.
The evening provided a sense of what the SCAC will represent in the community as it featured interaction between theater groups, singing groups, artists, photographers, library officials, musicians and sculptors.
More information is available by contacing the council at stcharlesartscouncil@gmail.com.