Longtime Schaumburg Cultural Services Director Set to Retire April 30
Longtime Schaumburg Cultural Services Director Betsy Armistead, who was instrumental in the development of operations and programming of the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, announced she will retire on April 30 after serving 33 years with the village. Armistead is the only person to serve in the role of Cultural Services Director for the village.
Armistead began working in Schaumburg in November of 1985, just six months before the Prairie Center opened its doors to the public in June of 1986. Armistead was responsible for developing the operations plan for the Prairie Center and subsequently created many of the policies, rules, rental activity rates and plans for self-produced programs. She also helped develop the annual calendar of programs for the center in conjunction with the village's Cultural Commission.
"Betsy was the driving force who made the Prairie Center the success it is today," said Village President Al Larson. "Her passion and vision to bring cultural arts to this community has had longstanding impacts in Schaumburg, and, because of her contributions, we have one of the best performance arts venues in the northwest suburbs. She will be greatly missed."
Aside from her integral role in opening the Prairie Center and continued development of its programming, Armistead has championed a variety of arts programs over the course of her tenure that are successfully running today including: the Prairie Arts Festival that began in 1987; Schaumburg Summer Theatre and the acclaimed Schaumburg Youth Orchestra that began in 1989; the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble, which performs sold-out shows of The Nutcracker annually, and the annual Black History Month program with Powerhouse Productions that began in 1995; and the summer season of programs held at Town Square that began in 1996 as a collaboration with the Schaumburg Township District Library and the Schaumburg Park District.
More recent programs that developed under her watch include the Screen Test Student Film Fest and the Schaumburg Choral program, which is comprised of the Schaumburg Youth Choir and Schaumburg Children's Chorus.
A total of 926 events took place in 2017 at the Prairie Center, which produced a total attendance of 94,581. For more information on Prairie Center programs, visit www.prairiecenter.org.
"Just about every cultural arts reference in Schaumburg, whether it be programming or some of the village's most popular arts events, are the culmination of Betsy's influence and design," said Village Manager Brian Townsend. "She has made Schaumburg a destination for arts, which I think is one of her greatest accomplishments, if not her legacy in this village. I wish Betsy the very best in this next chapter of her life."
Armistead currently serves as a director on the Schweikher House Preservation Trust and as President of the Village of Schaumburg's 1% for Art Committee. In the past, she has served on the Elgin Symphony Board of Directors, as well as President of the Illinois Presenters Network and on various panels for the Illinois Arts Council. She also researched and wrote the "Images of America - Schaumburg" book in 2004 that details the history of Schaumburg's growth and development.