Arts in Bartlett has built community through the arts for 18 years
On April 29, 2002, a group of interested residents met at the Bartlett Public Library to explore the idea of forming an arts council in Bartlett.
It was spearheaded by arts advocates Cecilia Green and Mary Erbach as well as then village President Catherine Melchert. The discussion was led by consultant Sharon Swing and a graphic recorder who drew a “vision” of what an arts council would look like.
Under the working title of “Arts in Bartlett,” leaders emerged at a follow-up meeting to form the governing board with the mission of “building community through the arts.” Its vision was “a community where the overall quality of life is enhanced and each individual is made richer through an open participation in the arts.”
Arts in Bartlett incorporated in November 2002, and achieved 501(c) 3 tax status in December 2005. Its first program was Bartlett's first juried fine arts fair during the 2003 Chamber of Commerce's Summerfest.
This festival ran for 14 years in Bartlett Park before transitioning into a Global Arts Festival in 2017 to showcase the diverse cultures in the community.
Other early activities were art exhibits in the 2nd floor gallery of the Bartlett Village Hall and at the Hanover Park Park District gallery. Through the years, its activities were supported by membership dues, fundraisers and grants from the Illinois Arts Council and the village of Bartlett.
In 2008, under the direction of Rita Lopienski, Arts in Bartlett formed an International Chorus that learned songs in the Hakka dialect, Chinese and Japanese languages. The chorus sang at community events and nursing homes. Six families from the Hakka people in Taiwan, who live in Bartlett, championed establishing a Sister City in Taiwan. In 2010, a Bartlett delegation with the Midwest Hakka Chorus and the International Chorus began a concert tour in Taiwan.
Village President Mike Kelly assigned Lopienski to sign an agreement for a Sister City cultural exchange with Miaoli City, Taiwan. This relationship celebrated a 10-year anniversary in March, with the Midwest Hakka Chorus joining Bartlett High School at its spring concert and a retrospective photo exhibit in the Bartlett Village Hall.
In the next 12 years, Arts in Bartlett grew to 250 members and moved four times to larger downtown buildings. In October 2014, it moved to 215 S. Main St. in Town Center, a 2,750-square-foot storefront with a gallery, studios for artists, music and art teachers and a community room for events. Music performers and teachers with master's or doctorate degrees offer cello, violin, guitar, piano and voice lessons. Ann Griffin, an elementary art teacher, leads the children's art program, which includes Saturday Art, Summer Art Camp, Girl Scout Art Badge workshops and “Arty” parties. Monday night is meditation with Leah in the community room.
An artist committee holds monthly networking meetings. They manage the gallery and solicit art for exhibits in the Arts Center and the gallery at the village hall. In 2019, they developed an art project titled “The Porches, Gardens and Landmarks of Bartlett,” designed to create pride in the community and history of Bartlett, in cooperation with the Bartlett Historical Society and the Tri-Village Garden Club. Artists painted nominated porches and gardens, chose local landmarks and painted on-site in six gardens during the garden club's July garden walk. Nearly 100 works were produced, and selected art is included in notecards and a 2020 calendar.
As with many nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge is to continue to provide services and meet expenses. Arts in Bartlett has applied for grants that support nonprofits during this time. The music and art teachers are continuing lessons on virtual platforms. A smaller version of the May 3 Spring Gala will also be on Facebook Live with live music and art to buy. The Global Arts Festival has been rescheduled for Oct. 3-4 at Hanover Township, and applications for arts/crafts, food and activities are being solicited with a deadline of Aug. 15. Information is available at www.artsinbartlett.org; on Facebook; or by email to artsinbartlett@comcast.net.
Through 18 years, Arts in Bartlett has remained true to its mission and has become a landmark in downtown Bartlett. It remains an all-volunteer organization with the hope it is doing all it can to preserve the organization for many years to come.
Arts in Bartlett's virtual Spring Gala
What: Dine-Around for the Arts, featuring carryout food and online performances
When: Sunday, May 3. Order food from noon to 9:30 p.m.; performances livestreamed on Facebook from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: TL's Four Seasons, 110 W. Bartlett Road; delivery in Bartlett area only.
Details: TL's Four Seasons will donate 30% of your tab for all orders and gift certificates on Sunday, May 3. Bring in the coupon (found on the Arts in Bartlett website and Facebook) or mention Arts in Bartlett when you order.
Families are encouraged to make this a Sunday afternoon party, ordering food from TL's Four Seasons restaurant and mixing their own “quarantinis” while enjoying music and art from local talent via the Facebook livestream.