Raue Center calls for artists for sixth annual 6x6 Project

The Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake is hosting its annual 6x6 Project Art Auction & Exhibition on Saturday, June 29.

“We are excited to be hosting our sixth annual 6x6 Project Art Auction & Fundraiser this year! In these five years, nearly 500 artists contributed almost 1,000 individual works of art to support Raue Center’s educational programs, Mission Imagination, and Raue Center School for the Arts,” said 6x6 Project chair Michelle Nowland. “Each year, more artists get involved and the art keeps getting more impressive.”

Call for artists! Blank canvases are available for purchase ($5 donation) now through May 3 at Raue Center's box office, 26 N. William St. in downtown Crystal Lake, or any of the partner locations, including Out of the Box (Crystal Lake), Creative Arts Inc. (Crystal Lake), Piano Trends (Crystal Lake), and Reprographics (Crystal Lake), Makity Make (Algonquin), and Material Things (Woodstock).

The deadline to return the completed artwork is May 13. Anyone can be an artist!

For more information on how to participate in this annual event, visit rauecenter.org/6x6-project/.

The art auction and exhibition will be 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Raue Center, 26 N. Williams St. in Crystal Lake.

“The artwork is uploaded to an auction site and the bidding is all done online,” Nowland said. “Anyone, local or not, can bid on these mini works of original art and we ship to winning bidders free of charge.”

All artwork submitted to the 6×6 Project will be available for viewing online and can be bid on in an online auction through Auctria.com.

This year, bidding will begin on June 10 and continue through the evening of the public reception at Raue Center on June 29.

Several mini installations of the art will be on display at various locations for local people to view in person before the reception, including Raue Center, Countryside Flowershop, Out of the Box in Crystal Lake, and Material Things Artisan Market in Woodstock.

All proceeds of the 6x6 Project benefit Raue Center’s educational programs, Mission Imagination, and Raue Center School for the Arts, enriching the lives of over 20,000 children each year in the local community since 2001.

The annual 6x6 Project is made possible through the generous support of Raue Center donors and grantors. If you’d like more information about becoming a sponsor, email Meredith Schaefer at mschaefer@rauecenter.org.

For more information on the 6x6 Project and Raue Center’s educational programs, visit rauecenter.org or email 6x6project@rauecenter.org.

About Raue Center for the Arts

Raue Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 20 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available, and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theater named for its benefactor — Lucile Raue — Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists.

Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the nation's finest examples of restored art and decor. The 750-seat theater, located in historic downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination.

For additional information, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter and twitter.com/RaueCenter.