Curtains fall on Barrington Area Arts Council

As the Barrington Area Arts Council closes its doors for good today, at least one area resident is hopeful a new arts establishment will form to take its place.

Tamara Tabel, a local writer who's worked with the council for eight years, is disappointed it's going away. But she believes residents will see there remains a need for an arts organization in the area.

"I am hopeful that, moving forward, people will understand the importance of having art in the community," Tabel said.

Ideally, Tabel said, enough money could be raised to bring a performing arts center to the area.

"Right now, the largest venue for performing arts in the area is the high school," she said. "I would like a single place where (all different artists) could come together."

After 29 years, the arts council is folding because of what its board president, Gregory Leifel, said was a lack of financial support and dwindling membership.

In addition to sponsoring myriad events and scholarships, the council has maintained three galleries -- at 121 Barrington Commons Court, at the Barrington Area Library and at the Garlands -- for local artists to showcase their talents.

For the time being, the library will continue to keep its gallery open, Executive Director Barbara Sugden said.

"We have loved having them be able to share all the exhibits (with us)," she said. "We are going to try and continue it in some way."

Barrington Village President Karen Darch said she too is disappointed by the council's demise.

"They have been a wonderful presence in the community," she said. "My hope is that it will be reorganized in some other form."

Tabel said she believes residents might not have been aware of just how many programs, from the annual Father's Day Art Festival to Fourth of July Run for the Arts, the council sponsored.

"The community maybe has forgotten or does not know what the BAAC has to contribute," Tabel said.

Cuba Township Supervisor David Nelson is confident an arts group will return in some form.

"I have heard enough buzz in the community that I don't think (the arts council) will be gone forever," Nelson said.

Anna Husain, a former council employee, she supports the idea of a performing arts center in the community.

"I hope that someone will come forward with work with the village to come up with a cultural arts center," she said.

Tabel is encouraging residents to e-mail her at artinbarrington@sbcglobal.net to try to gauge interest for a local performing arts center.

Barrington arts group influence wide, deep

As the Barrington Area Arts Council closes its doors this week after nearly 30, here is a look at the various events and programs it has sponsored:

•Visual Art Exhibits

•Gallery at the Library

•Gallery the Garlands

•Barrington Library Sculpture Garden

•Artist Slide Registry

•Visual Arts Award Scholarship

•Young Writers Project

•WHETSTONE Literary Booklet

•Barrington Writers Workshop

•Theater at the Gallery

•Summer Theater Workshop

•Poems, Pints & More

•Music in the Gallery

•Annual Summer Art Festival

•Walter E. Horban Classical Music Scholarship Competition

•Arts Weeks Grants

•Young Artists Exhibit

•ARTSBOOST Grants

•Fourth of July Run for the Arts

•Facets of Fiber Fashion Show

•Young Writers Workshop

•'Tis the Season Winter Show

Source: Barrington Area Arts Council