Cultural Council Marks its 30th Anniversary
The Northwest Cultural Council, a non-profit arts organization serving area suburbs, is celebrating its 30th year, connecting residents with visual arts and poetry that "explore the range of human experience and expression," says Kathy Umlauf, founder and executive director.
"Art and poetry are open to interpretation, and people in our communities can enjoy learning from what the council offers, whether or not they have an arts background," Umlauf adds.
Founded in December 1988, the NWCC provides programs including corporate gallery exhibitions by experienced artists, co-sponsored by businesses, convention and visitors' bureaus, libraries, and hospitals; art competitions to stimulate and promote artists; and poetry readings and workshops taught by award-winning poets. Programs involve both adults and students.
The council exhibits area high school students' poetry that is written about work produced by adult artists. Student-poets read their work at artists' receptions held at the Arlington Green Executive Center in Arlington Heights.
Further, "Spotlights," the council's newsletter, features interviews with artists and poets, poems by its teacher-poets and workshop attendees, and photos of exhibited artwork.
Umlauf never intended to found an arts organization, but fell into it. "I had just completed my term as president of the Barrington Area Arts Council when I was approached by a research committee at Harper College about what cultural opportunities could be offered to Northwest Corridor residents in the coming decades," she says.
The committee largely consisted of executives from corporations throughout the area, such as David Hill of Kimball Hill Homes of Rolling Meadows, who later provided office space and was a benefactor until his death in 2008.
William H. Bolinder, president of Zurich-American Insurance Group, became the council's first president and invited the organization to open a gallery in the company's lobby. His firm also assisted with the design of the council's newsletter.
Further, Richard Goode of Northrop Corporation offered his printing services for the newsletter. Now, Northrop prints almost 5,000 copies of each quarterly issue that reach patrons, libraries, non-profits, and businesses.
The NWCC received the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education Service Award in 1999 for having shown "tremendous ability to connect with community businesses, educators, and professional artists." Through the years, the NWCC has organized community fine arts and crafts festivals, and classical chamber music concerts by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, sponsored by corporations.
Today, Umlauf says she most enjoys bringing "exceptional art and poetry to the public," and greeting residents at its free receptions to meet its artists and poets. Many attend from throughout the metro area.
The Corporate Gallery Program, developed by Katheryn Stanaszek, formerly of Arlington Heights, has featured work of 219 artists in 26 corporate galleries. The NWCC finds its artists through word-of-mouth and press releases it sends to newspapers. It seeks more artists and more gallery space to accommodate them.
Umlauf strives to further partnerships for its programs with schools, community organizations, and businesses "to enhance the culture of the immediate area and beyond."
One NWCC artist, Dean Caminiti of Palatine, has exhibited wood relief sculptures since 2011. "Being an NWCC artist gives me the opportunity to display my work in many galleries and reach a wide demographic of potential collectors," he says.
Caminiti, like all NWCC exhibitors, is required to volunteer time to the organization. "I enjoy designing the council's newsletter, as it gives me the chance to flex my graphic art skills, and it allows the organization to enlighten residents about art and poetry," he adds.
Besides Arlington Green Executive Center's gallery that invites NWCC exhibits, there are these: Moats Gallery in Palatine; the Wellness Center of Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights; Rolling Meadows Library; and Fremont Public Library in Mundelein.
Free gallery receptions are sponsored by tenants of the Arlington Green Executive Center and participating libraries, and galleries are open during business hours.
Robert Cobb of Rolling Meadows, another exhibitor and retired high school art teacher, has exhibited with the NWCC for 20 years, about three times annually. Cobb advises other artists on how to set up their shows.
One of Cobb's most significant contributions was in leading the Kids Meet Art ™ program for first through twelfth grade students. This has been cut from the curriculum to make more room for basic academics.
"I visited schools giving art lessons, using as a teaching model the inspiration of artist Joseph Cornell who had the idea to provide people with 'memory boxes,' " Cobb says. Cobb brought cigar boxes for students to fill with special mementos like photographs and trinkets, spurring their imaginations to be creative. The program was sponsored by OMRON, now of Hoffman Estates, and provided one-on-one training.
Among the benefits of engaging students in the arts, are allowing them to gain self-esteem and self-confidence, Umlauf believes. She says that in creating art or learning another artistic skill, "the student is internalizing discipline and growing into an independent, thoughtful individual, not dependent on group association for approval."
However, Umlauf is mindful of the challenges non-profits face in carrying out their mission, especially with reduced funding since the recession.
Umlauf would like to resurrect Kids Meet Art ™, if schools will allow it, but it is costly compensating outside artists and getting art supplies.
"Kids Meet Art ™ was an extremely successful program, and I feel the arts are currently largely ignored and missed by young people," Umlauf says.
Besides its art programs, NWCC poetry workshops are held three hours monthly at the Palatine Public Library, with space funded by poet Nancy Heggam of Palatine, and annual support through Poets & Writers magazine for five poet workshop leaders. Participants pay a nominal fee.
"Our poetry program also has a loyal following, as many of our attendees have been published after honing their skills here," Umlauf says.
All workshop leaders are published poets and recognized in the academic community throughout the metro area. Further, three U.S. Poet Laureates have been speakers: William Stafford, Mona Van Duyn, and Mark Strand. Umlauf's goal is to schedule more Poet Laureates.
Gail Goepfert of Palatine, a longtime poet, selects workshop leaders, attends workshops, and facilitated one. "NWCC workshops provide a much-needed opportunity for learning from prolific poets and authors," she says. These workshops offer exercises, writing ideas, instruction in various poetic forms, and critiques.
Umlauf runs the organization from her home office in Deer Park with all volunteer help, except for a part-time office assistant. She credits her 14-member board of business people and arts' patrons for guidance.
For more information, you may visit NWCC's website, www.northwestculturalcouncil.org, contact it by email, nwcc@att.net, or call 847-368-692