Rockford Area Arts Council - Arts for Everyone

Dear Arts Enthusiasts,
The Rockford Area Arts Council is proud to be reporting the past year's successes. Your support allows the Arts Council to reach out in our region to bring the arts to everyone, young and old, from every economic and ethnic background. Here are the highlights of the 2011-2012 season.

•ArtsPlace
The Arts Council offered ArtsPlace for the seventeenth consecutive summer. ArtsPlace is an arts apprenticeship program for youth ages 14-18 with priority given to youth from low income families. Its mission is to mentor the development of youth through the arts.

ArtsPlace is essentially an entrepreneurial enterprise in which the youth are engaged in all aspects of the business: creating the product, pricing, advertising, selling, budgeting, problem solving, continuous evaluation and improvement of the product. Arts performances are created and presented to the public; original artwork is exhibited and sold. To authentically replicate real work experience, proceeds earned by the sale of the artwork and ticket sales for performances are awarded to the ArtsPlace apprentices.

All teams participate in community service through offering performances in the community, donating art to local benefits and teaching younger children art in neighborhood parks. Through the process of creating art, the youth learn to set goals and identify obstacles to overcome or avoid. They create strategies for achievement that will positively impact their lives.

ArtsPlace was held at Rockford College's Clark Arts Center. Artists this year: Bruce McDonald was the on-site Co-Director. Teaching artists were: Marco Basurto (sculpture), Maya Simmons (painting), Tamara Newquist (dance), Richard Raether (theater) and Tricia Sheridan (Spoken Word Poetry & Jewelry). The culmination of this year's ArtsPlace program highlighted the finished work of the students in "Emerge...Rockford's Got Talent" an art exhibit, sale and a collaborative performance featuring dance, theater, poetry and visual arts.
(51 youth/ages 14-18)

• RAAC Camp
The Rockford Area Arts Council offered RAAC Camp, a two-week camp for young Creatives, ages 5-13 who love to sing, draw, dance, rap and make movies from July 16-26 at Ellis Arts Academy. Artists this year: Alonzo Russell (Hip Hop Dance), Brad Koloch (music & Rap), David Causey (dramatic arts), Esteban Perez (visual art), Lenny
French (cartooning) and Nicole Rundall-Royal (modern dance). On the final day a performance and exhibit were held for family and friends. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, City of Rockford, Rockford School District #205 and an Individual Donor. (90 children attended)

• After-School Programs
We were the lead agency for Ellis Arts Academy After-School Achievement program. The purpose of the program is to improve reading and math skills through direct instruction on identified deficiencies, provides a safe environment for the children after school and increase their skills and enjoyment of the arts. Individual artists worked at these additional sites: Haskell, Conklin and Lewis Lemon. A high school program at Jefferson where students participated in poetry and hip hop dance. (10 artists were employed part-time and 500 children/youth).

• ArtsPlus
Is a committee sponsored by the Arts Council and comprised of arts and cultural organizations that have a commitment to arts education. This year the committee planned activities for the month of March which is "Arts in Education Month." March for the Arts activities included: Mayoral proclamation, participation in the St. Patrick's Day parade, arts advocacy blogs for the Rockford Register Star, and statements on the importance of arts education at performances and exhibitions throughout the month.

• Alignment Rockford
The goal of this group is to garner community support for District 205's strategic plan. It is modeled after an organization in Nashville. Sharon Nesbit-Davis serves on the K-5 reading and math committee. The focus of the committee is encouraging parent involvement in the schools. The committee has selected parents of kindergarten students at King Elementary school as its first project. This summer the committee accepted proposals from community agencies to engage parents. Proposals accepted included Parent Cafes from the YWCA and family story time event from the Rockford Dance Company. Family nights have been planned throughout the school year 2011-12.

• Educator's Memorial Fund
This is a program created initially to honor Eileen Michaely who was an arts in education advocate and first Chair of Education for the Arts Council. The focus of the program funded through donations and interest from a portion of the Endowment bequeathed by Eileen Michaely estated, remains on teaching classroom teachers in District 205 to infuse arts into all curricular areas. Grant funds are available for teachers to work with an artist to develop arts lesson plans to enhance curriculum. The funds were not dispensed this year as no teachers applied for the funding. We understand this is due to the emphasis on testing for reading and math and lack of time and support to present lesson plans that have not been proven to increase test scores. We believe this will change in the near future and are encouragedbythe District’s decision to re-instate the seven period day, the return of LuAnn Widergren as Fine Arts Director, and the commitment of the District to the new Kennedy Center Partnership.

• Kennedy Center Partnership
TTThe Rockford Area Arts Council and District 205 were among twelve cities selected to become Kennedy Center Partners in Education. Anne O'Keefe, CEO of the Arts Council and Julie Palkowski, then Vice Principal of Fine Arts for District 205, were inducted in April at a ceremony in Washington and participated in a three day training to begin the planning phase of an arts integration training and implementation plan for District 205. ETTA (Education Through the Arts) committee comprised of District arts specialists, arts organization representatives, and community artists and the newly appointed Fine Arts Director, LuAnn Widergren, are designing a pilot project. Anne O'Keefe, LuAnn Widergren, and Sharon Nesbit-Davis will attend the Kennedy Center annual meeting and training in 2013.

•Arts Assessment
The Arts Council received a special grant from the Illinois Arts Council to bring Arnold Aprill, founder and consultant for CAPE (Chicago Arts Partnership in Education) to meet with area arts organizations and assist them in creating authentic assessments for their education programs. Based on extensive interviews and consultations with Chicago area arts organizations, CAPE has designed a methodology for developing, implementing, and analyzing assessments of arts learning, and for planning arts education program improvement based on meaningful assessment data. Mr. Aprill also met with the Fine Arts Director for District 205 and presented a workshop for community artists and arts specialists on creating assessments.

• Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Competition
Poetry Out Loud is a free national program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Poetry Out Loud encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, which help students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary heritage. The Illinois Arts Council designated the Rockford Area Arts Council as the regional coordinator of the Northern Illinois Poetry Out Loud competition. The regional competition was held at Rockford Baha'i Center on February 23, 2012. Participating schools this year were: Auburn, Freeport, Guilford, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Spectrum high schools. Winner, Xavier Kimbrough of Auburn and first runner up Amanda Clark of Auburn went on to compete in the state competition held in Springfield in March. Jacob Dokken of Jefferson was the alternate. (approximately 300 people in attendance). This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

2012 Grant Recipients
On Thursday, February 2, the Rockford Area Arts Council and its Board of Directors recognized recipients of its 2012 Community Arts Access Grants at a reception held at the Rockford Park District. The Rockford Area Arts Council awarded nearly $20,000 in grants to artists, arts organizations and community groups. These grants are made possible in part by the Illinois Arts Council, City of Rockford and generous members. We would like to thank all our grants recipients for their fine contributions to the community through the arts!

2012 Community Arts Access Grant Recipients

Artists Ensemble Theater
Production of Gee's Bend as a community outreach program $750

Boone County Arts Council
"The 5th Grade" Arts Festival" exposing students to various art mediums $800

Careers, Etc.
1st Brigade Band Concert & Living History Veterans Day Event $750

Carpenter's Place
"We the People" community mural project for homeless guests $1,250

Circles of Learning
"Through the Eyes of a Child - A Continuation" introducing photography to 2nd-5th grade low income children $500

Festival of Fantasy
Children's Halloween parade and costume contest at Edgebrook Mall $500

Hip Hop Congress of Rockford, IL
Festival where street art meets performance art to showcase local urban art forms $1,000

Kantorei, The Singing Boys of Rockford
"This Land is Your Land - A Tapestry of a Song" collaboration with Rock Valley Children's Choir & RSO for 4th & 5th grade students $1,000

Kishwaukee College Family Literacy Program
"Hola!" Folk Art of Mexico - Families will create Mexican life and symbols in clay sculpture and bark (Amate) painting $800

Mendelssohn Performing Art Center
"Songs of the World" public concert and workshops for students by Donald Fraser $1,000

Midway Village Museum
"Old River Tales" a play bringing historical and cultural roots to underserved children and audiences $500

Milestone, Inc.
"Unlocking the Artist" a project to expose the arts to adults and children at Milestone $500

Natural Land Institute
"Art in Nature" collaboration with Klehm Arboretum & Tinker Cottage Museum to present an after-school program $800

Rockford Art Museum
"Into the Light: Illinois Glass" four-month exhibition $1,200

Rockford Dance Company
"Dance 4 Hope" collaboration with Barbara Olson Center of Hope to develop a dance therapy program for BOCOH individuals $1,700

Rockford Lutheran Schools
"Hometown History Rockford" a musical presented to RPS205 3rd grade students $750

Rockford Park District
"Sounds of Summer" Free Music Concert Series $600

Rockford Rescue Mission
"Art for Recovery" introducing women at RRM to hands-on art projects $750

Rockford Symphony Orchestra
RSO Youth Concert and Matinee performance of Beethoven Live! $1,250

Rockford Wind Ensemble
"Tenth Annual Youth Honors Band" workshop and performance $1,275

The Music Academy Foundation
"Let Music Soar; The Emotion Connection" Winter Workshop $1,000

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
"Dia de los Muertos" connecting Tinker to the Hispanic community through culturally relevant celebration $800

TOTAL 2012 Community Arts Access Grants....$19,475

THANKS TO OUR 2012 DONORS AND SPONSORS

$5,000 and up
City of Rockford
Gloyd Family Foundation
Hamilton Sundstrand
Illinois Arts Council

ARTS ANGEL
Alpine Bank
William & Leah Baskin
Bergstrom, Inc.
BMO Harris Bank Center
John & Colleen Holmbeck
Janet Kjellstrom
Mary Ann Smith

ARTS CHERUB
Jim & Karen Barbagallo
Doug & Helen Brooks
John & Sue Brubaker
Steve & Lisa Carter
Jody Goff
Graham Spencer Advertising Design
The Ben Harding Family Foundation
Sjostrom & Sons Foundation, Inc.

ARTS FANATIC
Albano & Lynn Andreini
Paul & Teri Baits
Dick & Lon Behr
Arthur & Elaine Breck
Norris & Marilyn Dougherty
Roger & Wendy Fisher
Karen Harding
Dan & Cathy Herdeman
Edward & Beth Howard
Todd & Cynthia Karnitz
Larson & Darby, Inc.
Danny & Kristie Lorden
Michael & Crystal Mastroianni
John & Barbara McNamara
Scott & Becky Morris
Courtney Oertel
Steven & Judy Penticoff
Ed & Tamara Rentschler
Rosecrance Health Network
Michael & Julie Shalbrack
Jack & Barbara Simon
William & Julie Snively
Phil & Paula Turner
Frank & Jennifer Wehrstein
Doug & Diane Wilson

ARTS ENTHUSIAST
Dr. Jeffrey Allen
David & Karen Anderson-Wade
Robert Apolloni
Paul & Teri Baits
Fred & Marie Beck
Kurt & Sarah Bell
Vint & Susan Buckwalter
Lois Cannell Ramon
Nicholas & Carole Carbone
Mary-Stuart Carruthers
John & Diane Cobb
Jim & Connie Coffey
John Cook
Rena Cotsones
George & Sharon Davis
Joan Davis
Elizabeth Dickinson
Paul Dickover
Philip & Kathy Dierstein
Jack & Zelka Dillon
Kelly Epperson
Eric & Gretchen Ericson
Janyce Fadden
Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Franchini
Thomas & Darlene Furst
Gaffney Bolt Company
Stephen & Jean Geller
Susan Grans
Ginny Gregory
Fred & Maxine Hadley
Terrie Hall
Bob & Nadine Hallstrom
Margaret Henning
Ron & Barb Herbig
Thomas & Helen Hill
Lon & Mary Ann Hoegberg
Kay Hotchkiss
Steven & Alise Howlett
Jim & Pam Keeling
Curt & Laurie Kleckler
Larry & Judy Larson
Mark & Lisa Lindman
Scott & Mona Lindvall
Dan & Amy Loescher
Paul & Jodean Logli
Stephanie Lombardi
Roger & Nancy Lundstrom
Mr. & Mrs. Leo Lynch
Thomas & Lynn McConville
Betsey McCoy
Norm & Anne Meyer
Todd & Sarilyn Neiber
John C. Nelson
Steve & Carole Newcomer
Jim & Gwen Novak
Marilyn O'Keefe
Patrick O'Keefe
Anne E. O'Keefe
Leslie & Lisbeth Pearson
Pecatonica Pharmacy
Del & Lois Peterson
Charles & Judith Picus
Rick & Judith Pollack
Powmet, Inc.
PR Etc., Inc.
Charles Prorok & Marcia Mueller
Stephanie Quinn
Joyce Ramer
Peter & Margie Ricker
Rockford Consulting & Brokerage
Joe & Mary Jo Ross
Joel Ross
Claire Rotolo
Dick & Ann Rundall
James & Arline Sadlon
Frank & Gayanne Schepley
Thomas & Karen Schiller
Tom & Karen Shifo
Specialty Screw Company
Karlyn Spell
Ken & Pat Staaf
Larry & Tricia Sweeney
Bill & Cathie Thiede
Craig & Dawn Thomas
Connie Tucker
Tom & Karen Walsh
Watt Publishing
Jonathan & Nancy Whitlock
Glen & Laura Wiegert
Susan Williams
Alesa Wurfel
Don & Betty Zimmerman

ARTS SUPPORTER
Paul & Shauna Arco
Kathie Ayres & Ted Ross
Dr. & Mrs. Brian & Andrea Bear
David & Kohnne Bippus
William & Karyn Bohl
Roger & Lynda Bohn
Karen Brown
Richard & Phyllis Brynteson
Michael Bugler
Warren & Marilyn Cade
Mary Caskey
Libby Chiu
Tom Clabough
Janice Clinton
Bob & Charlie Corder
Bill Daer
Joseph & Diane Dailing
Peter Damby
Mike & Sharon DeDoncker
Charles & Mary DeHaan
Joseph & Susan Drennan
Judy Emerson
George & Janet Farbotko
La Vona Farney
Ann Fee
Terrance & Lois Fisher
Chellis & Reggie French
Robert & Karen Furgason
Doug & Debbie Gass
Stephen & Jean Geller
Jeanette Jess Geraghty
Robert & Bonnie Gosdick
Don & Shirley Hacker
David & Anne Hagney
Rachel Handlin & Michael Beert
Shirley Henley
Beth Heuer
Jane Hooker
Frank & Laura Houtkamp
Dick & Margret Hynes
Ruth Jackson
Roberta Jacobson
Dick & Joanne Johnson
Mark & Nancy Kalchbrenner
Peter & Mary Jo Keffer
John & Margaret Kleber
Norm Knott
Bengt & Mary Kuller
Jude & Patricia Lai
John & Marilyn Lamar
Herbert & Ruby Lash
Anita Layng
Jay & Christy Lenox
Tom Littrell
Fred & Faye Marcus
Paul & Agnes Mastrangeli
Don & Judith McCanse
Edith McCauley
Bruce & Deborah McDonald
Hugh & Lydia McHugh
James & Helen Millikin
Michelle Minick
Bill & Martha Mitchell
Neil & Marlene Mizen
Bruce & Judy Moe
Therese Moncelle
Stephen & Janet Moore
Don & Doris Mosser
Deborah Newton
Melody Newton
Webbs & Mary Norman
Beverly O'Keefe
Dorothy Paige-Turner
Jeff & Julie Palkowski
Alice Pampe
Raymond & Jo Marie Paul
Jerry Paulson
Fred & Becky Pelley
Jeffrey Powell
Joyce Ramer
Joyce Ramer
Lori Rauser
Dr. & Mrs. Gary Rifkin
Tim & Carrie Rollins
Barbara Ross-Shannon
Attorney Sherri Rudy
Una Ryan
Doug & Tammy Scott
Mark & Julie Seger
Duane & Rulee Stallmann
Larry & Ann Stegall
Stephen & Suzette Symes
Steven & Marcia Terrill
Bert & Kathy Thomas
Dean & Pat Tollefsrud
Don & Debbie Vidican
Shawn & Kathy Way
William & Marijean Whitcher

ARTS FRIEND
Valerie Abramat
Jean Apgar
Richard & Sally Baker
Kathleen Barch
Zachary Bavirsha
John & Sandra Beck
Donald & Suzanne Berger
Barbara Berney
David Black
Shannon Blosser-Salisbury
ThomasBrain
Sheila Carey
Paul & Jeannette Colombi
Joel & Judy Cowen
Vicki Crone
Jody Deery
Mike & Colleen Delany
Audrey Doll
Julie Ekstam
PriscillaFlynn-Heath
Lyle & Martha Frantz
Lenny French
Katie Ganrude
Patricia Gomez
John Gradick
Ellen Grall
Eugene & Lola Gustafson
Gerrie Gustafson
Charlotte Hackin
Dawn Hallsten & Don Mateer
Adrienne Hare
Lucia Hauge Agency
Bernard & MaryHealy
Tom Heflin
Joe & Arles Hendershott Love
Cynthia Hill
Shirley Holzwarth
Tim Hughes
Walnut Hulling
Ted & Teresa Ingrassia
Dr. Karl & Carol Jacobs
Charles Johannsen
Wayne & Janet Jones
Doris Kampfe
Dan & Sandra Kelly
Swav & Monica Krysztopa
Mary Kuchenmeister
Ed & Lee Ladenburger
ThomasLamb
Jean Larsen
Joseph Like
Robert Lindvall
John Lombardo
Richard & Barbara Lunde
Rod & Jessica MacDonald
Doug & Sally Mark
Kathryn Martin
Jane McAfee
Kari McDonald
Jim & Lois McDowell
Sally Medernach
Ethel Migra
Jeanneil Miller-Paul
Joseph & Josephine Morrissey
Jeanne Moyer
Timothy Muldowney
Dennis & Earlynn Mullins
Rudy & Laura Ortiz
Carol Ostrom
Jack & Lavonne Packard
Rex & Carol Parker
Carolyn Pearson
Carolyn Plummer
Mary Jo Powers
Kanwal & Meenakshi Prashar
Christopher Reisetter
Trish Rooney
Ben Rosecrans
Kathy Roushey
Andrew & Michele Scarpaci
Pamela Schallhorn
Mark & Julie Seger
Harvey & Natalie Share
Christopher Sisson
Gene & Mary Lib Skerkoske
Robert Smith
Stuart & Polly Smith
Robert Soltau
Peg Sowle
Susan Sunday
Jeff & Christine Swanberg
Senator Dave Syverson
Donna Thomas
Mark & Pamela Thompson
Barry Treu
EleanorTurbyville
Meghan Turley
Gabor & Nancy von Lugossy
Diane Voneida
Teri Watts
Richard & Jane Weigle
John & Beverley Whitehead
Marcia Williams
Carolyn Williams
Henry Wilson
Kristin Wilson
Sheila Winckler
Joseph Zimmer

Organization Members
AgeQuake Theatre
Alpha Chi Omega Alumnae Club
Anderson Gardens
Artists' Ensemble Theater
Boone County Arts Council
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Camerata Emanon Singers
Children's Theatre Project
Crossroads Blues Society
Discovery Center Museum
Edgebrook
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Flute Club of Rockford
Indian Valley Theatre
Kantorei, The Singing Boys of Rockford
Kishwaukee Valley Concert Band
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Main Street Players of Boone County
Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center
Midway Village Museum
Natural Land Institute
NIU College of Visual & Performing Arts
NIU School of Theater & Dance
Northern Illinois Wood Turners
Northern Public Radio/WNIU-WNIJ
Pec Playhouse Theatre
Rock Valley College Starlight Theatre
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Rockford Art Museum
Rockford Chamber Players
Rockford College Art Gallery
Rockford Coronado Concert Association
Rockford Dance Company
Rockford Jazz Ensemble
Rockford Lutheran Choral Union
Rockford Lutheran School
Rockford Park District
Rockford Public Library
Rockford Symphony Orchestra
Rockford Wind Ensemble
Rockford Woman's Club
Rockford Writers' Guild
Rosecrance
Sigma Alpha Iota
Spectrum School
The Tiffany Trio
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
Veterans Memorial Hall
Womanspace

Matching Donors
United Technologies Matching Gift Program

ArtsPlace Sponsors
$10,000 and above
Rockford Park District
$5,000 and above
Illinois Department of Human Services
$2,000 and above
Alpine Kiwanis
J.L. Clark
$25-$100
Ginny Gregory
Sally Medernach
Anne E. O'Keefe

In-Kind
Rockford Park District

2012 State of the Arts Awards Recipients
The Rockford Area Arts Council hosted the 2012State of the Arts Awards Luncheon on October 3rd at Cliffbreakers Restaurant. This annual fundraiser honored recipients of the Mayor's Arts Awards and celebrated achievements in the arts for the past year. Congratulations to the 2012 State of the Arts Awards Recipients and Event Sponsors!

Award Recipients

Individual Artist
Prince Alonzo Russell

Lawrence E. Gloyd Community Impact
Christine Swanberg

Creative Cultural Event
"Rockford Hometown History" presented by Rockford Lutheran Schools

Event Sponsors
Alpine Bank
BMO Harris Bank
The Buchanan Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
Cliffbreakers
CWB Foundation
Eckburg & Bates
Event Floral
Northern Public Radio
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
Rockford Bank & Trust
Savant
SwedishAmerican Foundation
WilliamsMcCarthy

A Note to Our Donors....
You deserve to be properly recognized for your contributions and we strive for 100 percent accuracy. If we have made an error, please contact our office at 815-963-6765 with any corrections.