The West Central Illinois Arts Center is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing a place for artists to gather and share their work, a place for learning and exploring all the arts, and a place for active participation in arts related activities for all ages.

Why does Macomb and the West Central region of Illinois need an arts center? To provide an artistic outlet for the community, to serve as an economic driver for businesses and services, and to advance the quality of life for all local and regional residents.

Artistic Outlet

The future arts center will service the creators, performers, users, buyers, and lovers of all artistic disciplines. Studio-work stations will provide spaces where different art projects can be developed and classes can be taught with interaction occurring between beginner and proficient artists. Exhibitions, shows, and performances featuring local and visiting artists will be housed in this one-stop center for the arts. Specifically, fine arts such as the visual arts of painting, sculpting, jewelry and metal work, pottery, and textiles will be emphasized. In the performing arts, dance, theatre, instrumental and vocal music will be featured. Poetry, writing and storytelling will round out the literary offerings.

Economic Driver

A Macomb Downtown arts center would serve a fifty-mile radius area of West Central Illinois including such feeder communities as Carthage, Rushville, Bushnell, Roseville, Beardstown, Canton, and Good Hope. The Regional Arts Center will serve as a destination in the Macomb Downtown attracting active participation and spending by local residents and regional visitors. According to the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, in 2004 leisure travelers in Illinois included visiting art exhibits among their top six activities. Considering that in 2004 visitors to Illinois spent on average $116 per person per day with entertainment accounting for 7% of expenditures, local shopping, dining and hotel establishments stand to reap benefits from these travel dollars. Additionally, the so-called “cultural travelers” who visit cultural sites, spend more money on average, are more likely to stay at hotels, motels and B&Bs, stay longer, and are more educated.*

*(this information was taken from the Travel Industry Association of America 1997’s report “The Profile of Travelers Who Participate in Historic & Cultural Activities”)

Quality of Life

We are in the midst of a time when people of all ages are actively seeking meaning and opportunities for personal expression and growth. The arts, both the participation in and the enjoyment of, are a crucial way to tap into personal creativity and satisfaction. With overall decreased funding for the arts nationwide, it is imperative that local communities and regions assist in the cultural education of children and adults and fulfill residents’ needs for discovery, creative exploration and entertainment.