Detailed History
Spring 2002
The Regional Arts Center Initiative (RACI) for the West Central Illinois Arts
Center is started when many involved community members meet together and determine
there is a strong need for a regional arts center.
September 2002
RACI organizes an artist raffle in conjunction with the annual
Al Sears Jazz Festival. Works by three prominent local artists
are donated and raffled off during the festival.
October 2002
RACI provides artwork for the annual Taste of the Tri States
(WIUM/WIUW) Fundraiser.
January 2003
The By-Laws of the Regional Arts Center Initiative are written
and original board members are recruited.
April 2003
Phantom Art Gallery is organized and takes place in two empty
downtown Macomb storefronts. Funds from a Two Rivers Arts Council
grant are used to defray costs.
Spring 2003
Two local artists and one local quilter teach classes at Spoon
River Community College with proceeds benefiting RACI.
July 2003
RACI application for 501(c)3 status is submitted to the Internal
Revenue Service.
September 2003
RACI organizes an artist raffle in conjunction with the annual
Al Sears Jazz Festival. Works by three prominent local artists
are donated and raffled off during the festival.
October 2003
RACI provides artwork for the annual Taste of the
Tri States (WIUM/WIUW) Fundraiser.
March 2004
501(c)3 status received!
Musical event featuring Sally Weisenburg and the Famous Sidemen
is held at the Tri States Public Radio Performance Studio.
Reception at the Inselhaus Bed & Breakfast follows. The
project is funded in part with a Two Rivers Arts Council grant.
June 2004
First Wine Tasting Benefit at Chandler’s is sponsored
by the Wine Sellers with ticket proceeds donated to RACI. Local
artwork is featured prominently.
September 2004
RACI organizes an artist raffle in conjunction
with the annual Al Sears Jazz Festival/Gazebofest. Works by three
prominent local artists are donated and raffled off during the
festival.
October 2004
RACI provides artwork for the annual
Taste of the Tri States (WIUM/WIUW) Fundraiser at Magnolia’s
and organizes Studio Tour of downtown studio in conjunction with
event.
April 2005
RACI serves as a sponsor organization for a grant
application for a local labyrinth project.
June 2005
Wine Tasting Benefit at Chandler’s is sponsored
by the Wine Sellers with ticket proceeds donated to RACI. Local
artwork is again displayed.
October 2005
Musical event featuring Patrick Hazell held at the
Tri States Public Radio Performance Studio. Reception at the
Inselhaus Bed & Breakfast
followed.
Artwork is provided for the annual Taste of the Tri States (WIUM/WIUW) Fundraiser held at the Forum.
November 2005
RACI is a sponsor for the labyrinth/mandala project
at Project Insight School.
December 2005
Website www.regionalartscenter.org is
created.
March 2006
Updated business plan drafted and passed by Board
of Directors to offer more information to the community.
Board members attend Strategic Development Meeting with members
of the Illinois Arts Council.
April 2006
Newspapers report on the drafting of the new business
plan resulting in several requests for copies.
An Ex-Officio board is proposed consisting of local and state level dignitaries is developed
May – October 2006
WCIAC organizes and runs the successful Art in the Alleys Program held
on the second Saturday of each month.
June 2006
Third Annual Wine Tasting Benefit at Chandler’s
sponsored by the Wine Sellers with ticket proceeds donated to
RACI.
WCIAC organizes and executes a Heritage Days Art Gallery in the former JC Penney building Downtown. Over a dozen artists take part and attendance is heavy.
July 2006
WCIAC offers Youth Art event programming during an
outdoor performance of musical artist Laura Hall. The event is
held in conjunction with local businesses.
August 2006
Board members are invited to appear on Paul Kreider’s
arts themed television program on Western Illinois University
Channel 3.
September 2006
Board members and local artists take part in the annual
Taste of the Tri-States dinner, arranging for display of art
and a tour of local artist’s gallery space.
October 2006
Board members take part in community meetings with
representatives of ArtSpace, a not-for-profit agency out of Minneapolis.
They are looking at a development in the Macomb area.
December 2006
First in a proposed series of winter dinner theater
events (“Murder
at Café’ Noir”) is held to great success.
January 2007
Efforts commence to enable a community-requested vocal
education program by partially funding a graduate assistantship
in conjunction with Western Illinois University.
May 2007
Fourth Annual Wine Tasting Benefit at Chandler’s
sponsored by the Wine Sellers with ticket proceeds donated to
WCIAC.
September - December 2007
Vocal training classes are offered to the public
by WCIAC in conjunction with Western Illinois University by graduate
student Matt Brown. WCIAC funds 1/3 of the instructor’s
assistantship using raised funds.
December 2007
Winter dinner theatre presentation of “Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s
Wild Christmas Binge” is presented in conjunction with
Chandler’s. Funds raised go toward WCIAC operations and
projects.
January 2008
WCIAC moves forward with plans to raise capital by selling donated
properties in order to fund a future building purchase.
April 2008
WCIAC Board backs
a successful arts grant application by artist Kelley Quinn
June 2008
Fourth Annual Wine Tasting Benefit sponsored by the
Wine Sellers with ticket proceeds donated to WCIAC.
June - August 2008
30 days notice is received that the former Maurice’s /
Woolworth’s building in the Macomb Downtown is to be auctioned.
This building has long been the preferred option for a regional
arts center. The Board goes on an intensive fundraising campaign
and eventually comes up with over $90,000 to take part in the
auction. The City of Macomb shows support for the organization’s
vision by making a loan of $100,000.00 available to the Board
to bid. The organization purchases the building for $114,000.00.
September 2008
WCI Arts Center becomes an emergency gallery as torrential rains
threaten the displays at the Gazebo Arts Festival. Perishable
works are moved into the first floor and the show goes on.
At the end of this month, WCIAC officially takes possession
of the property located at 25 East Side Square. After six years
of volunteer efforts WCIAC has a home… and it was the
one they wanted.
October 2008
The WCI Arts Center becomes an attraction on the “Ghost
Tours” held through the Halloween season.
November 2008
First “official” WCIAC show “A Celebration
of Community” is held as well as a student show by attendees
of West Prairie High School. A reception for major donors is
held as well.
December 2008
WCIAC takes part in Macomb’s annual “Dickens on the
Square” celebration for the first time.
February 2009
“Beginnings” dance program featuring
original choreography by Candace Winters-March and her students
takes place.
March 2009
Roof of the WCI Arts Center is replaced. Volunteers
begin the lengthy process of cleaning years of debris from the
top two floors.
April 2009
A juried student art show, “Across the Ages,” is
held at the WCI Arts Center. Dr. Te Ma presents “Art for
Chairs”, a fundraiser with proceeds going to purchase chairs
for both the WCI Arts Center and the Western
Illinois Museum.
As a result, 100 chairs are purchased to be used by the two groups.
May 2009
A contract for
the removal of the 1960s vintage metal building façade
was entered into by the Board.
June 2009
Fifth Annual Wine Tasting Benefit at Taylor’s Hall sponsored
by the Wine Sellers with ticket proceeds donated to WCIAC. The
building façade is removed, exposing the original brick
and a “ghost sign” reading “Wyne Dry Goods” is
revealed to great support from the community. WCIAC takes part
in Heritage Days by making the Center available to the “Friends
of Vishnu” group.
July 2009
A comprehensive “goals and objectives” retreat, facilitated
by WCIAC underwritten Peace Corps fellow Kara Kinder is held.
The visual arts show “In and Out” featuring several
regional artists is a feature.
August 2009
Live performances of the two-person play “Love Letters” starring
Equity actors Mike Genovese & Ellen Crawford are held. A
one year anniversary party for the WCI Arts Center is held for
friends and supporters of the group. A display, “Art at
the Brickyard,” featuring works developed at the Moses
King Brickyard historical site by various artists was featured
as well.
September 2009
Live performances of the opera event “Goblin Market” starring
Kitty Karn are held.
October 2009
The WCI Arts Center is again a part of the ongoing “Haunted
Tours.” Various community groups begin to rent the first
floor on an ongoing basis, creating a small cash flow stream
to add to that from the buildings existing retail renter.
December 2009
The winter exhibit “Holiday Salon” takes place.
January 2010
A display of quilting arts and a guest appearance by quilt artist
and author Sue Van Wassenhove take place. This is a dual display
with a companion exhibit taking place at the Western
Illinois Museum.
February 2010
Performances of the award winning play “The Laramie Project” take
place in the WCI Arts Center.
History of the WCI Arts Center
A Brief Overview
In early 2002, a group of involved community members formed
the Regional Arts Center Initative (RACI). A board
was formed and By-Laws were written. On March of 2004, RACI
received 501(c)3 status.
The Board and volulnteers begin to hold fundrasing events and organize community events to raise awareness of local artists.
In January 2008 donated properties are sold to fund the purchase of a building. By summer, the long preferred location is scheduled to be auctioned. With 30 days notice the Board begins an intensive capital campaign raising $90,000. The City of Macomb shows support for the organization's vision by making a loan of $100,000 available to the Board to bid on the property. The organization purchases the building for $114,000.
At the end of September 2008, WCIAC officially takes possession of the property located at 25 East Side Square. After six years of volunteer efforts WCIAC has a home.
On November 15, 2008 the first “official” WCIAC exhibition, A Celebration of Community opens. In February the first dance performance, Beginnings, is held, choreography by Candance Winters- March and her students. Both mark the begining of a regular schedule of engaging exhibits, performances and events.
