FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Paula Danoff, [email protected]
(847) 475-5300, ext. 206
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Norah Diedrich, [email protected]
(847) 475-5300, ext. 202
THE EVANSTON ART CENTER ACQUIRES 1717 CENTRAL STREET FOR ITS FUTURE HOME
EAC’s Expanded Campus And New Multidisciplinary Arts Program Will Engage New Audiences And Deepen Its Impact In The Community
The Evanston Art Center’s 2012 strategic plan and vision for the future will be realized at 1717 Central Street, Evanston IL. The Art Center, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3), will relocate from its current facility at 2603 Sheridan Road, its home since 1966, into the 20,000 sq. ft. building on east Central Street. The Art Center will also move its art studios currently housed at 927 Noyes Street to the new site. A complete renovation of the mid-century modern building will begin in November, transforming this former office space into the place where creativity meets community. The Art Center’s capital campaign, SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE, which launched in July, has collected $1,800,000 in contributions toward its $2,500,000 goal. The Art Center plans to begin programming from 1717 Central Street for its summer session 2015.
“The Evanston Art Center is a distinct and welcome addition to our Central Street business district and will be a magnet for neighbors, shoppers, and the Northshore artists' community,” said Jane Grover, Evanston’s 7th Ward Alderman.
Ra Joy, Executive Director of Arts Alliance Illinois added, "We look forward to seeing the continued positive impact the reimagined and updated Center will make on Evanston's community, culture, and economy."
The new facility will include innovative elements designed to encourage an open, vibrant atmosphere, such as movable gallery walls, large overhead entrance doors, flex spaces that allow for multiple activities, and an exposed structure.
Attractive amenities such as dedicated parking, an elevator to all floors, natural light, polished concrete gallery floors, dedicated youth classroom spaces, and the Art Bar, for coffee, will add to the appeal. This location is ideally situated near public transportation, restaurants and shops.
The transformed space and accessible location will provide an ideal platform for fostering new connections and exploring user-generated programming. Multidisciplinary and intergenerational arts activities and classes will be offered in culinary, design, digital fabrication, film, language, movement, music, new media, performance, and visual arts. An exploration of the porous boundaries between artistic practices and the open design of the interior will encourage a rich ecology of innovative ideas and self-discovery.
The four programming focus areas will be creative youth development, lifelong learning, arts professional development and community engagement and partnerships. The Art Center’s new mobile art van, Art VanGo, will continue to bring arts activities out into the community. In addition to classes and public programs, 1717 Central Street will be an inspirational location for private event and corporate meeting rentals.
“Having a local arts center is critical to the development of our young people,” said Nick Gehl, Department Chair of Fine Arts at Evanston Township High School. “The habits of mind developed in the studio provide the critical thinking skills necessary to make a difference in our immediate and larger communities. Creativity and innovation will be necessary to solve our future problems and enhance our way of life and both are skillsets that are directly shaped in the arts.”
For over 85 years, the Evanston Art Center has served a diverse community of artists, students and arts enthusiasts from all backgrounds and experience levels. Art classes in many disciplines, exhibitions, and community outreach activities comprise the core programming. Today, the Art Center is one of the largest and most respected community arts centers in the region. Over 30,000 individuals from more than 80 zip codes participate in Art Center programming with many programs and all exhibitions free and open to the public seven days a week. The Evanston Art Center Gallery Hours: Mon – Thurs, 10am to 6pm; Fri – Sat, 10am to 4pm; Sun, 1pm to 4pm
You can visit the Evanston Art Center on Facebook: www.facebook.com/evanston.art or follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/evartcenter.
~ ~ ~
Podolsky|Circle CORFAC International (www.podolsky.com) coordinated the negotiations for the Central Street facility after an exhaustive search of the greater Evanston area. They provided comprehensive commercial real estate services, ranging from strategic planning and site selection to acquisition and financing consultation.
The Evanston Art Center was provided further assistance by counsel Coree Smith at Kirkland & Ellis, lender First Bank & Trust and Design-Build contractor The Dobbins Group. Evanston Art Center Trustees, staff and many generous capital campaign contributors have made this transformative move and building renovation possible; this level of commitment reaffirms the importance of the arts and the Evanston Art Center to the wellbeing of individuals, communities and creative economies.
# # #