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The Oak Park Area Arts Council Announces Recipients of ArtsFunds 2011

The Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC) is pleased to award $31,870 in ArtsFunds for 2011 to 24 organizations.

The following organizations were introduced at the OPAAC Annual Meeting on March 22nd: Bella Voce, Chicago a cappella, Chicago West Community Music Center, Children’s Museum (Wonder Works), Circle Theatre, Dominican University Performing Arts Center, Ernest Hemingway Foundation, Expressions Graphics, Heritage Chorale, Michael Teolis Singers, Momenta, Oak Park Art League, Oak Park Concert Chorale, Oak Park Education Foundation – Art Start, Oak Park Festival Theatre, PING! (Providing Instruments to the Next Generation), Pleasant Home Foundation, Pro Musica Youth Chorus, Senior Citizens’ Center of Oak Park & River Forest, Sense of Urgency, Steckman Studio of Music, Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest, Unity Temple Concert Series, and Winifred Haun & Dancers.

The OPAAC is honored to partner with Community Bank of Oak Park and River Forest for their sponsorship of the Best in Class Awards. This year, the CBOPRF Best in Class Awards were presented to ArtsFunds recipient organizations that have adapted creatively to the challenging economic times. The ArtsFunds review panel selects these organizations after reviewing grant applications. CBOPRF will present each Best in Class organization with a $1,000 cash award at the Arts Council’s ArtsFunds Breakfast on June 17, 2011. The Community Bank of Oak Park & River Forest Best in Class Awards for 2011 will be presented to: Circle Theatre, Expressions Graphics and Unity Temple Concert Series.

2011 ArtsFunds panel members were: William Wallace - Chair, CFO, Merit School of Music in Chicago and former OPAAC Board President; Jennifer Avers, Community Arts Activist and Nonprofit Arts Management Consultant; Michelle Bibbs, Director of Cultural Grants, Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture; John Milan, Musician and Music Teacher; Sarita Smith Childs, Dancer, Investment Advisor and former OPAAC Board Member; and Lance Taylor, Lawyer and OPAAC Board Member.

The Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC) is a not-for-profit community arts organization that is partially funded by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest.

Because we believe art is intrinsic to the quality of life in our communities, the Oak Park Area Arts Council celebrates, supports and promotes artists and arts organizations in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park. By raising funds for the arts, and advocating for policies that promote the arts, we enhance the social, economic, and cultural foundations of our communities.

2009 Scholarship Winners introduced to Village of Oak Park Board

The 2009 recipients of the Oak Park Area Arts Council Fine Arts Scholarships and the Russell C. Lissuzzo Scholarship were formally presented to the Village of Oak Park's Board of Trustees. Again, congratulations to: Nick Ellman, Devin Kliewer-Foster, Anne Shalo, Paul Whalen and Joseph Lippe (Russell C. Lissuzzo Scholarship recipient).

The Oak Park Area Arts Council Announces 2009 Officers

The Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the following Board members who were recently elected as officers for 2009.

President: John Troelstrup
Vice President: Susanne O’Connell
Treasurer: Neil McFadden
Secretary: Rise’ Wendt

The Arts Council would also like to extend its deep appreciation and gratitude to Garrett Glass, Lynne Palmore and Angela Gershenson for all of their years of dedicated service to the OPAAC Board. Garrett, Lynne and Angie resigned from the Arts Council Board at the end of December 2008.

The Oak Park Area Arts Council Announces 2009 Joseph Randall Shapiro Award Recipient

The Oak Park Area Arts Council is pleased to announce the recipient of the Joseph Randall Shapiro Award for 2009. This year’s recipient is Wednesday Journal Inc., namely Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest and The Forest Park Review. Wednesday Journal Inc. is being recognized for its deep and enthusiastic support of arts organizations and local artists and its unique, weekly contribution to the area’s culture in the community.

Each week, Wednesday Journal Inc creates what is simply called the Journal and the Review. Gathering hundreds of bits of local news and events, the artists at the newspapers then synthesize these bits into a wondrous print medium creation. Every week, since 1980, the newspapers report, interpret and reflect both individual and collective lives and continue to enhance the arts in our communities.

At the Arts Council’s Annual Meeting to be held on Monday, March 16, 2009 at Pleasant Home, 217 Home Avenue in Oak Park, Wednesday Journal Inc will accept the Joseph Randall Shapiro Award. Recipients of the award receive a cast bronze sculpture, created by the late Oak Park artist Geraldine McCullough. Past recipients of the prestigious award have been:

1996 – Joseph Randall Shapiro (deceased)
1997 – Tivoli Enterprises, Lake Theatre, Willis & Shirley Johnson
1998 – Harrison Street Arts Studios, Galleries & art-related businesses
1999 – Stephanie Clemens
2000 – Geraldine McCullough (deceased)
2001 – Harriet Ilse Ziegenhals
2002 – President, Trustees, Clerk, Village Manager and all the employees of the Village of Oak Park
2003 – Ellen Holleman
2004 – Jonathan Miller
2005 – Circle Theatre
2006 – John Lukehart (deceased)
2007 – William Fitzgerald
2008 – The Oak Park Public Library

The Oak Park Area Arts Council Sends Out Artful Object 2008 Thank You’s

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC), I would like to thank you for your support of our annual fundraiser Artful Object 2008, Art Outside the Box held on Saturday, November 15th. We are thrilled with all of the support we received this year. For those of you who attended the evening’s festivities, we hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did. Thanks to all of our sponsors, supporters, volunteers, and of course all of the participating artists.

Proceeds from this event will go right back into the community to help fund our granting program, ArtsFunds, our Fine Arts Scholarship program, and our successful summer teen arts employment program, Off the Wall.

Many, many thanks for all of your support.

All the best,
Camille Wilson White

Executive Director

Sponsors:
Good Heart Work Smart Foundation, Mortgage Resource Group, Park National Bank, Rush Oak Park Hospital, Wednesday Journal, Forest Park National Bank & Trust Co., McCarthy & Trinka, Inc., Anthony Shaker & Shaker Management.

Major Contributors:
Villages of Oak Park, Forest Park & River Forest, and the Illinois Arts Council

Caterer:
Armand’s Restaurant

Artful Object 2008 Co-chairs:
Susanne O’Connell, Rise’ Wendt and Doug Garcia Luce

Special Thanks:
Ray Wiggins; John Wielebnicki; Fred Gutierrez; Tom Fulton; Ed Doherty, Classic Cinemas, Lake Theatre; Kiki Vale and the Kiki Vale Show, WJJD 1530 AM; Wendy Daniels; Mary Davis Fournier; Dr. Keeley McNeal; Zurry McNeal; Jonathan Franklin; Vivian Colette; Mary Fran Riley; Alioto’s Fine Gifts; Ferrara Bakery; Ferrara Pan Candy; Kelley Frame Company; ESPN Radio 1000; Village of Oak Park Police; Richard Feldman & Debbie Walsh; Tim & Claudia Divis; Rae Kalin & Eric Linden; George Bailey and Ring & Shout; Joyce & Bob Proce; Wm. B. Sullivan Realty Co.; Dominican University Performing Arts Center; Edwin Wilson & Company/Artful Object Actors; Joe, Chris & Olivia Wendt; Michael, Luke & Dylan O’Connell; Bill Kavanagh & Bob Dog Studios; Minuteman Press; Shaker Management team: Michael Bloch, Kevin Bruning & Van.

AO 2008 Artists:

Jan Anderson, Denise Austin, Kate Balk, Kinga Banas-Zadlo, Geoff Binns-Calvey, William Boulware, Nick Bridge, Julie Wendt Brundage, Mary Jo Bruno, Frederick Bryant, Maggie Butler, Lisa Calvert, Sandra Campbell, Vivian Colette, Deco, Kathy Deitch, Robert Dicke, Michael DiGilio, Kelly Donahugh, Jenny Donohue, Pennie Ebsen, Carolyn Elaine, Janice Elkins, Janet Emison, Tia Etu, Helen Lovell Faron, Steve Fisher, Rachel Foran, Jonathan Franklin, Mary Fraser, Carol Friedle, Nancy Gardner, Patricia A. Getz, Susan Gilchrist, Robin Gottlieb, Karen Graham, Beth Elisheva Granton, Jeanine A Guncheon, Linda Hillman, Serge Jolimeau (courtesy of Laurie Beasley, Ridge Art), Don Karcher, Benjamin Kende, Sarah King, Denise Kirk, Wils Kluge, Sarah Koten, Melody Kratz, Paula Lang, Roberta L. Raymond Larson, Luz Letamendi, Susan Lovelace, Yvonne-Marie, Marlene Martorelli, Bobbi Meier, Jennifer Miller, Laura Mynttie, Lisa Nordstrom, Mary Jo Parker O’Hearn, Jim O’Shea, Tom Palazzolo, Greg Phillips, Charity Piet, Roberta Polfus, Claudia Pontarelli-Hallissey, Donna Pope, Marie Pospisil, Debby Preiser, Carol Richardson-O’Brien, Jessica Roble-Cinelli, Sam Rosenthal, Cherie Salerno, Ken Salerno, Toby Shore, Kristi Sloniger, Robert Snyder, Fran Sullivan, Tracy Exton Tester, Mel Thompson, Kathleen Waterloo, Brenda Watkins, Howard Webb, Joe Wendt, Kate Wester, Alexandria C. Whitty, Trish Williams, Hank Witt, Sallie Wolf, and Christine Worley.

Oak Park Area Arts Council Announces the 2008 Fine Arts Scholarship Winners

In 1995, the Oak Park Area Arts Council convened an arts education task force. The task force was charged with studying the state of arts education in the tri-village area of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest. Former Oak Park Area Arts Council Vice President and past chair of the Oak Park & River Forest High School Alumni Association, Bill Sullivan, had the bright idea for the Arts Council to establish a fine arts scholarship program. In 1997, the very first scholarship in the amount of $500 was awarded to Joey Nakayama, an Oak Park & River Forest High School senior, headed to the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. Over the last eleven years, through diligence and dedication to the program, the Oak Park Area Arts Council has awarded scholarships to 78 arts involved graduating seniors, planning to major in the arts in college. This year, the scholarship committee had the difficult job of selecting ten talented young artists. The Arts Council is very proud to announce the following 2008 recipients. Each of them will receive a $1,000 scholarship to assist them with their freshman year tuition and fees.

Rachel Baiman, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Vanderbilt University, Music/Violin
Merril Marie Doty, The Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts, Goucher College, Dance
Melissa Elie, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Oberlin College, Music/Clarinet
Taylor Feldman, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Evergreen State College, Art & Environmental Studies
Rachel Foran, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Carleton College, Studio Art & International Relations
Lorne Jon-Daniel Golman, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Indiana University, Television Broadcasting
Keeley Blaine Morris, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Columbia College Chicago, Dance
David Rubin, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Lawrence University, Music/Violin
Katherine Spear, Oak Park & River Forest High School, University of Michigan, Classical Voice
Charles Kahn, Oak Park & River Forest High School, University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana, Jazz Studies/Saxophone & Clarinet (Russell C. Lissuzzo Scholarship recipient)

The 2008 Oak Park Area Arts Council Scholarship committee members were John Mayes – Chair, George Bailey, Janet Emison, Ross Lissuzzo, Neil McFadden, Keeley McNeal and Kathy Osler.

THE OAK PARK AREA ARTS COUNCIL SENDS OUT ARTFUL OBJECT 2007 THANK YOU’S

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Oak Park Area Arts Council
P.O. Box 950, Oak Park, IL 60303
Phone (708) 358-5690 • Fascimille (708) 383-6692 • E-mail: info@oakparkareaartscouncil.org.