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 Updated: 2/26/2012 
McLean County Arts Center
Bloomington, Illinois
Description

The MCAC serves over 150,000 residents in McLean County. The MCAC endeavors to make participation in the arts a regular part of life and provide creative ways to bring the community together. We provide up to eighteen exhibitions and more than thirty classes per year.

Our organization sponsors an annual amateur art exhibition as well as two community Art Fairs, the Sugar Creek Arts Festival abd the Spring Bloom Arts Festival. The Sugar Creek Arts Festival will celebrate its 21th year as this area's largest fine arts fair in nearby downtown Normal.

History

The Arts Center is the continuation of a tradition begun with the 1888 formation of the Bloomington Art Association.

Since 1922 the association has sponsored regular visual arts exhibi-tions. Initially the exhibitions were mounted in the Russell Gallery of the Withers Public Library building on the corner of Washington and East Streets. The collapse of the roof over the gallery portions of the library in 1976 spurned the Association to take action leading to leasing space in the Bloomington Club building at 210 E. Washington. The moves to this larger space allowed for the expansion of educational and outreach programs into the surrounding county.

Another crossroad was reached with the announcement of the scheduled demolition of the Bloomington Club Building in 1979. The determination was made to purchase the 1908 Congregational Church at East and Mulberry Streets. The decision to follow such a course required decisive action. A quarter of a million-dollar fund drive was launched to fund the purchase and necessary remodeling of the Arthur L. Pillsbury designed building. In less than three months, an enthusiastic response raised enough money to buy the building, and provide minimal remodeling and support for current exhibition and classes.

In 1986 an adjacent parcel and the building at 605 N. East were acquired. In addition, the association assumed the role and functions of the disbanding McLean County Arts Council. The McLean County Arts Association became the local arts agency and primary arts regranting agent for the Illinois Arts Council in McLean County.

Artifact Collections

We have a collection of paintings, prints and sculpture from regional artists.

Research Collections

We have a lending library of more than 400 books and cataloges.

Governance

The MCAC is staffed by two full-time (executive director and administrative assistant) and four part-time (curator, education coordinator, preparator, staff assistant) paid employees. Approximately twelve interns from local universities and over forty volunteers throughout the year offer tremendous support. A Board of nineteen directors provides governance. The Executive Committee sets priorities for the coming year.

Library

Access: General Public

Appointment required: True

Street Address
601 N East St
Bloomington, IL 61701
Mailing Address
Bloomington, IL 61701
phone: 309-829-0011
home page: www.mcac.org
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Museum Type(s)
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