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The Best Arts Programming Ideas

Artist lyman Kipp's 'Red Flag' is one of nine outdoor sculptures in Springfield Park District's Lincoln Park.
In this article, IP&R magazine offers the sublime and the sure of the arts scene in Illinois park districts and forest preserves. Some programs are large-scale. Others are so simple and so good that they have been replicated at agencies throughout the state.

Ideas were gathered from cultural arts professionals, leads from commissioners, media releases and program guides routed through the editor's desk. Keep in mind: If your agency offers an arts program that you think is the BEST (and so do your residents), send it in to IP&R magazine for a future article.

Spirited Tales for Halloween
Palatine Park District
Every October for the past four years in Palatine, storytellers have spooked more than 500 people in one night of progressively scarier stories. Young children stay for the first story hour, while the lights are still on, then the little ones are urged to exit as both the theater and the plots darken. In all, nine stories are told in three hours by three professional storytellers (hired for $250 to $500 from the Illinois Storytelling Festival, the Illinois Arts Council's ArtsTour program and other sources). Contact the Palatine Park District, 847. 991.0333.
Sports Art Exhibition
Kane County Forest Preserve District
In March of this year, the Kane County Forest Preserve sponsored "Spring Tonic: A Sports View," an art exhibition in the Art Gallery of the Campbell House in Geneva, 111. The show featured works that pertain to all types of sports including horseback riding, skating, golf, baseball, hockey and more. Artists from throughout the Fox Valley and Chicago area were represented in this unique exhibit, which promised to "take the viewer into the sights, sounds and smells of all the sports we enjoy, and permits you to reminisce of playing seasons shared with teammates and friends." Contact the Kane County Forest Preserve, 847.741.9924.
Art Reach
Champaign Park District
When you have a fine arts resource in your town, like the University of Illinois' Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, why not join forces and bring world renown artists to the entire community? That's the idea behind Art Reach, started three years ago through a partnership between the park district and Krannert, which asks several of its high-profile artists to also perform for the public for free. For example, child prodigy Nokuthula Ngwenyama, a world-famous classical violist, gave a public performance at the districts Springer Center. A family movement workshop was conducted by New York's Bella Lewitzky Dance Company. The program is a win-win because the free, public performances break down financial barriers, allowing access to fine arts for all members of the community, while benefiting Krannert with marketing and grant writing. Contact Champaign Park District, 217.398.2376.
July/August 1997 /25

Sculptures Gardens
Springfield Park District and Peoria Park District
Picture giant slabs of red-painted steel shooting up from a bed of green grass toward the sky. It's an outdoor sculpture called "Red Flag," by artist Lyman Kipp, and it "waves" in the Springfield Park District's Lincoln Park as part of a two-year sculpture garden show. Nine pieces by artists from throughout the country are showcased in the park (one floats in a stream). Local artists and park philanthropists Fred and Cathy Schaper helped bring the show to the state capital. Their contacts in the art world were the key to making it happen. Plus, they teamed up with the park board, local residents and community arts organizations to get others excited about the show. Contact the Schapers, 217.698.9180.
The Peoria Park District also presents an outdoor sculpture exhibit called the "Riverfront Sculpture Walk." District volunteer Steve Sjostrom came up with the idea and his friendship with renown artist (and Peoria native) Preston Jackson helped bring the works from numerous Chicago sculptors to this breathtaking show. The sculptures are juxtaposed with different views along the Illinois River and the district's river walking/biking paths. All ages—art aficionados and novices alike—enjoy the show. Contact the Peoria Park District, 309.682.1200.
Art Attack Birthday
Deerfield Park District
This idea is creative yet successful. The Deerfield traditional, not to mention Park District markets a full palette of art-theme birthday parties for kids ages five and older. "Art Attack" offers party-goers a wide variety art projects to explore. More specific art party themes include Jewelry-making, Shrink Art, and Sculpey III, which involves a clay that is baked then painted. Contact the Deerfield Park District, 847.945.0650.
African Storytellers Park Tour
Rockford Park District In African societies, the "griots" (master storytellers) passed along news, history and tradition. The Rockford Park District brings these griots to the local parks in a coopera tive program with Rockford s YouthTheaterWorkshop. Using material from African-American folklore, the theater members tour Rockford area parks and centers during summer months. All performances are free and audience participation is encouraged. Contact the Rockford Park District. 815.987.8841.
Parent/Tot Pots
Wilmette Park District
What could be better then parents and children creating works of art together? Wilmette's parent/child ceramics class (for children ages 2 to 5) offers families a chance to make and take home ceramic pot masterpieces. Wilmette also offers a popular Parent/Tot Art Class that lets participants explore (again, the key word here is "together") a variety of art mediums. Contact the Wilmette Park District, 847.256.6100.
Children's Theater Camp
Oak Lawn Park District
In this summer camp, kids ages 7 to 12 work all summer (two days a week, June through August) to produce a play. With a script such as "Winnie the Pooh" in hand, they create the sets and costumes, tinker with dialogue, and present two shows for the community: one at the end of camp and one during the district's Labor Day Festival. Other art camps offered by Oak Lawn include Dance Camp (a "hugely popular" program that teaches both the movements and the history of jazz, tap, ballet, Irish dancing and more) and Arts Alive!, an interactive study in all the arts. Contact the Oak Lawn Park District, 708.857.2200.
Football and Art ?
Carbondale Park District
In a clever marketing effort to reach a broader audience for their biennial "Arts in Celebration" event held in October in Evergreen Park, the park district and the Carbondale Community Arts organization promoted "ballet and interpretive dance as demonstrated in full contact by NCAA college football." A tent equipped with television screens and refreshments featured the football game, while arts programming of all varieties took place throughout the park. Carbondale's two-day arts festival—which celebrates its tenth anniversary in '98—offers Shakespeare, blues bands, visual arts (and football), and just about every art form in between, all for $2 a day. The link between sports and arts will be amplified again in '98, with an interactive soccer event. Kids will be able to kick a soccer ball, doused in paint, against a stage backdrop to create "soccer art." Contact the Carbondale Community Arts, 618. 457.5100. •

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