The Arts Come Alive!

Picasso and Pollack in Peoria? How about Andy Warhol and Ansel Adams? B.B. King? Absolutely! The Peoria Art Guild and Lakeview Museum showcase awe-inspiring works in their galleries, from the biggest names in art history to the cream of the crop of local talent.

One of the area’s signature cultural events, the Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair takes place every September. Nearly 40,000 people attend each year, sampling the diverse work of 150 artists in various mediums. The Guild also hosts the Junction City Art Fair, which features the work of 50 up-and-coming local artists, as well as a student competition.

The renovated warehouse buildings on the riverfront host a colorful collection of artists working out of lofts and studios. Peoria is proud to host the workspace of sculptor and painter Lonnie Stewart, well known for his portraits of Princess Diana and Pope John Paul II, as well as a bronze figure of Mother Teresa. Stewart’s bust of President Ronald Reagan was installed in the Peace Garden at nearby Eureka College, Reagan’s alma mater.

Acclaimed sculptor, painter and musician Preston Jackson maintains a studio and gallery in the Contemporary Art Center, where he is also lead instructor of the CAC’s educational programs. A cultural hub, the CAC features exhibitions, artist studios, open mics, classes and weekly jazz and blues performances.

At the southern end of the warehouse district, the Prairie Center of the Arts hosts an artist-in-residence program connecting artists of various mediums with resources and uninterrupted time to think and create.

Bradley University hosts professional and student work year-round. Art galleries located in the Heuser Art Center and Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts feature numerous exhibitions, drawing more than 20,000 visitors each year. The biennial Bradley National Print and Drawing Exhibition, founded in 1950, is among the oldest and most respected exhibitions in the country.

A STYLISH REVITALIZATION

2007 will be remembered as a milestone year for the Peoria Civic Center. Not only did the venue cut the red ribbon on its $55 million upgrade and expansion, it celebrated its 25th anniversary as the place to be for live entertainment in central Illinois.

The Peoria Civic Center hosts hundreds of events every year—from the arts to athletics to trade shows. The complex is a modern urban landmark surrounded by a striking glass arcade that links spaces to create a unique social atmosphere. In its continuing commitment to be the destination of choice for entertainment, the Civic Center has undergone an astonishing makeover.

On April 11, 2007, the Peoria Civic Center cut the ribbon on its elegant new ballroom/flexible meeting space. The 27,000-square-foot fully carpeted ballroom seats up to 1,600 for a banquet and is divisible into nine breakout rooms for meetings. The first public event to be held in the ballroom was the Creve Coeur Club’s 109th annual George Washington Banquet with keynote speaker U.S. Senator John McCain.

In the fall of 2007, the final portion of the revitalization project was completed, as the Peoria Civic Center celebrated the grand opening of the Lexus Club. The Lexus Club, located on the mezzanine level of the Civic Center, is nestled between the first-floor Great Hall and fourth-floor Ballroom. This high-finish room features a full-service bar, four plasma TVs and lounge seating. It is available for rent for all types of events, excluding pre- and post-events on Rivermen, Bradley and Pirates game days.

Work has also been completed on the four Arena suites, located behind the Lexus Club with openings into the upper bowl of the Arena. Caterpillar, Inc., ELM, Methodist Medical Center and R.J. Distributing have signed five-year lease agreements for the suites, giving their clients exclusive access during Arena events.

The revitalized Peoria Civic Center features a stylish design that citizens of Peoria will be proud to call their new and improved Civic Center—the place to be for live entertainment for the last 25 years and many years to come!

MUSEUMS & LIBRARIES

Lakeview Museum is the largest private museum in Illinois outside of Chicago and one of fewer than 50 U.S. museums specializing in both the arts and sciences. It’s also among only 129 museums and cultural organizations to be a designated Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, which makes it the premier regional host for the best traveling art exhibitions.

Lakeview is in the process of assuming an even greater role in the region’s cultural future as it leads a consortium of area organizations in developing the new museum on Peoria’s riverfront. Its partners in the project include Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria Historical Society, Peoria Regional Museum Society, African American Hall of Fame Museum, Illinois High School Association Hall of Fame, the Heartland Foundation and the Nature Conservancy.

Once completed, the Peoria Riverfront Museum will offer learning, cultural and economic opportunities throughout its 70,000 square feet. Art, science, nature and history will be brought to life in hands-on and interactive displays, highlighting our heartland’s immense creativity, innovations and worldwide impact.

The Children’s Discovery Museum in nearby Bloomington-Normal offers hands-on exhibits and classes to satisfy the curiosity of the young. And soon, Peoria will have its own interactive children’s museum. Sponsored by the Junior League of Peoria, The Peoria PlayHouse will be a place for children of all ages to dream, explore and learn through play. It will feature various play areas and six exhibit galleries tied to the local community’s history, geography and economy.

For antique buffs, Peoria’s Wheels O’ Time Museum offers a step back in time, featuring displays of automobiles, trains, toys, clothing, clocks and more from throughout the 20th century.

The Peoria Public Library has served local bookworms in the community for over 125 years. Its six locations bring published authors to the area and offer technology access, after-school classes and special reading groups for all ages.

SWEET SOUNDS OF MUSIC

From rock ‘n’ roll to jazz, the Peoria area offers musical entertainment for all tastes. For traditional classical sounds, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra presents an annual series of performances. The 15th-oldest in the nation, the Peoria Symphony has performed with famous soloists like Itzhak Perlman, Dudley Moore and Sarah Vaughan.

Formed in 1937, the Peoria Municipal Band plays free concerts to audiences of thousands each summer. There’s also Opera Illinois, the only full-time professional opera company in the state outside of Chicago, and Peoria Ballet, a recognized leader in dance for more than forty years.

If jazz and blues are more your style, the River City Blues Society and Central Illinois Jazz Society are there to serve your needs. During the summer, a variety of bands take to the CEFCU Center Stage, located right on our beautiful riverfront, and you can watch bands play at a number of area venues most nights of the week.

DRAMATIC PRODUCTIONS

Numerous local theater companies make the stage come alive in central Illinois. One of the oldest community theaters in the nation, the Peoria Players Theatre has thrilled theater lovers for nearly 90 years. Nestled in the lush foliage of upper Bradley Park, Corn Stock Theatre, Peoria’s first outdoor theater-in-the-round, offers local thespians and theater patrons a creative outlet, a source of entertainment and a strong sense of community.

Each summer for the last 30 years, the historic Ewing Manor in nearby Bloomington hosts outdoor productions of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Last year, the festival featured productions of Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Henry V. But that’s not all! Prairie Folklore Theatre, Eastlight Theatre, Heartland Theatre in Normal and Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre in Goodfield offer productions throughout the year. And don’t forget to check out our excellent college and university theater departments!

THE FUNNY SIDE OF LIFE

Our comedic roots begin with the stars and creators of radio’s golden-age comedies: Fibber McGee & Molly, Amos & Andy and Vic & Sade. Comedy legends Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison and McLean Stevenson all trace their roots back to central Illinois.

Nationally known comics make regular appearances at the Civic Center—Jerry Seinfeld just came through—and the Jukebox Comedy Club features weekly comedy acts.

TV, RADIO & FILM

Our PBS affiliate, WTVP-47, offers public broadcasting favorites from Antiques Roadshow to Masterpiece Theatre in a commercial-free format. The station also produces public affairs programming of regional and statewide interest and hosts art exhibitions in its gallery. Its sister station, WTVP-DT, was the first in the state to broadcast in digital high definition.

Two public radio stations cover the arts and entertainment spectrum for central Illinois listeners. Peoria’s WCBU (89.9 FM) emphasizes classical music, while Bloomington- Normal’s WGLT (89.1 FM in Bloomington and 103.5 FM in Peoria) focuses on jazz and blues. Both stations are NPR affiliates, offering news, entertainment and public affairs programming. WCBU was the first area station to offer a second channel of high-definition programming for listeners.

Are you a movie buff? Besides a multitude of area theaters where you can catch the latest from Hollywood, the historic Apollo Theater has been restored to its former glory. The Apollo screens many unique and classic films and is used for meetings and other events, among them the annual Peoria Film Noir Festival.

HOLIDAYS IN PEORIA

Vivid window displays and a community holiday spirit envelope Peoria during the winter season. Downtown merchants, houses of worship and public buildings dress up for the holidays and open their doors for Yule Like Peoria. The evening offers a twinkling sidewalk stroll with refreshments and entertainment at every turn, and the Courthouse Square hosts an old-fashioned sing-along.

The Peoria Historical Society opens the historic Pettengill-Morron House on elegant Moss Avenue for its popular Candlelight Tours. Peoria Park District’s Luthy Botanical Gardens displays a variety of poinsettias and theme-decorated trees, and visitors can join The Candlelight Walks for a more intimate view of the botanicals.

America’s longest-running holiday parade, the Peoria Santa Parade, marked its 120th year in 2007. Featuring floats, bands and clowns, it is a magical experience for the whole family. The Peoria Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is another favorite we look forward to each year!

And, lighting up our holiday season for the past 23 years, the East Peoria Festival of Lights kicks off with a massive parade of lights featuring dozens of whimsical, luminous creations. Showcasing intricate illuminated drive-through displays, the attraction was recently voted one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association. PP