News

Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust Awards Grants

Trust awards greatest number of grants in one year in its 19-year history

PERU, Ill. (Jan. 17, 2012) – The Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust (IVFAT) today awarded grants to 34 fine arts groups and community organizations in the tri-county area—the greatest number of grants in one year in its 19-year history.

IVFAT awarded $6,000 in grants to 15 full-time fine arts groups, including three art, seven music and five theater nonprofits. IVFAT also awarded nearly $3,000 in grants to 19 community organizations for fine arts programming they will offer this year, including four libraries, two museums, four nonprofits and nine schools.

“This is a banner year for fine arts programming in the Illinois Valley as well as a milestone for the Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust,” said Robert Willmot, IVFAT executive director.

“The Trust awarded more grants this year than in any year since the first awards in 1995,” he noted. “In addition, we presented grants to 12 first-time awardees, and all of the performances and events funded by the Trust span the entire year and the Tri-County area.”

“We are so pleased that these grants will help 1,400 artists and 700 volunteers present artistic, musical and theatrical programming and events throughout the year for an estimated collective audience of 22,000 adults and youth in the Illinois Valley,” Willmot said.

The 15 full-time fine arts organizations receiving grants include: Community Players of Streator, Covered Bridge Chorus, Hegeler Carus Foundation, Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Valley Youth Choir, Illinois Valley Youth Symphony, Maud Powell Celebration, Mendota Community Theater, Ottawa Art League, Ottawa Concert Association, Prairie Arts Council, Princeton Civil War Committee, Princeton Theater Group-Festival 56, Stage 212, and the Valley Carvers Association.

The 19 community organizations receiving grants include: Bureau County Historical Society, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois-La Salle County, Camp 56, La Moille Public School – Friends of Music Department, La Salle County Historical Society, La Salle Public School Dist. 122, Ladd Community Consolidated School Dist. 94, Leepertown Community Consolidated School Dist. 175, Lostant Community Library, LP Choral Festival, Marquette Academy, Marseilles Elementary School, North Central Illinois Artworks, Oglesby Washington School, Princeton Community Band, Princeton Public Library, Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library, Streator Public Library-Friends of the Library, and Washington School, Peru.

Daily Times

Fine Arts Funding

01/17/2010, 10:26 pm

A record $16,000 in grants was awarded to 13 area art, theater, and music nonprofits and 15 community groups for fine arts programs by the Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust.

Nine cities will receive direct benefits from the grants: Ottawa, Streator, La Salle, Peru, Oglesby, Spring Valley, Utica, Princeton and Mendota.

"The real impact of our 2010 awards can be better ascertained by looking at the details behind the dollar total," said Robert Willmot, IVFAT executive director, in a press release.

The grants will provide a diverse assortment of fine arts programs in the coming year: seven for art, 10 for theater, and 11 for music programs. The 15 full-time, nonprofit organizations will use appropriate venues for their programs, while the 13 community groups use on-site facilities at schools, libraries and museums.

The trust has awarded $144,000 in grants for fine arts programming since 1995. The grants range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000.

The 15 fine arts nonprofits awarded grants include:

Ottawa Art League: for a portion of expense relating to its spring "Youth Art Show," and the "Town and Country Art Show."
Valley Carvers Association: to support the Annual Fall Wood Carving juried exposition at Starved Rock Lodge Sept. 26.
Prairie Arts Council: to sponsor the late summer "Festival of the Arts:Sunday in the Park" show in downtown Princeton.
Stage 212: to support the Children's Theatre Workshop summer production.
Mendota Community Theater: to support the group's first-ever Children's Theater production.
Community Players of Streator: to support performances of "The Music Man" July 18-24 at Engle Lane Theatre.
Illinois Valley Youth Choirs: support the choirs' preparation for its Dec. 5 concert.
Illinois Valley Youth Symphony: prepare for the group's April 25 concert at La Salle-Peru High School.
Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra: support its Feb. 26 in-school educational program in Ottawa and Streator.
Maud Powell Music Festival: fund music faculty recitals during the summer.
Peru Maud Powell Music Festival: support the city's Aug. 21 programs.
Ottawa Community Concerts Association: support a program of complimentary tickets designed to attract new members.
Princeton Civil War Committee: general operating support for the annual fall "Shadows of the Blue and Gray" Civil War re-enactment.
Princeton Theater Group: fund the Festival 56 free outdoor production of "Love's Labor Lost" each Wednesday and Sunday during July and August.
Covered Bridge Chorus: support free programs by the Princeton-based Barbershop Harmony Chorus at nursing homes and for senior citizen groups.

Community Access Awards, which are funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council, include:

Spring Valley Boosters: Two nationality-themed programs will be performed by professional touring music groups.
Oglesby Public Schools: A Jan. 22 junior high school musical production.
Bureau County Historical Society: "Oakland Speaks" on June 27.
Caring Hands Daycare Center: "A is for Art" will help raise creative levels of a class of preschool pupils.
Streator Elementary Schools: middle-grade students will practice to perform a concert with a junior high choir.
Leepertown CCSD 175: students will be able to attend one or more area professional theater productions.
La Salle Public Library: an intergeneration banjo program.
La Salle County Historical Society:a n interactive program for students will focus on Native American music, crafts, food and games.
Streator Public Library: children will dress in costumes relating to books they read during the annual fall Fantasy Day.
Peru Catholic Schools: an artist-in-residence Jan. 31 to Feb. 5.
Peru Public Library:"100 Years of Music."
Spring Valley Public Library: "Re-birth of Storytelling."
La Salle Public Schools: Illinois Valley Community College's improvisational theater troupe will perform during the district's annual Fine Arts Festival March 17.

Community Players to stage noteworthy shows

02/10/2010, 5:38 pm

STREATOR — Some prominent American plays, old and new, will be presented in Community Players of Streator's 2010 season.

"We are pleased to be able to bring such a diverse and quality lineup of shows to our audiences this season," said Tim Karth, production chairman for the group, also known as Engle Lane.

The productions- all staged in the William C. Schiffbauer Center For The Performing Arts At Engle Lane, 1012 Columbus St.- range from a children's production to a radio play to a couple bona fide American classics.

"We'd like to thank the directors for the important role they play in our success, as well as our loyal season ticket holders who are the very foundation or our theater," said Kathy Missel, board of directors president and marketing chairwoman.

- Community Players' 53rd season opens with the musical comedy "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Opening Sunday, May 23, the show's Tony award-winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes — a quirky, yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time. Nick McFadden of Streator will direct.

- In June, the Futrelle sisters from last season's comedy "Dearly Beloved" return to the stage in "Christmas Belles," directed by Larry Burash of Streator. This time, instead of a wedding, they're organizing the annual Christmas program in the small Texas town of Fayro. Within a short time, the program begins to spiral into chaos. The show will run Sunday, June 20, to Saturday, June 26.

- Doug Bartelt of Streator brings the classic musical "The Music Man" to the Engle Lane stage Sunday, July 18, to Saturday, July 24. An affectionate look at a bygone era, the show follows fast-talking salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boy's band he vows to organize, despite the fact he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef.

-"Godspell Junior" — a popular musical by two-time Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz — will showcase the talents of young performers. Running Sunday, Aug. 15, to Saturday, Aug. 21, the musical draws from various theatrical traditions including clowning, charades, pantomime, acrobatics and vaudeville. A reflection on the life of Jesus Christ, "Godspell Junior" will be directed by Jeff Houk and Jason Williams, both of Ottawa.

-As relevant today as when it was written more than 60 years ago, Engle Lane presents "Death of a Salesman" for the first time, Sunday, Sept. 12, to Saturday, Sept. 18. Directed by Maggie Frost of Marseilles, the drama tells the tale of the last days of salesman Willy Loman, who cannot understand how he failed to win success and happiness. Through a series of tragic soul-searching revelations of the life he led with his wife, his sons and his business associates, audiences discover how Loman's quest for the American dream blinded him to the people who truly love him.

-The season concludes with a twist as Michelle Vrtis of Ottawa directs the radio drama version of "The Wizard of Oz." Actors and actresses from 1940s Hollywood will retell the story live on stage with sound effects and live music before a live studio audience. The production will run Sunday, Oct. 10, to Saturday, Oct. 16.

Engle Lane productions at Schiffbauer Center debut at 2 p.m. Sundays, then run 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Season ticket prices start at $40 for all six shows, or less than $7 per show, and can be purchased by contacting the box office manager at 815-672-4066.

For more information, call 815-672-4066

September 2007

Children's Production Receives Boost From Business

RR Donnelley Charitable Contributions Committee presented Doug Bartelt, Board President, with a $1000 check to help defray royalty expenses for the children/youth musical. RR Donnelley's goal is to support children and youth in the arts and literacy.

January 2006- Community Players of Streator Receive Grant

Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust (IVFAT) has awarded Community Players of Streator with a $500.00 Round I Grant. The grant will be used to help with the costs associated with a children's workshop and related production.

IVFAT awards grants for art, music, and theater programs twice a year in the area defined by Ottawa to Princeton, Mendota to Streator, and including LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby, and Spring Valley.

2002 Illinois Theatre Association Community Theatre of the Year

Left to right: J. Sain, Business Manager, University Theatre Department of Theatre Arts at Eastern Illinois University and Donna Stone of the ITA along with Engle Lane board members Jane Hart and Rob Tyne accepting the award at the annual ITA convention in Chicago.

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