Although the Fine Arts Festival — a September event hosted by the village of Downers Grove for many years — is a couple of months away, it is not too soon for planners to be hard at work coordinating it. Even more impressive is the community’s efforts to promote local offerings.
Performing arts groups are part of the festival thanks to cooperation between the evolving Downers Grove Arts Council and the Downtown Management Corporation, headed by Linda Kunze. The process of forming an Arts Council began a few months ago, initially with the help of Laura Crawford, head of the Chamber of Commerce.
Representatives from several Downers Grove arts organizations — including the Music Club, Choral Society, West Towns Chorus, Grove Players Community Theater and New World Repertory Theater — met to discuss ways in which they could work together for their mutual good. Their goals include fostering cooperation, sharing resources and information, promoting each other’s performances and events and communicating. (It is helpful for groups that use the Tivoli Theatre, for example, to be on the same page to avoid scheduling conflicts.)
In addition, the DGAC proposes to support Downers Grove nonprofit fine and performing arts by “increasing public awareness and appreciation of, participation in and financial support for a diverse and vital arts culture in the Downers Grove community,” Council President Jim Stahulak said.
Public awareness of local arts groups can be accomplished in connection with the Fine Arts Festival in several ways. Selected fine arts artists — painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelry makers and so on — have the option of having a booth for displaying and selling their art. They also usually have brochures or cards to hand out to customers, as well.
Performing arts groups will be able to bring their season brochures to hand out. They also can share their event calendar with the DGAC for the council to create an overview calendar for the community. This will be handed out at the festival’s information booth and among the groups’ patrons. The Economic Development Corporation may also list information from the calendar in its bulletins.
Finally, performing arts groups will have an opportunity to gain some exposure by presenting samples of their group’s talent. Volunteers from these groups perform music, from soloists to choruses, dance from hip-hop to ballet. They also can perform theater, from short scenes to dramas or comedies, or even literature, from poetry to prose.
Performances will be brief and will be at various times during both days in Pocket Park, which is the space between the sidewalk along Main Street and the Main Street Cemetery.
The DGAC still is in the process of identifying other nonprofit arts groups in the community, so leaders can feel free to contact the council. Also, art lovers not affiliated with any particular arts organization are invited to learn more about becoming involved in the still-evolving DGAC.
President Jim Stahulak and Marilyn Weiher, one of the entertainment coordinators for the Fine Arts Festival, may be contacted, care of Linda Kunze at lkunze@downtowndg.org.
