Thank you to Michelle Dybal and RB Landmark for this lovely coverage
“This was the topic of a One State Arts Conference panel held Sept. 29 called “Support and Amplify – the Role of Community-based Arts Centers in the Age of Pandemic and Social Change,” conceived and moderated by Liz Chilsen, FlexSpace Gallery director at the Riverside Arts Center.
The annual conference was free this year, held via Zoom and attracted 960 attendees, more than past in-person conferences.
”I wanted to have a conversation with leaders from community arts centers about what we’re all doing to keep serving our communities during this very challenging time,” Chilsen said. “The arts center is the creative hub of the community, and local arts centers are increasingly important. We are part of the local fabric and civic life.”
The panel included Betsy Dollar from the Springfield Art Association; Doug Johnson of the McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington; Ciera McKissick of AMFM and the Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago; and Jon Veal of Alt_, Chicago.
Members of the panel discussed how they are currently serving their communities and the opportunities and challenges their organizations are facing during these times.
”The confluence of challenges we are facing right now is difficult, but times like these also are an opportunity to think in new ways and create new solutions,” Chilsen said.”