HR1443 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1443 LRB094 21664 HSS 60050 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to recognize the 45th anniversary of the Centralia Cultural Society; and

WHEREAS, The Centralia Cultural Society has been serving the Centralia area since 1961; its mission is to connect arts with the community and the community with the arts through appreciation, education, exhibition, and performance; and

WHEREAS, The Society achieves its mission through its four member groups, the Little Theatre Players, Choral Society, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Palette & Brush Club/Light & Lens; Society membership consists of about 400 volunteers in the four groups and 350 patrons that provide financial support; the organization is nearly completely supported by the local community; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, the Society constructed an Arts Center that was expanded in 1981; another expansion is planned and fundraising has begun; the Society is also assisting in the re-opening of the downtown theatre for arts performances; and

WHEREAS, In 1992, with the elimination of many of the area school arts programs, the Society began an Arts in Education program; in the summer of 1995, the Picture Person program was planned and implemented with the cooperation of the Centralia City Schools; it has been steadily expanded each year with volunteers working in six area schools; grants have been written for many artist residencies; and

WHEREAS, The Society's school programs are offered either free of charge or for a small fee for the theatre performances; each year, the organization provides between six and eight live theatre professional productions for 25 to 30 schools in a radius of 35 miles; in addition, four or five community theatre productions are given each season; there are four community orchestra concerts a year, three art shows (all local artists), and three community choral concerts, as well as several special events; the group's building is used over 300 times during the year and average attendance at all events is approximately 50,000; and

WHEREAS, The Society usually employs two student interns during the summer, offers yearly scholarships to students pursuing a career in the arts, holds a Young Artist Competition every other year, offers a Summer Arts Camp each June, and offers Suzuki group and private lessons to both adults and children in the area; the Society's newsletter, published four times a year, is mailed to over 3,000 area households; and

WHEREAS, The group will celebrate its 45th anniversary on Saturday, October 14, 2006; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the 45th anniversary of the Centralia Cultural Society; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Society as an expression of our esteem.