FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 1, 2024
Contact: Dr. Mae Gilliland Wright
Telephone: 309-258-1327
E-mail: [email protected]
ArtsPartners of Central Illinois Announces 2024 ArtsPartner of the Year and Legacy Award Recipients
Peoria, IL – ArtsPartners of Central Illinois is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2024 ArtsPartner of the Year and Legacy Awards, honoring two outstanding contributors to the arts and culture landscape of Peoria and the greater central Illinois area.
This year’s ArtsPartner of the Year Award is presented to the Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI). This award celebrates CFCI’s unwavering support of the arts and the transformative role it plays in empowering local arts organizations. With a mission to connect “People Who Care with Causes That Matter,” CFCI has long been a driving force for cultural enrichment and accessibility. Through its Community Arts Grants and the Arts Mean Business Fund, CFCI has granted over $130,000 to local arts nonprofits in the past year alone, empowering organizations to expand arts education, stimulate economic growth, and foster arts tourism. Since its inception, CFCI has distributed over $140 million to central Illinois, with more than $670,000 dedicated to the arts in the last five years. CFCI’s leadership and vision have been essential in sustaining the growth and vibrancy of the arts in our community, making it a well-deserved recipient of this year’s award.
The ArtsPartners Legacy Award for 2024 goes to Kidder Music in honor of its 50 years of dedication to Peoria’s musical community. Since opening its doors in 1974, Kidder Music has become an essential resource for musicians of all ages, providing instrument rentals, repairs, sheet music, and lessons that inspire countless students, hobbyists, and professionals alike. Kidder Music’s commitment to Peoria goes beyond their services; they have been an integral supporter of local schools, churches, and civic groups, including the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Municipal Band, and the Peoria Area
Civic Chorale. In recognition of its half-century legacy, the City of Peoria recently issued a proclamation acknowledging Kidder Music’s contributions to fostering musical arts in central Illinois. The ArtsPartners Legacy Award is given to Kidder Music to honor its enduring commitment to Peoria’s music community and the invaluable cultural enrichment it has provided over the past five decades.
“Both the Community Foundation of Central Illinois and Kidder Music exemplify the best of our community’s commitment to the arts,” said Dr. Mae Gilliland Wright, Executive Director of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois. “CFCI has been a bedrock for arts organizations, ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive, while Kidder Music has inspired generations of musicians, adding harmony to our community for fifty years. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and proud to honor them this year.”
The awards were presented at ArtsPartners’ Annual Meeting on October 30, 2024, where community members celebrated these outstanding honorees and the role they play in sustaining and uplifting the arts in central Illinois.
Photo Credits: Jeffery Noble courtesy of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois
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ArtsPartners of Central Illinois promotes the arts as a vital component of central Illinois’ cultural and economic development. Founded in 1999, ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to build awareness and strengthen the arts for the economic and cultural enrichment of central Illinois.
