FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2026
Contact: Dr. Mae Gilliland Wright
Telephone: 309-258-1327
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: artspartners.net/firstfriday
PEORIA, IL – ArtsPartners of Central Illinois is excited to announce that First Fridays across Greater Peoria are entering a new chapter of regional collaboration and expanded visibility, as key community partners unite to amplify the long-standing monthly arts tradition.
ArtsPartners of Central Illinois has secured coordinated promotional support from Discover Peoria, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, the Peoria RiverFront Association, and the City of Peoria to help shine a brighter light on the galleries, studios, businesses, and creative venues that open their doors on the first Friday of each month.
“When I first moved to Peoria, First Fridays are where I met new people — people I still call friends to this day. It has been an integral part of the cultural experience of Greater Peoria for so many,” said Dr. Mae Gilliland Wright, Executive Director of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois. “I can’t wait to hear how other folks experience this same magic if they haven’t been to a First Friday event in a while, especially if this is their first time going!”
First Fridays are community-driven and venue-led. ArtsPartners’ role is to coordinate communication, increase visibility, and advocate for resources that strengthen the arts ecosystem. As part of this renewed effort, a refreshed First Fridays logo, created by local artist Daniel Nagel, is now available for participating venues. Speaking about the new logo, Nagel explains: “The logo has a clean geometric feel that utilizes primary colors, and is reminiscent of an individual calendar square.”
We are creating a centralized landing page and updated venue map located at artspartners.net/firstfriday.
Regional partners will promote First Fridays to expanded audiences:
“The Peoria RiverFront Association is thrilled to be a part of the First Friday event. It’s wonderful to see fresh energy flowing back into this long-standing tradition. With the renewed support and enthusiasm of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, we are excited to see the event grow throughout Downtown Peoria and beyond.”
— Sharon Gramm, Executive Director, Peoria RiverFront Association
“A strong arts community and a strong business community go hand in hand, and we’re proud to support ArtsPartners in creating experiences that bring people together and energize our region.”
— Jessica Linder Gallo, President & CEO, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
“First Fridays has been a staple of the arts community and our community as a whole to engage and ignite passion for our creative expression, which is why I am thrilled to hear of the revitalization being made around this event. I applaud ArtsPartners of Central Illinois and the local businesses that are helping bolster our arts community on a regular basis and Discover Peoria stands ready to promote these events for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.”
—J.D. Dalfonso, CEO, Discover Peoria
Participating venues will be invited to share optional attendance estimates to help demonstrate impact and support future funding and marketing efforts.
First Fridays take place on the first Friday of each month throughout Peoria and surrounding communities. To submit your own First Friday event, visit artspartners.net/submit-an-event.
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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.
