Springfield, Missouri was awarded the Creative Community award by the Missouri Arts Council at the 2009 Missouri Art Awards.
Application for the award was submitted by the Springfield Regional Arts Council, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “transform lives and enrich our Community through the Arts.”
The SRAC serves Springfield and its 27 surrounding counties and works in collaboration with its 30 member arts organizations, the City of Springfield, the Urban District Alliance, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, the Springfield Greene County Park Board, the Springfield-Greene County Library District, Springfield Sister Cities Association, and the Springfield Public Schools, to name a few.
A Broad Base of Support and Talent
Springfield supports a thriving Symphony, Ballet, Opera, Little Theater, and the unique Creamery Arts Center houses the administrative offices and classrooms for some of these arts groups. There are also countless independent visual artists, writers, musicians, dancers, and film-makers working in and around Springfield.
Also notable are the strong influence of the city’s universities, the development of a downtown Missouri State University IDEA Commons, the resurgence of live theater in Springfield’s downtown historical and recently renovated theaters, and strong corporate support of the arts as exemplified by St. John’s Health System dedication to curate and install more than 2,000 works of original art in its medical facilities and clinics across the city.
Creative Community Collaborations
Springfield’s accomplishments include creative collaborations such as ArtsFest, a fine arts festival now in its 30th year, First Night, a family friendly new year’s eve celebration now in its 20th year, Cider Days, an autumn arts and crafts fair, and the Japanese Fall Festival, now in its 15th year. Arttrain USA, the C-Street Jam, the Missouri Literary Festival, and the First Friday Art Walks are some of the events that have reinvigorated a creative synergy happening in the arts districts Downtown and on Commercial Street.
For more information about the Springfield Regional Arts Council, its member organizations, partnerships, workshops and educational programs, and a current listing of art events and opportunities, please visit the SRAC website.