Bicentennial Art Center & Museum

Located at: 132 South Central Avenue in Paris, IL

Gallery Hours:

Tuesday thru Friday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday: Closed

Scroll down to see Opening Reception dates for Current and Upcoming Exhibits (usually held on a Friday)

Admission to the Art Center is Free
Group tours of the exhibits and facilities are available. Simply call the Art Center to schedule your group!

Phone: 217-466-8130 Email: parisartcenter@frontier.com
(Fax: 217-466-8130)

Closed Mondays, New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve Day

CURRENT EXHIBIT
May 10 - June 14, 2013

Main Floor Galleries:

17th Annual Paint Illinois Juried Exhibition

Opening Reception: Friday, May 17 ~ Time: 5-6:30pm (Central Time)

Judge's comments scheduled for 5:30pm.

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NEXT EXHIBIT
June 21 - July 19, 2013

Main Floor Galleries:

"Some of My Favorite Photos" - Photography by Mary Haag

Opening Reception: Friday, June 21 ~ Time: 5-6:30pm (Central Time)

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NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE BY EMAIL!

Want to cut down on the amount of paper that comes into your home every day? How about receiving the Art Center's newsletter in your inbox instead of your mailbox?

Simply contact the Art Center to request the newsletter by email. Only print the pages you need, and help the Art Center go green at the same time! It even comes in color!

(Please Note: the newsletter is only available to current Members of the Art Center. Good news, though! Student memberships start at only $5! Check out our Membership Page to find the membership level that best suits your needs.)

SUMMER ART CLASSES START IN JUNE!

Do your kids love creating art? Want to sign them up for some fun and exciting new art classes this summer?

Well good news! A full line-up of summer classes is now posted on the "Classes" page! Check it out!

Or, you can simply download a Summer Class Schedule (PDF format) so both you and your child can pick out your classes together! Registration forms and class schedules are also available at the Art Center and the Public Library.

(Note: Please pay close attention to the class dates and times listed on the schedule - some are only 1-day workshops while others are 3- or 4-day classes. Thank You!)

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Art Center: (217) 466-8130 or parisartcenter@frontier.com

New Additions to the Library!

Several back issues of "Watercolor Magazine" were recently donated to the Art Center's upstairs library! Need inspiration for your next painting, or tips on new techniques? Look no further than the Art Center!

All library materials are available to the public - no membership to the Art Center is required in order to borrow items.

Back issues include: Winter 2005, Summer 2009, Fall 2010, and Spring 2012, and more!

LENDING LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS

The Art Center's upstairs Lending Library is undergoing some updating and is in need of a number of items to aid in organizing.

Needed Items:

Book Dividers/Bookends (Some Found, More Needed!) ~ 2 Bookcases (chest height, preferably matching) ~ Storage Baskets ~ Small Tabletop Display Easels ~ Wooden Chairs (2 or 3)

If anyone has any of the above listed items, and would like to donate (or loan them!) to the Art Center, please contact Susan at the Art Center: (217) 466-8130.

Many Thanks in Advance!

The Bicentennial Art Center & Museum (Art Center) is located at 132 South Central Avenue in Paris, Illinois, one block south of the Courthouse square on Illinois Highway 1 South. Paris, in the heart of the Illinois prairie, is the county seat of Edgar County in east central Illinois, about 9 miles from the Illinois/Indiana border; approximately 27 miles from Terre Haute.

On the map, Paris is located on Illinois State Highway 1 from the north and south, Highway 150 from the east and Highways 16 and 133 from the west. See Map which may take a few seconds to load.

The Art Center, a non-profit organization, offers a full range of art activities and programs to the residents and artists of the region including exhibitions, classes and workshops, tours to other art centers and events, community outreach programs, and, scholarships for talented youth. The Art Center maintains a permanent collection, the nucleus of which are the paintings by Alice Baber, a native of Edgar County, who achieved international recognition in 1960's and 70's. Other collection pieces include paintings, drawings, prints, and three-dimensional pieces by artists with national and regional reputations.

All programs, activities and memberships are open to the public regardless of race, gender, age, education or disability. There is no admission charge to view the exhibitions. Memberships are available at varying levels of support and are renewable annually.

Exhibitions: The Art Center's five galleries feature changing exhibitions throughout the year of work by artists with international, national, regional and area recognition. Among the exhibitions are Annual Shows that are judged competitions calling for entries from artists throughout the Midwest.

Classes and Workshops: A full line of classes and workshops are offered throughout the year for individuals whose interest and skill levels vary from beginners to advanced and whose ages range from children age 4 on up through adults.

Community Outreach Program: The Art Center joined forces with the Paris Community School District, area businesses, organizations and individuals to establish the "Partners In Education" - art enrichment program. The program provides art education experiences related to classroom learning for 1,000 elementary and middle school students who would otherwise have no exposure to the visual arts.

Scholarships: Each spring, scholarships are awarded to talented graduating high school seniors or college/university students working toward a career in the visual or performing arts. Applications are available upon request from the Art Center. Persons applying are requested to fill out an application and submit it along with a portfolio and/or video/cassette of their work. Scholarships are awarded at the discretion of a qualified judge with art education experience.

Membership: Membership in the Art Center is open to the public at varying levels of support and is renewable annually. Members receive the Center's newsletter covering scheduled programs and activities; discounts on class and workshop registrations and exhibition entry fees; and, early notification of social events and tours.

Tours: The Art Center arranges group tours to outstanding exhibitions at other art centers and museums throughout the Midwest.

The mission of the Art Center is to generate enthusiastic participation in and support of the arts and to provide opportunities that increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of and participation in the arts.

Program and activities are funded through memberships, businesses, patrons, and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

If you would like to be receive a periodic e-mail on activities then Subscribe to our mailing list

You can also contact the Art Center Director, Susan Stafford, at parisartcenter@frontier.com