About US
Spark the Creativity in You: Arts and Community
SHAC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The Board of Directors is all volunteers that manage SHAC and sponsor the Anna Arts Center. There is no paid staff, only volunteers for every activity.
Shawnee Hills Arts Council (SHAC) was founded in 2008 by Joanne Blakey and Linda Kall. SHAC was granted a non-profit 501(c)(3) status. Originally the Board of Directors was under SHAC and the buildings were called Anna Arts Center. As the arts center continues to expand its programs the name Anna Arts Center is being dropped and the organization to include the buildings will be identified as Shawnee Hills Arts Council. Our mission is to be a captivating and welcoming place, bringing people together to share, inspire, nurture, educate, and enjoy arts and culture.
Our Vision is to be a home for arts and culture, offering engaging opportunities and educational experiences to enrich and expand the life of our community.
Since the beginning, we have seen people’s lives changed for the better. For example, two children, both very shy and afraid to speak in public, attended drama camp to discover they were capable of giving well-received monologues to an audience. Their new confidence gained through the drama camp gave them the courage to explore other opportunities. A retiree, who was lost as to what to do next, discovered painting. A group of quilters found a home at the center.
In order to meet our mission and provide services in our community, the center relies on the generosity of individuals and businesses for support as well as minimum-priced ticket sells for shows and tuition for art classes. These funds allow the center to create opportunities to discover and explore the arts, through classes, gallery exhibits, various types of performances, cultural events, and maintain the buildings. The three 100-year-old historical buildings that house SHAC all need renovations to preserve these treasures for future use.
We are excited about the growth in our programs, which include art and dance classes, the annual Civil War Weekend, Art festivals, Salute to the Veterans Dinner and Show, the annual Constitution Week Celebration, Open Mic Night, monthly Short Story and Pizza night and musicals and plays. SHAC has been a venue for the Southern Illinois Music Festival and the annual Children’s Theater was established in 2014 with the first show, “Aladdin, Jr.” We are continually looking for new programs in the quest of offering programs that everyone will enjoy.
