Orpheum President Appointed To Illinois Arts Council Panel

GALESBURG, IL.  On May 27, Kate Francis, Orpheum Theatre president, was appointed to the Illinois Arts Council’s Presenters Program Advisory Panel to review applications for the 2011 fiscal year.

The Illinois Arts Council was created in 1965 by the Illinois General Assembly for the purpose of encouraging development of the arts throughout Illinois.  This state agency assists artists, arts organizations and other community organizations that present arts programming by providing financial and technical assistance. Funds are provided annually to the Council by the Illinois State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Illinois Arts Council is comprised of twenty-one private citizens appointed by the Governor.  Advisory panels are comprised of volunteer, statewide experts appointed by the Council to assist the Council in the review of grants applications and to lend expertise on policy and program development.

This represents the third consecutive year in which Ms. Francis has been nominated to the IAC panel.

“I am honored to again serve the State of Illinois and the Orpheum Theatre’s fellow arts organizations through my participation on the Presenters Panel,” said Ms. Francis.  “And to contribute to a statewide organization at the forefront of advocating for both the artistic value and economic impact of organizations like the Orpheum Theatre.”

Ms. Francis anticipates reviewing approximately thirty-five applications in preparation for the June 22 Presenters Panel review at the Illinois Arts Council office in Chicago.

“It typically takes at least an hour or more to read, evaluate and score each application,” Francis added.  “It’s time-consuming, but worthwhile, to read about the successes as well as challenges that the Orpheum’s peer organizations face in the presenting arena.”

Ms. Francis will not score the Orpheum Theatre’s application nor will Ms. Francis be present during the panel’s discussion of the Orpheum’s application to avoid any conflict of interest.

The Orpheum Theatre recently received a $10,000 pledge from the Illinois Arts Council to support the theater’s presenting programs including the Red Carpet Series and Lights! Camera! Learn! education series.  The 2011 Red Carpet Series features such internationally-recognized talent as Freddy Cole and the Moscow Ballet.  The Lights! Camera! Learn! education program brings nationally touring, age-appropriate productions for grades kindergarten through high school.  The program is offered each year at no cost to schools or students.  The 2010-11 LCL program served nearly 7,000 students.

For more information about the Illinois Arts Council visit http://www.arts.illinois.gov/about-iac.  For more information about the Orpheum Theatre or upcoming events call 309-342-2299 or visit www.theorpheum.org.